Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important subsistence crop for many poor rural families in Africa. Cassava contains cyanogenic glucosides (linamarin and lotaustralin) which liberate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) during tuber processing. Once liberated, HCN attaches to the processed tuber. Continuous consumption of processed tuber containing high HCN concentration coupled with low protein intake causes Konzo – a paralyzing disorder that impacts children and women of childbearing age. There are ways to reduce HCN concentration during tuber processing; however, this can also reduce the overall starch content in the cassava tuber. A study comprising twenty treatments consisting of different combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer rates was initiated in 2013 in the coastal Dondo District of Mozambique to assess cassava tuber quality as measured by starch and HCN. Significant differences were observed in starch content (CSC) of unprocessed tubers due to combined addition of N, P and K fertilizer rates, sample size, and estimation procedure. However, no significant differences were observed in HCN concentration in tubers due to the addition of N, P and K fertilizer. The HCN concentration in cassava tuber appears to be a function of the physiology of the crop or possibly cassava variety rather than the environment or conditions under which the crop is grown.
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Claims 3
Claim · model-written summary
Combined N, P and K fertilizer rates, sample size and estimation procedure produced significant differences in starch content of unprocessed cassava tubers.
- Taxon
- Cassava
Manihot esculentat0 - Treatment
- combined addition of N, P and K fertilizer ratese0
- Outcome
- starch content (CSC) of unprocessed tuberse0
- Qualifier
- sample size, and estimation proceduree0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Significant differences were observed in starch content (CSC) of unprocessed tubers due to combined addition of N, P and K fertilizer rates, sample size, and estimation procedure.”
t0“Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)”
Claim · model-written summary
N, P and K fertilizer addition did not produce significant differences in tuber HCN concentration.
- Taxon
- CassavaManihot esculentat0
- Treatment
- addition of N, P and K fertilizere0
- Outcome
- HCN concentration in tuberse0
- Direction
- no significant differencese0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“no significant differences were observed in HCN concentration in tubers due to the addition of N, P and K fertilizer.”
t0“Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest cassava tuber HCN concentration depends on crop physiology or variety rather than growing conditions.
- Taxon
- cassavaManihot esculentae0
- Outcome
- HCN concentration in cassava tubere0
- Qualifier
- physiology of the crop or possibly cassava varietye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The HCN concentration in cassava tuber appears to be a function of the physiology of the crop or possibly cassava variety rather than the environment or conditions under which the crop is grown.”
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fertilization · molecular: metabolites · Manihot esculenta (cassava)Results differ
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- no effect
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See all 7 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.