Effect of Plant Density on Growth, Yield and Quality of Banana (Musa AAA) Cavendish cv. Grand Nain under Kassala conditions

Ahmed B. A. Khalifa; Ebtihal H. M. Hamid; Abdelhamed M. Magboul

Ahmed B. A. Khalifa Kassala and Gash Research Station, Kassala, Kassala State, Sudan.
Ebtihal H. M. Hamid Kassala and Gash Research Station, Kassala, Kassala State, Sudan
Abdelhamed M. Magboul Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani, Gizera State, Sudan

Keywords: Plant density, pseudo stem, banana, grand Nain, bunch

Abstract

The experiment was established in a private farm at Alqurashi village near Atbara River, Aroma locality, Kassala State, Sudan. Three months old plants of banana cv. “Grand Nain”, propagated by tissue culture, were transplanted in the field on first of January 2022 at nine spacing of 2×2m, 2×2.5m, 2×3m, 2×3.5m, 2×4m, 3×2.5m, 3×3m, 3×3.5m and 3×4m. The treatments were replicated 3 times in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and each plot encompassed 12 plants. Results showed that, higher growth parameters were recorded under spacing of 3×2.5m. Least time from planting to flowering and from flowering to harvesting were observed on plants under spacing of 3×2.5m for the mother plant and first ratoon crops. The highest bunch weight and total yield were obtained on plants spaced at 3×2.5m. The highest marginal rate of return (26.18) was recorded at this treatment.