Progress 10/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during this reporting period include farmers, extension agents, partners (Agriculture office, USDA NRCS Office, Pacific Community Office, etc), students, and general public. Students included college students fromboth campuses of COM-FSM in Pohnpei, high school students in the STEP-UP program, and college and university students from the Pacific and Caribbean regions that were involved in this research project. General public included those that attended presentations on the project, as well as those involved in cassava tasting tests to which the general public were invited. Changes/Problems:Our cassava crops have been suffering from a heavy infestation of white scale insect. We have been trying to address this problem via sustainable, organic, and chemical-free strategies. Unfortunately this option does not seem to be working and we have decided to go ahead and use the chemical option. We don't want to be accused of spreading pests around so we want to eradicate the pests first. Unfortunately, this pest problem is interfering with our desire to share planting materials, and to get the nine cassava varieties tried out on degraded soils (mal). What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has been providing great opportunities for training and professional development. Those that have benefitted included farmers, extension agents, partners (e.g., Office for Agriculture, etc), students, and the general public. Students included those from the two COM-FSM campuses in Pohnpei, high school students on the STEP-UP program, and college and university students from the Pacific/ Caribbean regions. General public includes those that came to attend presentations and other "open" activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Those that took part in the training and professional development have been involved in disseminating results to communities of interest. And we know that community members are interested in view of their continuing request for tubers and planting materials. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?One of the important plans for the next reporting period is to compare the growth and yield of the nine cassava varieties grown on degraded (mal) soils.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We were able to increase our understanding of the various cassava varieties grown in Pohnpei with regard to their potentials and limitations, especially with regard to climate change. The cassava varieties grew up through a period of drought hence growth rate was rather slow. Instead of harvesting at six months, the crop (nine varieties) was allowed to grow for a year before being harvested. After this harvest, some plants were allowed to continue growing for an extended period - actually for another six months. All nine varities survived the drought - without irrigation or any special treatment. This speaks highly of the current varieties as drought-tolerant. All nine varieties benefitted from the extended growth period. One of the varieties (Pohnpei 9) was still growing vigorously by the end of the extended growth period. This shows that the varieties we have mature at quite different ages. Some varieties that grow vigorously over long growth periods (e.g. Pohnpei 9) could be excellent for animal feed. It is interesting to note that the local population are very interested in getting cassava tubers and planting materials.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Pretrick, M. and Tuivavalagi, N. 2017. The effect of an extended growing period on the yield and taste of cassava (Manihot esculenta) varieties grown in Pohnpei island, Micronesia. Presentation given at the STEP-UP Conference, Washington DC, U.S.A.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached include the following: (a) college students, (b) young people in the community, and (c) young people working for Agriculture Department and CRE Division of COM-FSM. College students were involved in field works (e.g., weeding) and field measurementd of plant parameters (e.g., measurement of plant height); young people in the community were involved in field works; young people working for Agriculture Department and CRE were involved in field work, field measurements, as well as construction works - eg the construction of a simple farm-house Changes/Problems:Three major setbacks were experienced during period under review: (a) unfavorable weather condition, (b) resignation of Research Assistant - now still not replaced after 9 months, and (c) designated farmer changing his mind on collaboration due to his dissatisfaction with terms and conditions for collaboration. However, the above problems do not neccessitate the need for any special and/or additional reporting. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided much opportunity for professional development for the project leaders themselves - especially with regard to collaborative activities as the project has two Co Project Directors (Dr Tuivavalagi and Dr Ragus) and Mr. Jackson Phillip - the Field Supervisor. The project has also provided much opportunity for training for young people - through special training workshops that were held as well as on the job training for those involved in various cultural activities including planting, weeding, harvesting, etc. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?At present results have been shared with members of communies of interest mainly by direct, person-to-person sharing with farmers. However, we will be developing extension materials in the local language to help us disseminate results to communities of interest. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The two main plans are (a) to explore how the nine cassava cultivars perform and yield in different soil types of Pohnpei, and (b) to explore how various practices and products (compost, lime, fertilizers, etc) influence cassava growth and yield.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Assessing Cassava Varieties for Food Security and Economic Development on Pohnpei CASSAVA STUDY: 2016-17 PROGRESS REPORT - A SHORTENED VERSION Dr. Nat Tuivavalagi (Project Director), Dr. Lolit Ragus (Co-Project Director), Mr. Phillip Jackson (Field Supervisor) Executive Summary Two crops of cassava were harvested during the period under review - one, a 16 month crop harvested in July 2016 (the 2016 crop) and the other, a 13-month crop harvested in January 2017 (the 2017 crop) - as part of our effort to compare the growth performance and yield of nine cassava cultivars, namely, TOLONIER, BENGA, JAPAN, MARSI, NAVAVALU, PALAU A, PALAU B, PALIKIR, and YAP (Yapiatamo). Tuber yields for the 2016 and 2017 crops correlate very well (r = 0.67, R2 = 0.44) and the harvest data enables us to identify four high yielders (Tolonier, Palau A, Japan, Palikir), four low yielders (Marsi, Palau B, Benga, Navavalu), and one (Yap) that gives "very high" yield in 2016 and "very low" yield in 2017. Tuber yields are generally higher in 2016 and this is attributed mainly to the wetter weather condition during the first six months of the growing period. Cassava has been considered a hardy crop that can withstand difficult conditions, but this study tends to indicate that even this hardy crop could be seriously impacted by climate change. The 2016 crop was infested with white scale insects and it seems that Palau A was most susceptible while Japan, Navavalu and Yap were the most resistant. The 2017 crop was affected by strong winds which revealed that the Benga cultivar was the most susceptible to lodging. Introduction This is a report on activities carried out in 2016 and 2017. In particular, the report focuses on activities relating to the two harvests carried out during this period - one in July 2016 and the other in January 2017. This report refers to the crop harvested in 2016 as the "2016 crop" and the crop harvested in 2017 as the "2017 crop." Aim The main aim of the study was to compare the performance and yield of the nine cassava cultivars grown in Pohnpei, namely, TOLONIER, BENGA, JAPAN, MARSI, NAVAVALU, PALAU A, PALAU B, PALIKIR, and YAP (Yapiatamo). Method The two crops (field experiments) reported here were grown in an area between the Agriculture Office and Island Food Office in Kolonia, Pohnpei. Meteorological data for the last 2 ½ years have been requested from the Pohnpei Weather Service Office in Kolonia, Pohnpei. It is expected that climatic conditions especially during the earlier part of the growing season (and especially rainfall and to some extent, temperature) will affect plant growth and therefore yield. For this reason, rainfall and temperature during the first six months of crop growth will also be determined. The 2016 Crop Outside of the experimental area, two mounds were planted with each cultivar giving a total of 18 mounds for the nine cultivars. Five cuttings were planted in each mound but some of the cuttings did not survive. Two mounds were allocated to each cultivar so there were a total of 18 mounds for the nine cultivars. The mounds were planted on April 3, 2015 and were harvested during July 29-30, 2016. Climatic Conditions during the 2016 Crop. As mentioned, this crop was planted on April 3, 2015 and harvested July 30, 2016. The monthly total precipitation (inches)/monthly mean temperature (deg. F) for the area was as follows: 2015 April 21.94/81.3, May 43.68/80.6, June 16.04/81.2, July 20.14/81.4, Aug 28.33/80.5, Sep 15.59/81.0, Oct 11.86/81.8. Duration of crop growth: The whole duration of this crop's growing period was approximately 16 months (15 months, 26 days). The 2017 Crop This crop is actually a field experiment that has three reps with each rep having 9 rows - one for each of the 9 cultivars being tested. From each harvest row, a sample of four plants were selected for actual harvest and data collection. As such, for each cultivar, 12 plants were harvested (4 plants/rep x 3 reps). Climatic Conditions during the 2017 Crop. The 2017 crop was planted on January 19, 2016 and harvested on January 11-12, 2017. The monthly total precipitation (inches)/monthly mean temperature (oF) for the area was as follows: 2016 January 13.49/81.5, February 4.64/82.1, March 5.76/82.9, April 11.01/82.8, May 16.06/82.8, June 21.18/82.8, July 12.11/82.4. Duration of crop growth: The whole duration of this crop's growing period was approximately 13 months (12 months, 3 weeks, 3 days). Results AND DISCUSSION Part A: Correlating Tuber Yields of the 2016 and 2017 Crops Part B: Details of the 2016 Crop Mean fresh tuber weight (kg/plant) Plant Shape White Scale Insect Attack Part C: Details of the 2017 Crop Plant Descriptions Components of Total, Fresh Tuber Biomass Yields (kg/12 plants) Total, Fresh Tuber Biomass - Highest Yielders (kg/12 plants) Total Tuber Biomass - Lowest Yielders (kg/12 plants) Marketable Tuber Biomass - Highest Yielders (kg/12 plants) Marketable Tuber Biomass - Lowest Yielders (kg/12 plants) Mean Plant Height at Harvest (m/plant) Mean Stem Thickness (stem circumference (cm/plant)) at Harvest (Measured at 15 cm Above Ground Level) (cm/plant) Total fresh, above-ground biomass of 12 sample plants at harvest (kg/12 plants) Yield Ratios TB/AB and AB/TB (where TB = Total Fresh Tuber Biomass (TB in kg/12 plants)" and AB =Total Fresh Above-ground Biomass (kg/12 plants)" Lodging and Branching Part D: Taste Tests CONCLUSION Findings from the 2016 and 2017 crops tend to show that a) Tolonier is the highest yielding variety; b) Yap could be the most sensitive to inadequate water during the initial part of the growing period; c) Benga is most susceptible to lodging; while Japan, Navavalu and Yap could be resistant to infestation with white scale insects. These issues will be further investigated - together with fresh issues - as we continue the cassava study in the current and other locations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REFERENCE Fukuda, W.M.G., C.L. Guevara, R. Kawuki, and M.E. Ferguson. 2010. Selected morphological and agronomic descriptors for the characterization of cassava. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. 19 pp.

Publications

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The main target audience during this reporting period are the agriculture extension workers including those based at CES Section of COM-FSM's CRE Department, and COM-FSM students doing their internship with CRE. These staff and students were trained in the morphological characterization of cassava. The students were also provided with training on the job regarding various aspects of how to conduct agronomic field research. Changes/Problems:During the reporting period, poor weather caused delays in progress of work. Looking to the future, we will be requesting two changes: (1) the original proposal includes three field sites but we now want to limit this to only two sites; (2) we would like to include taste test of the nine varieties - to see which ones are preferable to the Pohnpeian tastebuds. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has been paying substantial focus on providing training for the young people in agriculture. During the period under review, agriculture extension workers, internship students, and staff of the Office of Agriculture, and IFCP - Island Food Community - Pohnpei, were provided training in conducting morphological characterization of cassava. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fortunately, the experimental plots are located at an ideal place - right in the capital city and right besides the Office of Agriculture. Farmers coming to the City and especially to the Agriculture Office, will have an opportunity to observe the field plots and ask questions about the study and the results. As a result, farmers have been coming to our office to follow up on details of our progress. The CES extension team is planning to go around the island running workshops. We intend to accompany them and include a summary of our findings to be shared among farmers. We also intend to make use of gatherings such as the World Food Day to showcase this Cassava Project and its findings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next reporting period will provide information on yield data which is the most interesting. Data will also be collected to compare the susceptibility of the nine cassava varieties to the various pests and diseases of cassava.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The nine cassava varieties collected have been characterized and we have seen some significant differences among the varieties which should help farmers decide which variety to grow.

Publications

Progress 09/01/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The main target audience during this reporting period are the cassava farmers of Pohnpei. We (Research Team) reached out to the target audience (local, cassava farmers) to explain to them what the project was all about. We also collected information from them in view of their knowledge, skills, and experience with regard to all aspects of cassava production. With the help of a local consultant, we were able to know the names and basic characteristics of cassava varieties currently grown in Pohnpei. This information was shared with our target audience (local, cassava farmers). The cassava farmers visited were also taught the basics of agronomy and soil fertility in relation to cassava production using lay language. Changes/Problems: Changes A major change is the inclusion of Dr. Lolita Ragus (Researcher, Chuuk State, FSM) as a Co-Project Director in view of the fact that 1) she (like Dr. Aurora G. Del Rosario, Researcher, Republic of Palau) has had much direct experience in this kind of research, and 2) she lives "nextdoor" to Pohnpei and can easily travel back and forth between Chuuk and Pohnpei. Major Delay Delay in progress of project has been due to the following factors: 1) It took an unexpectedly long period of time to negotiate the use of land where Site 1 of the project is now located; 2) Rainy weather delayed various activities including plowing, tilling, back-hoe operations to dig ditches; 3) Unavailability of back-hoe and tractor when needed; 4) Identification of cassava varieties on farmers' fields took longer than expected. Reasons for this include: a) Many farmers know cassava but are not very good in differentiating the different varieties, usually mixing them up in the field when planting; b) different varieties are sometimes given the same name, while same variety is sometimes given different names; c) same varieties can end up looking and performing quite differently when grown under different environmental conditions - e.g., when grown under trees vs being grown in the open field. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? a) Training - Technicians were trained in putting up drainage and planning field layouts based on a prescribed statistical design. More training are planned especially for students, and farmers. b) Professional Development - Extension Agents, technicians, and local farmers learned to differentiate different varieties by observing leaf appearances, and color of leaves, and stems. More professional development activities are also planned. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We (Research Team) now have some understanding of the names and some basic characteristics of the local cassava varieties. These results/findings have been shared with farmers as we go around looking at the various cassava varieties growing in farmers' fields. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will be doing thorough characterizations of the cassava varieties growing in the experimental field. This will enable us to have a good idea of the characteristics of the various cassava varieties. Results will be provided in the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We (Research Team) have started characterizing and identifying the different cassava varieties in order to differentiate the various varieties. We intend to start collecting and planting the various cassava varieties this week (March 2-6, 2015) and this activity (characterizing/ identifying of the different varieties) will be carried out in full when the 12 or so varieties are actually growing in the experimental field, side by side, under the same environmental condition. Under the above goals, we have also gained more awareness of the various varieties, and this is something we will share with farmers, students, agriculture workers, and other stakeholders.

Publications