Effects of organic fertilizers on the macropropagation, vegetative growth, and pest infestation on plantain (Musa sp.)

Abstract

One of the major constraints to the expansion of plantain cultivation has been the scarcity of healthy planting material. Decapitation, following macropropagation technology, stimulation of lateral bud development and plantlet production. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of decapitation, following macropropagation technology, to stimulate lateral bud development and plantlet production in Musa sp. The experiment was carried out at both the macropropagators' level and in the nursery. The experiment was laid out using the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments (Control, T1 – Biozyme, T2 – Radix Tim, T3 – Compo, and T4 – DI Grow) with 10 replicates in three blocks. All plants were administered equal amounts of each treatment. The results at the bud incubation level revealed that bud initiation was not significantly dependent on the treatment. Although not significant, the Biozyme® treatment had the highest mean number of plantlets (46 plants). The organic fertilizers had significant effects (p = 0.001) on the vegetative growth of nursery plants. The maximum vegetative growth (plant height of 7.86±0.32 cm, girth of 10.6±0.3cm, 4±0.12 number of leaves, leaf area of 144 ±5.00 cm2) was recorded with plants treated with T2 – Radix Tim® (50 ml/7.5 L of water). Snails were the only nursery pests identified, and plants treated with T3 (Compo®) were more susceptible to snails, with a mean of 0.04±0.02. Net profit margin results for the different treatments were high for T1 (60) and lowest for T2 (24). The organic fertilizers have significant effects in improving the vegetative growth of plantains therefore, Radix Tim® and DI Grow® were the best treatments for the production of healthy, vigorous nursery plants.