| Sumario: | An experiment was conducted with the aim of identifying suitable cassava scheduled planting, harvesting and varietal performance in order to optimize growth, development, yield and quality of cassava during the 2017/18 - 2018/19 cropping season. The experiment was conducted at Naliendele, Nachingwea and Ilonga TARI Research Centres in Tanzania. The experiment was laid out as split-split plot in a randomized complete block design with variety being main factor, harvesting time as sub plot and planting schedules as sub-sub plot with four replications at each site.Factor A with three levels which were Kiroba, Mkuranga 1 and Chereko variety. The sub plot also with three levels that were harvesting at eight, ten and 12 months after planting while factor C also with three levels of planting times in November/December, January and March/April. The total root yield increased significantly from first to third planting and harvesting times respectively. Kiroba variety planted in November/December and then harvested at twelve months after planting (MAP) gave highest total fresh root yield 27 tones per hactre (t/ha) in the Southern zone followed by Eastern zone with Kiroba variety planted in November/December and March/April yielded highest total root (22t/ha) when harvested at 12MAP. Based on cassava dry matter content; the study shows that: highest dry matter content was obtained when Mkuranga 1 variety planted in November/December and harvested at 12MAP gave 40% followed by Kiroba variety planted in November/December and harvested after 12MAP had 39% in Southern zone. Also the study found that; cassava starch content was highest (23%) in Southern zone when Mkuranga 1 variety planted during November/December and harvested at 12MAP before the onset of rainfall. The current results recommend that practising planting cassava in November/December for fresh cassava utilization and adopt the late planting in March/April can be advantageous in small scale and commercial producers.
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