Constraints, and Implications of Organic Farming in Bananas and Plantains Production Sustainability in Benin

Bananas and plantains production is an important income source for millions of small farmers. The increased demand for bananas and plantains on national and international market would justify its value chain development. However, its value chain faces several constraints, of which production and marketing turn out to be the most important. This study aimed at determining and analyzing the constraints related to Bananas and Plantains value chain and showing the gaps between agroecological and agricultural practices used by farmers in southern Benin. Characterization was carried out on the seed production systems, agricultural practices, bananas and plantains production, fruit availability and commercialization constraints with farmers using individual and focus groups surveys. Bananas and plantains seedlings production and acquisition varied according to production areas. Their seedlings self-production was widespread in production areas and 26 cultivars have been identified as major. The availability of these cultivars varied across time and production areas. There were significant negative effects of agricultural practices on major banana pest’s presence. Bananas and plantains production was limited by 12 factors, from which banana plants fall related to the wind, lack of financial support to irrigate banana fields, climate changes, no availability of cultivable lands and low rainfall are revealed to be the most important. Regarding commercialization constraints, low sale prices and difficult access to markets were the most important. Better knowledge of bananas and plantains production systems would help to develop sustainable organic farming strategies to reduce the constraints identified.

Plantain-based diet modulates atrazine-induced testicular toxicities in rats

Objective:To assess the potential of plantain-based diet in modulating testicular toxicities in rats exposed to atrazine.Methods:The plantain-based diet at 50%,25% and 12.5% were prepared from the basal diet by substituting the corn starch with plantain fruit pulp flour at different percentages.Wistar rats were fed plantain-based diet in varying concentrations ranging from 12.5% to 50% of the basal diet for 21 days before or after atrazine treatment in a two-phase experiment:preventive and therapeutic phases.The therapeutic model(n=35)had seven groups with 5 rats each,including the control,atrazine,atrazine recovery,atrazine plus plantain-based diet 50%,25%,12.5%,and atrazine plus quercetin groups.The preventive model(n=30)had six groups of 5 rats,consisting of the control,atrazine,50%,25%,12.5% plantain-based diet plus atrazine,and quercetin plus atrazine groups.Gonadal hormones(testosterone,luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone),sperm parameters(sperm motility,viability,morphology and concentration),and testicular function indices(protein,cholesterol,glycogen,acid phosphatase,alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase)were measured.Results:The gonadal hormones,sperm characteristics,and testicular function indices of the rat testis decreased significantly in the atrazine group alongside degeneration of the histoarchitecture.However,plantain-based diet restored the gonadal hormone concentrations,semen parameters,and testicular function indices in both the preventive and therapeutic models.Conclusions:Treatment with plantain-based diet protects against rat testicular toxicity caused by atrazine via the modulation of gonadal hormones,sperm quality,testicular function index as well as histoarchitecture of rat testes.

Biofuel Recovery from Plantain and Banana Plant Wastes:Integration of Biochemical and Thermochemical Approach

Globally,fossil fuel dependence has created several environmental challenges and climate change.Hence,creating other alternative renewable and ecologically friendly bio-energy sources is necessary.Lignocellulosic biomass has gained significant attention recently as a renewable material for biofuel production.The large amounts of plantain and banana plant parts wasted after harvesting,as well as the peels generated daily by the fruit market and industries,demonstrate the potential of bioenergy resources.This review briefly assesses plantain and banana plant biomass(PBB)generated in the developing,developed,and underdeveloped countries,the consumable parts,and feasible products yield.It emphasized the advantages and disadvantages of the commonly adopted treatment technologies of composting,incineration,and landfilling.Further,the utilization of PBB as catalysts in biodiesel synthesis was briefly highlighted.To optimize recovery of biofuel,different integration routes of pyrolysis,anaerobic digestion,fermentation,hydrothermal carbonization,hydrothermal liquefaction,and hydrothermal gasification for the valorization of the PBB were proposed.The complex compounds present in the PBB(hemicellulose,cellulose,and lignin)can be converted into valuable bio-products such as methane gas and bio-ethanol for bioenergy,and nutrients to promote bioactive ingredients.The investigation of the viability and innovation potential of the integrated routes’technology is necessary to improve the circular bio-economy and the recovery of biofuels from biomass waste,particularly PBB.

Evaluation of the Productivity of Intercropping Plantain Cultivar (PITA 3) Fertilized with Two Types of Manure, under Coconut Tree Based (Cocos nucifera L.), on the Tertiary Sands of Côte d’Ivoire

Pressure on land tenure is having a negative impact on the coconut sector, reducing farmers’ incomes. Intercropping cultivars plantain under coconut based has been considered as a solution to this problem. The aim of this work is to diversify the sources of income for coconut growers. The plantain variety PITA 3, popularised by the CNRA, was grown in coconut inter-rows (PB113+), with two types of manure (chemical, organic). Six (06) treatments D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6 were studied. In the tenth month after planting, treatment D3, which included banana plants fertilised with 9 kg of manure/plant, got the best agromorphological performance: height (264.08 cm), neck circumference (57.68 cm) and 12 leaves. In terms of production parameters, D3 banana plants had a shorter production cycle (347 days) and the highest diet mass (9.3 kg). However, the plants that received no fertiliser (D6) showed stunted growth and were unable to produce brunch. The fertilization of plantain with 10 t/ha of laying hen droppings permitted good development and production of plantains on tertiary sands.

四种中草药对小鼠抗炎作用比较研究

为了研究蒲公英(Dandelion)、败酱草(Patrinia)、鱼腥草(Houttuynia)、车前草(Plantain)4种中草药的抗炎效果,采用水煎法制成中药原液,将小白鼠用二甲苯致炎,作动物病理模型进行试验,用血液分析仪VS2000对白细胞进行分析。结果表明,小鼠耳肿胀率,试验1组与试验2组、试验3组、试验5组存在显著差异(P<0.05),其他各组间差异不显著;在消炎效果方面,蒲公英较好,鱼腥草和败酱草次之,车前草较差;在白细胞总数方面,试验1组与试验2组、试验3组、试验5组存在显著差异(P<0.05);试验2组与试验3组、试验4组、试验5组存在显著差异(P<0.05);试验3组与试验4组、试验5组存在显著差异(P<0.05);试验4组与试验5组存在显著差异(P<0.05)。

Isolation and Identification of Shoot-Tip Associated Endophytic Bacteria from Banana cv. Grand Naine and Testing for Antagonistic Activity against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>f. sp. <i>cubense</i>

Endophytic bacteria colonizing the shoot-tips of banana cv. Grand Naine were isolated and tested for the antagonistic activity against the Panama wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Pre-isolation, the suckers were given extensive disinfection treatments and the homogenate from the excised shoot-tip portion was plated on nutrient agar (NA) and trypticase soy agar (TSA). This yielded altogether 47 isolates: 26 on NA and 21 on TSA, respectively, from the 10 suckers collected during August to February. The number of bacterial isolates obtained per sucker varied from one to 15 based on colony characteristics registering up to 10 distinct species per shoot-tip based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The 47 isolates belonged to 19 genera and 25 species under the phylogenetic classes of Actinobacteria, α- and γ-Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Actinobacteria constituted the predominant phylum (55% isolates) with the constituent genera of Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Kocuria, Kytococcus, Micrococcus, Naumanella, Rothia and Tessaracoccus spp. and an unidentified isolate belonging to the family Frankiaceae. Proteobacteria constituted the second major phylum (Brevundimonas, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Serratia and Sphingomonas spp.) followed by Firmicutes (Bacillus and Staphylococcus spp.). Antagonistic activity of the endophytes against Foc was tested through agar plate assays (pit and spot applications on fungal lawn) employing potato dextrose agar and NA. Endophytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (isolate GNS.13.2a) which was associated with a single sucker showed significant growth inhibition effect on Foc while Klebsiella variicola (GNS.13.3a) and Enterobacter cloacae (GNS13.4a) exhibited moderate inhibition. The study brings out considerable sucker to sucker variation in the associated cultivable endophytic bacteria in “Grand Naine” banana and identifies a few bacterial endophytes with biocontrol potential against the devastating Foc pathogen.

Value chain financing and plantain production in Nigeria:an ex-ante approach

Value chain finance(VCF)represents the aligning and structuring of finance within a value chain or as a result of its existence.Given the growing need to explore innovative approaches to rural and agricultural finance in Nigeria,such financing solutions have become imperative.However,few studies on the ex-ante impact of financing innovations exist.Therefore,to ascertain the benefits derivable from VCF,this paper analyzes the potential impact of VCF on plantain production in Nigeria.The expected benefits are estimated based on the economic surplus model,using the Dynamic Research Evaluation for Management(DREAM)software.Results from a 25-year simulation period at a 15%discount rate and an innovation cost of USD 1,300,000,show that,in the least optimistic scenario,the economy is expected to have an overall net gain(economic surplus)of USD 3256,800,with a net present value of USD 3406,880,benefit-cost ratio of 3.83,and an internal rate of return or break-even discount rate of 36.80%.These results indicate the positive impact of VCF,measured in terms of net present value and net benefit,expressed as producer and consumer surplus.This suggests VCF is a viable and beneficial financing innovation for food production in Nigeria.Finally,it is recommended that a value chain financing agency be established to make finance available to farmers to boost food production in Nigeria.

Nutritional Composition of Staple Food Bananas of Three Cultivars in India

Banana (Musa spp.) is an important ingredient of several dishes and its nutritional and other biochemical composition at different stages is yet to be scientifically studied. In the present study the most popularly cultivated species of Nendran, Nijali poovan and Robusta banana in Southern India are selected. Variations in the nutritional and biochemical compositions associated with ripened and unripened stages of banana fruits were studied. Proximate composition, mineral and phytochemical compositions of ripened and unripened banana flours were analyzed and the total soluble sugars in unripened banana range from 1.70 to 2.15 mg/100g of the samples and that of ripened banana range from 37.5 to 43.8 mg/100g of the samples. Mineral compositions show that they are rich sources of calcium, phosphorus and iron. In addition to this they are rich sources of antioxidant potential phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavanoids, vitamin C and lesser in quantity of anti nutritional factors such as phytates and oxalates. The current study revealed the variations of biochemical compositions of three varieties in unripened and ripened stages. This will be useful for the exploitation of these crops to obtain and formulate the value added products.

<i>Tithonia diversifolia</i>Mulch Stimulates the Growth of Plantain PIF Seedlings and Induces a Less Susceptibility to <i>Mycosphaerella fijiensis</i>in the Nursery

Plantain is an important crop that serves as a staple food and contributes significantly to income generation for millions of people in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa. Its cultivation faces the main constraint of seedlings unavailability in quantity and quality, essential for the creation of new plantations. The advent and popularization of the plantlets from stem bits (PIF) in the 2000s raised hopes for solving this problem. However, after about ten years, the PIF has shown some problems limiting its adoption and should be improved for more efficiency. The amendment of PIF substrate production with Tithonia diversifolia could be an alternative to seedlings’ unavailability. This study aims to evaluate the potential stimulative effect of T. diversifolia mulch on plantain PIF seedlings growth and protection against black Sigatoka disease (BSD)caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis. The parameters of vegetative growth stages and biomarkers accumulation were assessed in sterilized substrate and non-sterilized substrate conditions. T. diversifolia mulch treatment increases the germination rate, the number of shoots, the height and the diameter of shoots, the leaf area as well as the seedlings roots, but it also protects the seedlings against BSD up to about 81% compared to the control seedlings. It also enhances the accumulation of biomarkers such as proteins, polyphenols content and defense-related enzymes (peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and glucanase). T. diversifolia mulch seems to act in PIF seedlings production as a vital stimulator. It can therefore be taken as a tool for a more sustainable and resilient agriculture, and for poverty alleviation of poor small holder farmers.

Interactive Effect of Variety and Irradiation Dose on Postharvest Behaviour of Fruits of Two Plantain (<i>Musa</i>sp AAB) Varieties from the Green Stage to the Onset of Ripening

Controlling ethylene production and respiratory rate of climacteric fruits is reported to extend the shelf-life of those produce. The aim of this present research was to determine the effect of five (5) doses of gamma irradiation as an ethylene and respiration inhibitor on two (2) distinct varieties of plantain (Musa sp AAB) up to the onset of ripening. The variety and irradiation dose applied had a significant interaction on the number of days to the onset of fruit ripening. The daily mean ethylene production for both varieties was lowest at 200 Gy. Even though Apantu had a lower daily average as compared to Apem, it reached the onset of ripening relatively quicker than Apem. Irradiation caused a significant decrease in the respiratory rate of the plantains. Irrespective of the dose applied, the unirradiated usually had a significantly higher respiratory rate and the accompanying carbon dioxide production. Plantain varieties irradiated at 1000 Gy had the highest amount of total soluble solids contents (10.7°Brix) significantly higher than the other stages of ripening yet similar to the plantain varieties irradiated at 600 Gy (10.6°Brix), 800 Gy (10.6°Brix) and the unirradiated (0 Gy) plantain varieties (10.3°Brix). The lower levels of soluble solids may confer a better cooking quality as plantains would be less sweet and also less prone to textural breakdown when cooked.

Plantain Bananas PIF Seedlings Treatment with Liquid Extracts of <i>Tithonia diversifolia</i>Induces Resistance to Black Sigatoka Disease

Plantain bananas culture encounters the problems of seedlings quantity and quality unavailability. Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) is one of the main pathological constraints of banana that can severely reduce the photosynthetic leaf area, leading to the losses of production of about 50% in banana plantation. The use of liquid extracts of Tithonia diversifolia could potentially induced the resistance of the PIF seedlings to BSD during the vegetative stages in the nursery. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Tithonia diversifolia liquid extracts against the development of BSD on the PIF plantain bananas seedlings. The explants in the greenhouse and the seedlings in the shade were watered with liquid extracts of T. diversifolia during the process of PIF seedling production in sterile and non-sterile conditions. The treated seedlings show a more effective enhancement of seedlings quality parameters and also induce resistance against BSD. The vegetative stages parameters (the number of shoots, the diameter and the height of shoots, the foliar area, the length and weight roots) were improved in treated seedlings compared to controls ones. The treated seedlings showed maximum protection against BSD of up to 87% compared to controls. They also exhibited an increase in the accumulation of total proteins and total phenolics, as well as the activity of defense-related enzymes (peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and glucanase). The treatment seems to acts as a vital stimulator and could therefore be a useful tool for small holder farmers favouring an eco-friendly agriculture using fewer synthetic inputs.

Potential Biostimulant Effect of Clam Shells on Growth Promotion of Plantain PIF Seedlings (<i>var</i>. Big Ebanga &Batard) and Relation to Black Sigatoka Disease Susceptibility

Plantain contributes significantly to income generation and food security for millions of people in the world. However, it faces problems of seedlings quantity, quality and availability. The innovation of the “plants issus de fragments de tiges” (PIF) technique could be a solution to these problems for small holders’ farmers. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of clam shells through amendment of Batard and Big Ebanga PIF substrate, on the growth promotion of seedlings and their protection against black Sigatoka disease (BSD). Plantain PIF seedlings of the two varieties were grown in a substrate amended with 1% concentration of the clam shells powder in the presence of negative control in the sterile and non-sterile conditions. Agromorphological characteristics, susceptibility level to BSD, total proteins and polyphenols content were assessed. Because of the presence of clam shells in the substrates, explants germinated quickly, generated high number of shoots, grew taller by 32%, with a diameter of pseudo stems of 30%, and area of leaves of 18% compared to control. In addition, the seedlings were less susceptible to BSD by 73% compared to those of controls. The treatment seems to allow the accumulation of larger amounts of total proteins and polyphenols before inoculation and after inoculation that could participate in the growth promotion and the reduction of plant’s susceptibility level. Clam shells treatment acts as a biofertilizer/biopesticide and could be helpful to boost production of plantain seedlings, the use of the by-products of fishing in agriculture and helps alleviate poverty of small holders’ farmers.

The Use of Ripe Plantain (<i>Musa spp</i>.) and Peppercorns for Beverage Processing as a Pro-Vitamin A Carotenoid and Nutrition Catalyst

Plantain (Musa spp.) constitutes an essential food crop in both tropical and subtropical areas. The staple’s nutritional value and provitamin A carotenoid potential has attracted more interest and usage. Plantain (Musa spp.) optimization into food recipes has been identified to increase patronage and minimises food wastage, due to the fruit’s (pulp) high perishability nature. In this study, local over ripe plantain (Musa spp.) was sampled and used in a beverage production. The beverage was processed from pureed ripe plantain, by three days fermentation of the pureed plantain mixture, boiling, and spicing, preservation with syrup, storage, and usage. The product’s processing was followed with a sensory evaluation of the new beverage on taste, appearance, color, flavour, and overall acceptability. Majority of the respondents indicated the new product was good and was well accepted. The research sought to create food diversity, encourage more usage of the crop and to highlight the nutritional values of plantain (Musa spp.) which is particularly high in provitamin A carotenoid to address Vitamin A deficiency in low resource setting communities.

Giving More Benefits to Biosurfactants Secreted by Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Plantain Wine by Using Multiplex PCR Identification

Fermented beverages have continued to give more surprises in terms of the presence of biomolecules and the diversity of microorganisms that may be contained. Republic of Congo is home to a panoply of fermented foods and beverages that are still not yet studied. This is the case of plantain wine fluently called banana wine. Within this framework, this work aims to study the role of Biosurfactant-like Biomolecules secreted during fermentation of plantain wine. Using MRS medium, 15 isolates bacteria have been found. 100% are able to secrete biosurfactant and 66.66% are extractible biosurfactants. 33% of isolates have been associated to Lactobacillus plantarum (Is2, Is9, Is12 and Is13) by using a one-step multi-plex PCR that targets genes encoding for bacteriocins. Biosurfactants secreted by L. plantarum play an important role in the preservation of banana wine. The biosurfactants extracted with chloroform and ammonium sulphate are able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria including Shigella flexneri, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphy-lococcus aureus.

Effects of Plantain (<i>Musa species</i>) as Shade on the Growth Performance of Cocoa Seedlings in the Nursery at Ibadan, Southwest, Nigeria

Nursery experiment was carried out at Ibadan, Nigeria between May 2004 and October 2005 to evaluate the use of plantain as a permanent cocoa nursery shade crop. Ibadan is located between latitude 07?10'N and longitude 03?52'E and lies at an altitude of about 122 metres above the sea level. The treatments consisted of six shade regimes provided by plantain spaced at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and, 3.1 m apart, the control had no shade at all (open planted cocoa). Each treatment had one hundred cocoa seedlings planted in polythene bag filled with topsoil and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Data on vegetative growth of cocoa seedlings were taken on monthly basis, while plantain height, girth, number of leaves, bunch weight, number of fingers and market value of each treatment were evaluated. Light intensity under each of the treatment was taken using light meter. Result showed that cocoa seedlings under plantain shade planted at 1.0 m and 1.5 m apart were higher in height relative to control and other treatments considered, shade regimes provided by spacing at 3.1 × 3.1 m and 2.5 m × 2.5 m apart on the other hand produced higher values for stem diameter and leaf area respectively compared to other treatments, the least values were recorded under 1.0 m × 1.0 m apart. Seedlings under 2.5 m and 3.1 m spacing were significantly (p > 0.05) higher for these parameters than other treatments. Higher incidence of weed was also recorded from the control. Plantain bunch obtained from 2.5 m and 3.1 m apart was higher than other treatments in terms of weight, number of fingers and market value, while the control (no plantain shade) did not give any economic returns. Hence, plantain planted at spacing of 2.5 m or 3.1 m apart could be recommended to the cocoa farmers in Nigeria as nursery shade instead of conventional method of using bamboo and palm fronds yearly without any additional economic return.

Effects of Use and Re-Use of Selected Vegetable Oils on the Proximate, Minerals, Mineral Ratios and Mineral Safety Index of Raw and Fried Plantain Chips: Note I

Raw and fried plantain chips obtained from the use and re-use of olive, refined palm olein and coconut oils were investigated for the proximate, mineral compositions, computed mineral ratios and the mineral safety index using standard analytical methods. For the selected oils (both use and re-use): first and second re-use and the fresh plantain chips (unprocessed plantain chips;UPC) had the following range results: proximate composition (%) (moisture: 8.20 - 12.3, crude protein: 9.70 - 8.60, fat: 7.40 - 12.9, fibre: 3.50 - 4.90, ash: 2.80 - 3.80 and carbohydrates: 63.5 - 64.8), % energy contributions (PEC: 63.4 - 70.8, PEF: 20.2 - 28.6, PEP: 8.03 - 9.66, UEDP: 4.49 - 5.08). The mineral composition (mg/100g) of the samples had the following greater than 80.0: Ca, Mg, K and P;Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn recorded values ranging between 1.00 and 4.00;Co, Se and Ni had their concentrations between 0.00 and 0.0363 whereas Pb and Cd recorded levels lower than 0.0006. In the mineral ratios, only K/(Ca + Mg) values fell within the acceptable ideal range. No MSI aberration was observed for the minerals from all the samples obtained from the various oils. The chi-square analysis showed that on parameter wise comparisons, there were no significant differences among the levels as treated based on the various oils except gross energy, Mg, K, P, Ca/P, Fe/Pb and K/Co. Also on pairwise comparison from linear correlation and regression, all these parameters were significantly different at r = 0.01 between the unprocessed and fried plantain samples: proximate, percentage energy distribution, mineral and mineral ratios. Generally, the first (day) frying showed fairly high nutrient concentration than the first and second re-use oils products. Therefore, for optimum nutrient preservation from fried plantain chips re-use of oil for frying should be sparingly allowed. However, olive showed highest level of nutrients in terms of proximate and mineral compositions.

Bioethanol Production from <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>Biomass Cultivated with Plantain (<i>Musa paradisiaca</i>) Peels Extract

The feasibility of nutrient uptake by Chlorella vulgaris using a cheap carbon source such as plantain peel extract was studied and its biomass utilized for bioethanol production. Unripe plantain peels were obtained, processed, infused for 48 hrs, extracted and cultivated with the Chlorella species for a period of fourteen days. The microalgal carbohydrate content was hydrolyzed with acid and enzyme while the hydrolysate fermented with 10% concentration of Saccharomyces sp. and Aspergillus sp. at 30°C and pH 4.5 using Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation (SHF) and Separate Hydrolysis and Co-culture Fermentation (SHCF) methods. Results show that maximum cell growth of 1.56 (OD) and biomass concentration of 19 g/l were obtained with 48 hrs infusion. The result indicated that C. vulgaris utilized PPE medium as a sole carbon substrate and stimulated the secretion of biomass. The highest reducing sugar of 0.63 mg/ml was obtained after hydrolysis of the biomass, while the ethanol production yield of 0.33 g/l was obtained after fermentation. The ethanol production yield increased with the increase in fermentation time, while the reducing sugar was reduced after five days of fermentation. The highest ethanol percentage of 10.82% v/v was obtained from the distillate. This study showed that plantain peel can be utilized by C. vulgaris which provides a feasible route of reducing production cost of bioethanol from a cheap carbon substrate for biomass and bioenergy production.

Optimization of Bleaching Process of Crude Palm Oil by Activated Plantain (<i>Musa paradisiaca</i>) Peel Ash Using Response Surface Methodology

The bleaching of crude palm oil using activated plantain peel ash (APPA) was studied in this work. Historical data design (HDD) in response surface methodology (RSM) experimental design was employed to optimize and correlate the process operating parameters (temperature, time and adsorbent dosage) to the percentage bleaching efficiency. The analysis of the results showed that the quadratic effects of the operating parameters were significant. The optimum condition for the maximum adsorption efficiency of 70.04% was obtained at 160&#176;C temperature, 60 minutes reaction time, and 4 g adsorbent dosage. The predicted bleaching efficiency of 74% was in good agreement with the optimum experimental yield. This study has revealed that APPA is a good source of adsorbent for palm oil bleaching.

Genotypic Variation in Yield and Yield Components of Plantain (<I>Musa</I>spp.) in Response to Containerized Planting Material and Mulching

The study was conducted to evaluate the field performance of local plantain genotypes;Apem, Oniaba, Apantu (AAB) and FHIA 21 (AAAB) suckers that were raised in containers (polybags) and their corresponding conventional suckers. Half of the containerized and conventional suckers in each plot were mulched with empty fruit bunch (EFB). Survival rate three months after transplanting was higher in containerized (100%) than conventional materials (60%) with or without mulching. Mulching increased the girth at flowering and total leaf area by 8% and 28% respectively, and reduced the number of days to flowering. Mulching also increased yield of plantain and the highest was recorded in FHIA 21. Bunch yield of container raised suckers per hectare was 19% greater than conventional suckers, due to higher survival rate after transplanting. Bunch yield among the genotypes in decreasing order was as follows, FHIA21 (20.7), Oniaba (16.9), Apem (15.9) and Apantu (13.2) tons/ha. Mulching increased the yield components such as, pulp weight, peel weight, finger weight and number of fingers. Genotypic variation in pulp yield was in the following decreasing order Apantu > FHIA 21 > Oniaba > Apem fresh weight. The pulp to peel ratio was in the following decreasing order Apantu > FHIA 21 > Apem > Oniaba. It is concluded that raising plantain suckers in polybags and applying EFB mulch is an improved production technique.

Evaluation of coffee intercropped with rice and plantain at early stage of field establishment in Nigeria

An intercropping experiment involving coffee (sole), coffee/rice, coffee/plantain and coffee/ rice/plantain was carried out between 2007 and 2008 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Uhonmora Substation, Edo State situated in a derived Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with above mentioned treatment and replicated three times. The spacing used for coffee and plantain was 3 m apart respectively while rice was sown 30 cm apart. Morphological parameters such as plant height, stem girth, leaf area and canopy score were taken on coffee monthly while the survival count were taken after two months of field establishment. Yields of the component crops were also collected at maturity. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis of variance and LSD used to separate the means that were significant. Result obtained showed 98% survival without any significant difference among the treatments. On vegetative growth, coffee/rice and coffee/plantain were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than coffee sole and coffee/rice/plantain in plant girth and leaf area but not significantly higher in all the months. Plant height however did not follow the same trend as height in coffee sole was slightly higher than coffee/rice. However, the difference was not significant. But coffee/plantain was still significantly higher (P < 0.05) than coffee/rice/plantain. The least was recorded in coffee/rice/plantain intercrop. Grain and bunch yields from rice and plantain respectively in the intercrops compare favourable well to what obtain from coffee sole. From the result obtained, it could be concluded that there was no deleterious effect on growth when rice and plantain were intercropped with coffee. Therefore coffee/rice and coffee/plantain intercropped with better performance could be recommended to coffee farmers in Nigeria rather than sole planting of coffee.