Preamble
Plantain and Bananas
are collectively edible plant products. These plants (musa spp) belongs to the genius Musa. Banana and plantain is widely
spread across Nigeria, and there is rarely any homosapien that will say
convincingly that he or she doesn’t eats these plant products. But this write
up is on how plantain and Banana is been managed in Nigeria. Below are some of
the basic methods of cultivating and seemingly managing Plantain and Banana in
Nigeria.
are collectively edible plant products. These plants (musa spp) belongs to the genius Musa. Banana and plantain is widely
spread across Nigeria, and there is rarely any homosapien that will say
convincingly that he or she doesn’t eats these plant products. But this write
up is on how plantain and Banana is been managed in Nigeria. Below are some of
the basic methods of cultivating and seemingly managing Plantain and Banana in
Nigeria.
Mulching: Organic
matter is essential for plantain and banana cultivation. A high level of
organic matter in the soil is beneficial because it stimulates root
development, improves soil drainage, decrease soil temperature fluctuation and
increase soil porosity and biological life.
matter is essential for plantain and banana cultivation. A high level of
organic matter in the soil is beneficial because it stimulates root
development, improves soil drainage, decrease soil temperature fluctuation and
increase soil porosity and biological life.
Fertilization: In order to produce a weighty bunch,
plantains always need some extra macro or essential nutrients. These can be
applied in the form either inorganic fertilizers or organic fertilizers (mulch,
manure) inorganic fertilizers have the advantage of easy handling and
concentrated nutrients. Organic fertilizers are very bulky, yet they manifest
many important characteristics. The application of fertilizers should start one
month after planting. The fertilizer is applied around the main plant in a
circle about 50cm in diameter.
plantains always need some extra macro or essential nutrients. These can be
applied in the form either inorganic fertilizers or organic fertilizers (mulch,
manure) inorganic fertilizers have the advantage of easy handling and
concentrated nutrients. Organic fertilizers are very bulky, yet they manifest
many important characteristics. The application of fertilizers should start one
month after planting. The fertilizer is applied around the main plant in a
circle about 50cm in diameter.
Weed
control: Weed Control can
be hand-pulled or chemically controlled parquet and simazine are appropriate
herbicides since they control the weeds without affecting the two crops
(planting and banana), unless leaves are accidentally sprayed.
control: Weed Control can
be hand-pulled or chemically controlled parquet and simazine are appropriate
herbicides since they control the weeds without affecting the two crops
(planting and banana), unless leaves are accidentally sprayed.
Staking: At fruiting the plantain and banana
should be staked to avoid pseudostem breaking or falling off under the weight
of the bunch
should be staked to avoid pseudostem breaking or falling off under the weight
of the bunch
Harvesting:
The bearing plant is
cut and the bunch, 3 to 4 months old, is harvested when 1 or 2 fingertips of the
first hand start yellowing. The bunch usually then ripens within a week.
The bearing plant is
cut and the bunch, 3 to 4 months old, is harvested when 1 or 2 fingertips of the
first hand start yellowing. The bunch usually then ripens within a week.
Thinning:
After harvest, all
suckers start to grow at the same time and most have been eliminated top stop
competition. The tallest is left to guarantee the follow up and maintain the
density. Thinning usually has to be repeated a month later, as new sucker will
have emerged by that time.
After harvest, all
suckers start to grow at the same time and most have been eliminated top stop
competition. The tallest is left to guarantee the follow up and maintain the
density. Thinning usually has to be repeated a month later, as new sucker will
have emerged by that time.
Disease and pest control
The major pests and diseases of
plantain and banana are explained in detailed in table below.
plantain and banana are explained in detailed in table below.
Table
showing pest and
disease symptom control in Plantain and Banana
showing pest and
disease symptom control in Plantain and Banana
ORGANISM | SYMPTOMS | CONTROL |
(a)Disease (b)Pest Nematodes(worms) -stem borer of banana weevil (cosmopolites sordius) | -Leaf first show yellow spots , which later turn brown and black -Ultimately the leaf tissue become necrotic and dies -Impair the transport of nutrient and water to the main stem causing a reduction in yield and weakening of the plant -The larve attack the underground part of the plant feeding on the corn and boring channels in -Yield drastically reduced | -By aerial application of fungicides belonging to family of benomyl , benzimidazoles etc. -Planting cultivars resistance to black sigatoka provide the only effective means of control -By applying Nematicides in a circle, 25cm in diameter around the plant e.g carbofuran, isazophos etc -leaving the land to fallow -By the application of coffee husk -By insecticides such as carbofuran Isofenphos chloridecone etc -By the use of traps, which is cheap but time consuming and not as effective as the use of insecticides |
