Water balance and technical-financial performance of irrigation in the cassava cultivation

The objective, in this research, was to evaluate the agricultural productivity and the financial performance of levels of irrigation in the cassava. For this, experiment was carried out, under a randomized block design, with six irrigation levels, as a function of crop evapotranspiration (L0 = 0% (rainfed), L1 = 40%, L2 = 80%, L3 = 120%, L4 = 160% and L5 = 200% of ETC) and four repetitions. Was evaluated: length and mass of roots, productivity of maximum physical and economic efficiency of roots and productivity of the aerial part. The irrigation level L5 or total useful water of 1,023 mm, got greatest productivity of the aerial part, 57 Mg ha-1. With a total useful water of 926 mm, this irrigation level, generated the greatest length and mass of roots per plant and the maximum physical productivity, 94 Mg ha-1. As well as the root yield of maximum economic efficiency, which is achieved with a total usable water, 914 mm. Among the irrigation levels studied, L3 (963 mm) is the one that provides the greatest productivity of roots, 90 Mg ha-1, and gross revenue 167% higher than in areas cultivated under rainfed conditions. Therefore, irrigation of cassava is economically viable.