Performance of Plantain (Musa Paradisiaca L) Fruit Yield and Quality under Different Planting Densities and Water Application

Abstract

The performance of plantain fruit yield and quality under different planting densities under an influence of irrigation system was investigated at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Experiments were set up as a split plot fitted into randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Main plots are irrigation system while sub-plots are plant densities. Treatments included four plant densities (1 x 2, 2 x 2, 2 x 3, and 3 x 3 m), two irrigation systems and their combination where irrigation system was the main plot and plant density the sub-plot. Over 2,000 agbagba suckers were pared and hot–water treated, and planted during the first week of the experiment. Manure was applied at the rate of three spades full per plant for nutrient supplement; and mulching was done. Weeds were manually controlled as at when due. Plantain diseases like yellow sigatoka and black sigatoka were also controlled manually by de-leafing infected leaves to prevent disease spread. Data were collected and analyzed using ANOVA. Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) was used for mean separation at 5% level of significance. The results of ANOVA showed that there were significant effects (P < 0.05) due to irrigation application for all measured parameters whereas effects due to plant densities were significant for only these parameters; number of suckers (NOS), sucker height (SUHT), number of leaves on sucker (NLSC), bunch weight (BWT), number of hand (NHND), total number of finger (TFNG) and number of sucker at flowering (NSCK). Therefore, it can be concluded that plant spacing, and regular water supply plays a significant role in obtaining good yield in plantain production