Effects of Planting Methods on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Selected Banana (Musa AAA) Clones

Abstract

This study was conducted at the experimental farm of the
National Institute for the Promotion of Horticultural Exports, University
of Gezira, Sudan, during 2007/08. The objective was to study the effects
of planting methods on growth, yield and fruit quality of three banana
clones. Methods of planting were planting banana suckers in flats,
furrows or in beds. In-row and inter-row spacing of planting was 3m and
2m, respectively. Three banana clones were used, namely, Williams
Hybrid (WH), Grand Nain (GN) (introduced clones) and the local clone
Dwarf Cavendish (DC). Split-plot design with three replicates was used,
where planting methods were the main plots and banana clones were the
sub-plots. Results showed that planting methods had significant effects on
vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of bananas, regardless of the
clone used. Furrow planting resulted in the tallest plants with the thickest
pseudostems and the highest yield followed by the flat method and then
bed method. The introduced clones WH and GN were taller, with thicker
pseudostems and higher yields than the local clone DC. The clone WH,
planted in furrows, took the longest duration from planting to shooting;
however, it took the shortest period from shooting to harvesting. The
highest total soluble solids of fruits were obtained by the bed planting
method.