Influence Of Crop Management And Soil On Plantain [Musa spp. z AAB Group) Response To Black Sigatoka Infection In Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

An on-farm survey was carried out to assess the severity of black sigatoka caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet on plantain in southeastern Nigeria. Two different geomor-phological zones (Meander belts and Coastal plain sands) were surveyed. Four locations were selected for each zone and two traditional farming systems (backyard and field) were studied in each location. Based on geomorphological zones, less black sigatoka infection was observed in the Meander belts than in the Coastal plain sands. On farming systems basis, plantain grown in the backyard gardens had lower disease severity than that planted in the field plots. This difference in black sigatoka severity is attributable to the higher soil fertility in the Meander belts than in the Coastal plain sands and in the backyards than in the fields.

Keywords

• Survey
• Plantain
• Black sigatoka
• Farming System
• Soil fertility