Greetings Nairalanders

I am a greenhorn farmer residing in Lagos State while my farm land is situated in Ogun State who just ventured into cassava farming. I planted cassava on 3 hectares land, mid September, 2018 which is barely 4 weeks and weeds are already disturbing the farm. When you look at the farm, weeds and the cassava are at par in terms of growth and you would hardly see the crop cos they are both mixed in the farm. I sprayed the farm before planting and I am surprised weeds are already growing to this stage.

Employing manual labor would be disastrous and so I have opted to use herbicide. My question is, are there any herbicide one can spray on the entire farm without the fear that it would harm the cassava? Are there any herbicide that spares cassava and kills other weeds? Reason for asking this questions is due to the fact that the cassava and weeds are altogether on the farm land and its hard to spray the weeds without the chemical touching the cassava crop also. Mostly Akintola leave on the farm (Chromolaena odorata)

I really look forward to your responses as well as your advice on what I can do in this situation.

Regards

In terms of cost, glyphosates is your best bet. You need to get very experienced sprayers to do it for you. Glyphosates kill cassava stems thats why you need experienced spraying gang to do it.

I will not recommend glyphosate since the cassava is still at young stage and weed is at par with crops. Glyphosate will kill your cassava or at least give it a stunted growth if sprayed on the leaves or green stem.
It is better to use a contact herbicide like paraquat based. This will kill only the part it comes in contact with but not the entire crop.

Just like the post above said, u need experienced people to do it cos of the state of the weed . subsequently, u should never allow the weed to outgrow you crops before spraying.
If not for the cost and time, manual weeding would have been best but cassava does not like weed competition at early stage. U should use a fast acting herbicide.

I salute you sir. Well done and thanks for sharing informative contents that provide millions with opportunities. Please i need a linkup tp secure two yearly farm labourers. Please kindly help me on this. Please whatsapp me on 08034698250. Thanks in anticipation. Farm location is Oba Akoko in Akoko south west local government of Ondo State.

I appreciate all your responses.

Been doing some search online since morning also. I read there are selective herbicides that would only kill grasses and broadleafs? Question again is this, is cassava a broadleaf and would this selective herbicides have any effect on cassava?

Thanks all, I appreciate your comments

Benyfil:
I appreciate all your responses.

Been doing some search online since morning also. I read there are selective herbicides that would only kill grasses and broadleafs? Question again is this, is cassava a broadleaf and would this selective herbicides have any effect on cassava?

Thanks all, I appreciate your comments

Yes selective like 24D will kill broad leave and can be used in maize for example but my experience in using such is that the grasses will thank u for eliminating their competitors (broad leave) and now face your crop.
Before u use any selective check the types of weeds. Now, what type of weeds do u have? Remember cassava is broad leaved not grasses. If u have basically spear grass, there is a way out

Ameboperoo:

Yes selective like 24D will kill broad leave and can be used in maize for example but my experience in using such is that the grasses will thank u for eliminating their competitors (broad leave) and now face your crop.
Before u use any selective check the types of weeds. Now, what type of weeds do u have? Remember cassava is broad leaved not grasses. If u have basically spear grass, there is a way out

Thanks for the response once again.
80% of the weeds on the farm are Akintola leaves (I hope you know these leaves). They are broad in nature. The 24D you mentioned above, is that the actual name of the herbicides?
Thanks very much once again.

Benyfil:


Thanks for the response once again.
80% of the weeds on the farm are Akintola leaves (I hope you know these leaves). They are broad in nature. The 24D you mentioned above, is that the actual name of the herbicides?
Thanks very much once again.

Akintola is broad leaved like cassava so selective cannot work. Stick to paraquat brands.
24Dis the chemical name but different brand have different names

If I may ask, what operations did u carry out during the land prep? What chemical did you spray and when ?