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Effect of plant density on growth and yield inBarraganete plantain (Musa paradisiaca(L.)AAB cv. Curare enano) for a single harvest cuttingin Provincia de Los Ríos, Ecuador

Abstract:

The optimum plant density in Barraganete plantain (Musa paradisiaca(L.) AAB cv. Curare enano) was determined inLos Angeles-Provinciade Los Ríos, Ecuador.Treatments (sowing distance: T1 = 3m × 4m, T2 = 3m × 3m, T3= 3m × 2m, T4 = 3m × 1.5m and T5 = 3m × 1m),were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replicates per treatment.The number of hands per cluster, hand weight, weeks toflowering, weeks to harvest, production for export and weed incidence inplantain crop,were evaluated.Variance analysis was performed and meanswere submitted to the Tukey test at 5% probability (p= 0.05). The optimum sowing distance was 2mbetween plants and 3mbetween rows. The best density was 1666 plants.ha-1and obtained the best averagehand weight (14.5 kg), the best average number of hands (4.9), the best average in weeks to harvest after flowering (12.1 Weeks) and the best production (kg.ha-1) of export bunches (close to 22 t.ha-1).Analysiswith logistic models show the higher densities, whichpresent advantages in their use, fact related to the increase of the annual plantain production. For this reason, values between 2150 and 2500plants.ha-1are postulated as optimal densities. Weed decreases with increasing plant density to a minimum of 227.94 g.m-2in the highest plant density treatment.