African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) intercrop enhances the growth of micro-propagated plantain (Musa paradisiaca AAB ‘Agbagba’)

Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are major staple crops, providing income and food security to many small-holder households in Africa.
In the large-scale production of plantains, micro-propagation methods have been used.
However, growing micro-propagated plantains is challenging in nutrient-depleted soils.
In this study, the early growth of hardened micro-propagated plantain (Musa paradisiaca AAB ‘Agbagba’) intercropped with three accessions (TSs-1, TSs-4, and TSs-6) of African yam bean (AYB) on the field plot was investigated.
The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in four replicates.
Data were collected monthly until 6 months after planting (MAP) on pseudostem height (cm), leaf length (cm), leaf area (cm²), leaf number, and pseudostem girth (mm). Micro-propagated plantain without AYB served as the control.
The results at 6 MAP showed that micro-propagated plantain intercropped with AYB TSs-1, TSs-6, and TSs-4 were significantly (p<0.05) taller with heights of 38.2, 39.4, and 41.8 cm, respectively, compared with 28.0 cm in the control.
AYB TSs-4 had a significant (p<0.05) effect on the average leaf length (45.8 cm) and pseudostem girth (8.2 cm) when compared to 28.1 and 7.8 cm, respectively, in the control.
Also, a significant increase in the average number of leaves (6.2 to 12.4) at p<0.05 was observed for intercrop with AYB TSs-6. Therefore, intercropping micro-propagated plantain with underutilized AYB for enhancing early growth is a promising innovation.

XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): XII International Symposium on Banana: Celebrating Banana Organic Production

C.O. Esuola, O.J. Olawuyi

African yam bean, biofertilizer, climate change, Musa spp., organic agriculture

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1367.18