Growth, yield and proximate composition of plantain, musa species cultivated on soils amended with crop residues

Purpose:

 This study investigated the potentials of crop residues to improve the growth and yield of plantain as well as its proximate compositions.

Method:

 Biochar, Cocoa pod husk and Rice bran were applied at the rates 4, 6, 8, and 10 tons/hectare after three weeks of sucker establishment on experimental plots. The experiments were carried out in two different locations; FUTA and Ejigbo, and were laid out in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The following growth parameters including leaf number, plant height, stem girth, leaf area, and sucker number were monitored for six consecutive months commencing from 90 days after sucker establishment while the yield parameters including bunch weight, finger number, finger girth, bunch length, and yield per hectare were determined during harvesting. These parameters were determined for both parents and ratoon. Also, the proximate composition of the plantain was determined.

Results:

 There was no statistically significant difference for all the growth parameters determined in both FUTA and Ejigbo locations for both the parent and ratoon crops except the leaf area which increased significantly in amended soils compared to the control. All amendments produced higher bunch weight, finger number, and yield per hectare compared to the control. The different soil amendments did not alter the proximate compositions of the plantain significantly for the two locations.

Conclusion:

 It is therefore concluded that crop residues especially cocoa pod husk at the rate of 10 tons/hectare be used as alternative to mineral fertilizers to enhance soil health and productivity.