INTRODUCTION
Cassava is planted throughout the rainy season in southwestern
Nigeria. The early plantings have enough
moisture for growth, and the tubers partly mature into the
dry season. Cassava planted late often experience water
stress during vegetative and tuber development stages
and the tubers mature within the rainy season. Water
stress has negative influence on cassava tuber yield. ElSharkawy
et al. (1998) reported that early and mid-