plantain and banana cultivation and cultural practices in plantain farming

basic requirements for the cultivation of plantain and banana

Requirements of successful plantain farming include improved varieties of planting materials called suckers;

soil fertility;

planting spacing know-how;

manure application, and most importantly, water application.

cultural practices in the cultivation of plantain and banana

Land Preparation: Clearing of the land which is followed by stumping and making of ridges or heaps. It can also be done mechanically through ploughing, harrowing and ridging.

Varieties/Cultivars of banana and planting
Gross Michel; Cavendish (dwarf); red banana; canary banana.

Climatic and soil requirements for plantain/banana cultivation

Banana/plantain

plantain tree

plant requires a temperature of 21oC- 25°C, rainfall of l5Ocm – 200cm per annum and a well- drained, rich, loamy soil. if plantain is cultivated in such areas as listed above, the plantain will yield quality produce

Planting Materials for banana/plantain cultivation

: These are corm (or bits), peeper suckers, sword sucker and maiden sucker.

Propagation/planting Date plantain cultivation

: Banana is propagated by vegetative means any time from April to September. Dig a hole and plant the sucker with ball of earth.

The hole should be 60cm x 60cm. The holes are filled with soil(soil management) mixed with organic matter.
Spacing: 4m x 4m

Cultural Practices for the cultivation of banana/plantain

(i) Weeding plantain plantation: This should be done regularly to prevent competition with crops for nutrients.
(ii) Mulching of plantain: This should be done to prevent evaporation.
(iii) Fertilizer Application in plantain farm: Apply Muriate of potash 25kg/ha by ring method at regular intervals.
(iv) how to Prune plantain: This should be done to avoid over-population per stand.
(v) Pests and other insects of plantain should be controlled.

Maturity period for plantain and banana

It matures between 12-18 months, depending on the variety.

Harvesting time of banana
A bunch of banana is harvested when the fruit is severed from the bunch stalk by using cutlass. At times, the pseudo-stem is cut until the tree falls

Processing and storage of banana

the fruit of plantain can be processed into chips, pounded yam-like, can be eaten raw, cooked as plantain porridge or portage

Pests of Banana and control methods

Stem Borer:
the Larvae of some insects bore into and destroy the tissue of the plantain.

Control:
(i) Apply dieldrin dust or furadan
(ii)
Nematode:
It makes the root of banana
to grow galls or knots, leading to poor growth
Control: Use appropriate nematicide
(iii)

Rats and Monkeys affects plantain cultivation:

these eat up the matured or ripe fruits
Control:
(i) Use poison baits
(ii) Set traps
(iii) Harvest ripe fruit early

Diseases of Banana and control methods

Panama disease:It is caused by fungus (Fusarium oxysperum) which is spread through the soil. Symptoms include collapsing of the petiole and withering of the leaves.

how to Control pests of plantain:

(i) Use resistant varieties.
(ii) Spray with fungicide.

(2)

Leaf spot (or Sigatoka) disease of plantain:

It caused by a fungus (Cercospora mycosi haerella) which is transmitted by air wind(airbone diseases). Symptoms: include yellow or brown chiorotic spots which later unite to form or bind lateral to parallel vein.

how to Control leaf spot disease of plantain:

Spray with fungicide, e.g. Bordeaux mixture.

(iii) Bunchy top disease of plantain and banana:
this plantain disease is caused by a virus transmitted by an insect. Symptoms include stunted plant with crowded leaves having curled edges.
Control:
(i) Ensure field sanitation
(ii) Bury or burn infected plants.