Nitrogen fertilizer influenced harvest index of plantain (Musa AAB, cv. Agbagba) in a sub-humid zone of southeastern Nigeria

Application of N-fertilizer to crops promotes vegetative growth, in some cases to the disadvantage of economic yield. Therefore, four rates (0, 224, 448 and 672 kg N/ha) of urea-N fertilizer were evaluated for their effect on growth, yield and harvest index of Falsehorn plantain (cv. Agbagba). The rate of N-fertilizer significantly (P = 0.05) influenced growth and some components of yield. Hat-vest index significantly (P = 0.05) increased up to 448 kg N/ha and then declined. There was a 7% higher harvest index advantage when 448 kg N/ha was applied, compared with the control. Time of flowering and the proportion of the total biological yield partitioned to other plant components had negative correlation with harvest index.