Abstract

Introduction Agbagba a popular false-horn plantain (Musa sp. AAB) cultivar in Nigeria was evaluated alongside three other maternally related genotypes (Mbi-Egome, PITA 14 and PITA 24) under different nutrient management systems, with the aim of developing a sustainable approach for nutrition of plantains. Mbi-Egome is a French-type cultivar, while PITA 14 and PITA 24 are its derived hybrids. Materials and methods The four genotypes were evaluated in Nsukka (southeastern Nigeria) under five nutrient management systems including organic (poultry manure at 20 t ha(-1) year(-1)), inorganic (400 kg N + 600 kg K2O + 100 kg P2O5 ha(-1) year(-1)), combined half doses of the organic and inorganic fertilizers, Moringa alley, and a control plot (without fertilizer) using split-plot layout in a randomized complete block design. Results Plant growth and yield responses were statistically (P=0.05) superior in the combined fertilizer plot, followed by sole organic plot, and then, inorganic plot for all the genotypes. Bunch yield was extremely poor in the control and Moringa alley plots. For three crop cycles, PITA 24 produced the heaviest bunch (16.3 +/- 5.5 kg), followed by PITA 14 (9.4 +/- 2.5 kg), Mbi-Egome (9.0 +/- 2.9 kg), and lastly Agbagba (5.9 +/- 2.0 kg). Soil residual nutrients improved significantly with fertilizer application and cropping cycle, particularly in the organic and combined plots. Conclusion Fertilizer treatment is crucial in sustaining plantain crops in the study area. For optimum yield, the hybrid genotypes should be adopted with complementary application of poultry manure and chemical fertilizers.

Keywords

bunch weight; fertilizer regimes; growth responses; plantains

Published in

Fruits
2021, Volume: 76, number: 3, pages: 134-144

SLU Authors

• Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture


UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/th2021/76.3.4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111612