K. (Kenneth) Nyombi: “Understanding growth of East Highland banana: Experiments and Simulation”

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2 Mar 2010 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. K. Giller (Plant Production Systems)
Co Promotor: Dr.ir. P.A. Leffelaar, Dr. P.A. van Asten (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Uganda)

 East Africa highland banana yields on smallholder farms in the Great Lakes region are small.  In order to improve production, knowledge on highland banana crop physiology, growth patterns and response to fertilization is important. Results showed that total leaf area can be estimated by using height and girth (middle leaf area) and number of functional leaves. We have showed that allometric relationships can be derived and used to estimate biomass during growth and bunch weights. Yield increases above the control obtained in the fertilizer trials ranged from 2.2−11.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1 (control 13.0 Mg ha−1 yr−1) at Kawanda, and 7.0−29.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1 (control 7.9 Mg ha−1 yr−1) at Ntungamo.  Using the LINTUL BANANA 1 model, the computed potential yield of East Africa highland banana is more than 18 Mg ha−1 DW (100 Mg ha−1 FW). Management options that increase light use efficiency and reduce the relative death rate of leaves, and improvements in parameters related to light interception (Specific leaf area and Light extinction coefficient) are important to increase yield. 
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