Plant density studies with banana (cv. Williams) in a subtropical climate. II. Components of yield and seasonal distribution of yield

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SummaryThe influence of plant density and plantation age on bunch mass, components of bunch mass, yield per annum and yield distribution of banana cv. Williams, was investigated over five successive cropping cycles. The study was conducted at Burgershall Research Station in the subtropical Eastern Transvaal, and density treatments were 1000, 1250, 1666 and 2222 plants ha−1. In the plant crop (PC) maximum bunch mass was 30 kg compared with 50 kg in each, of the four ratoons. In cycles R2 to R4, bunch mass was reduced significantly at the highest density due mainly to fewer hands per bunch and shorter and smaller fingers. Yield per annum was significantly higher (30%) at 2222 than at 1666 plants ha−1 for the PC and also cumulatively (6%) when averaged over all five cycles. However, in each of the four ratoon cycles, differences in yield per annum between these two densities were not significant, due to increased interplant competition at 2222 plants ha−1, which did not occur in the PC. At 1250 plants ha−1 h...