Growth comparison of Banana cv. Mchare (Huti Green) under full and deficit irrigation conditions in Northern Highlands, Tanzania

Abstract

Drip irrigation in banana farms is an uncommon practice as compared with other horticultural crops. Records for East African Highland Banana (EAHB) diploid (AA subgroup) cv Mchare-Huti Green (HG) cultivated under drip irrigation remain unavailable in the study area. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of drip irrigation on banana growth and bunch yield in the research site situated at 3°23′ 58″ S and 36°47′ 48″ E at an altitude of 1,188m above sea level in Arumeru District, Arusha Region, northern highlands of Tanzania . We investigated the performance of HG under Full irrigation (FI) and Deficit Irrigation (DI) treatments, to assess the influence of drought on banana growth parameters and bunch yield. The results exhibited significant differences within and between treatments of most tested variables. The mean bunch weight in FI was (28.3± 1.75kg plant-1) and DI (19.6±0.97kg plant-1) at (p<0.05) and fresh Aboveground biomass (AGB) in FI (78.81±2.61kg plant-1) and DI (59.23±1.06kg plant-1) at (p<0.05). The correlation coefficient in this study for growth parameters and bunch weight versus AGB indicated significant closer association exemplified by pseudostem girth, pseudostem volume height and bunch weight, with correlation 0.44 to 0.73. Conversely, for bunch weight and its components, correlation ranged from 0.30 to 0.50. The variation in allometric growth parameters calls for integrated soil water management in banana production to ensure the optimal level of available moisture for better performance from the vegetative phase to the generative phase.