GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF PLANTAIN GENOTYPES AS INFLUENCED BY ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

A field experiment was conducted for two cropping cycles to evaluate the growth and yield responses of four plantain genotypes (29525, 30456-3, PITA 14 and Agbagba) to fertilizer source (inorganic, organic fertilizer and no fertilizer) in a 4 x 3 factorial in a complete randomized block design. Genotype 29525 flowered and matured earliest, produced heaviest bunches and highest number of hands and fruits per bunch. Agbagba produced the tallest plants, longest, widest and heaviest fruits. Bunch weight was heavier with the application of inorganic or organic fertilizers. There were genotype and fertilizer interactions for bunch and fruit weights and length in the plant crop with genotype 29525 having the heaviest bunches whereas the heaviest and longest fruits were produced by Agbagba when no fertilizer was applied. Bunch yield per hectare increased with organic fertilizer application.