Growth and Production Testing of Four Cassava Varieties Originating from Maluku and Malang

This study evaluated the growth and production performance of four cassava varieties, namely Adira 5, Bintang, Siaputih, and Toyando, under the agroecological conditions of Wain Village, Southeast Maluku, Indonesia.The objective was to identify locally adapted, high-yielding, and early-maturing varieties that could strengthen local food security and support sustainable agricultural development in island regions.A quantitative experimental approach using a one-factor Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications was applied, involving a total of 1,200 plants.Growth parameters measured included plant height, petiole length, stem diameter, and number of leaves at two, three, four, five, and six months after planting, while yield was assessed by the number of tubers and total tuber weight.Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and further tested with the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at the 5% level.The results showed significant differences among varieties in both vegetative growth and yield performance.Siaputih exhibited the best early growth with strong vigor and adaptability during the initial phase, while Bintang maintained sustained growth and achieved the highest yield with an average of 10.70 tubers per plant and a total tuber weight of 6.43 kilograms after six months.The application of organic cow manure enhanced growth performance and productivity across all varieties.The findings demonstrate that local varieties, particularly Bintang and Siaputih, possess high adaptability and can serve as valuable genetic resources for regional cassava development and food security improvement in the Maluku Islands.