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

Famaye Amos Olatunde, Iremiren Gerald Oaikhena, Akanbi Olorunfemi Sunday Ojo, Ayegbonyin Kayode Olufemi, Adejobi Kayode Babatunde

Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ns.2014.66043                

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Musa Species, Evaluation, Plantain, Cocoa, Nursery

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Coste, R. (1992) Coffee: The Plant and Products. Macmillan Press Ltd., London, 328p.
[2]	Famaye, A.O. (2000) Effect of Shade Regimes on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Seedling and on Matured Tree of Coffee Species in Nigeria. PhD Thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 223p.
[3]	Bray, R.A. and Kurtz, L.T. (1945) Determination of Total Organic and Available Forms of Phosphorus in Soils. Soil Science, 59, 39-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-194501000-00006
[4]	Nelson, D.W. and Somers (1982) Organic Carbon and Soil Extracts. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2—Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, 539-579.
[5]	Udo, E.J. and Ogunwale, J.O. (1986) Laboratory Manual for the Analysis of Soil, Plant and Water Samples. 2nd Edition, Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
[6]	Opeke, L.K. (1987) Tropical Tree Crops. John Willey and Sons Ltd., New York, 321p.
[7]	Wood, G.A.R. and Lass, R.A. (1985) Cocoa. 4th Edition, Longman, London, 620-632.
[8]	Egbe, N.E., Ayodele, E.A. and Obatolu, C.R. (1989) Fertilizer Use on Production of Cocoa, Kola, Coffee, Cashew and Tea in Nigeria. In: Progress in Tree Crop Research, 2nd Edition, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, 28-38.
[9]	Are, L.A. and Adenikinju, S.A. (1967) CRIN-MANR Establishment Trials. 1965/1966 Annual Report, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan.
[10]	Van Eijnattern, C.M. (1966) Kola. Annual Report. Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, 1965/66.
[11]	Obatolu, C.R (1988) Soil Supporting Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Arabica Coffee Cultivated in Nigeria. The 1st All African Soil Science Society Congress, Kampala, 5-10 December 1988, 18p.