Abstract
Plantain is an important staple in West and Central Africa, where it is predominantly grown by smallholder farmers. On-farm data are rare but yields are considered to be low. We collated actual yields in the region, reviewed regional plantain research published from 1976 to 2013, then estimated what yields would be attainable on smallholder farms if the proven, best-fit innovations were adopted. Mean actual yields reported ranged from 2.9 to 8.9 Mg ha −1 with a mean of 5.7 Mg ha −1 for False horn plantain and 4.5 to 10.2 Mg ha −1 with a mean of 7.8 Mg ha −1 for French plantain. Experiments found dealt with: cultural practices, particularly intercropping; abiotic factors such as fertiliser, mulch application and irrigation; biotic factors, predominantly sucker sanitation methods, but including three controlled yield loss studies on nematodes and black sigatoka; landrace comparisons and the introduction of improved cultivars, predominantly those exhibiting black sigatoka-tolerance. We conclude that intercropping should be retained according to farmer preference as there was no evidence of yield reductions for plantain. Boiling water treatment of suckers should be universally recommended. Inputs, whether mulch or K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 , should be applied as both reduced plant losses and increased bunch mass. With the highest yielding local landrace type, on-farm yields could be increased from 7.8 Mg ha −1 to 35.5 Mg ha −1 with purchased inputs or to 23.7 Mg ha −1 without purchased inputs.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
False horn plantain actual yields ranged from 2.9 to 8.9 Mg ha −1, averaging 5.7 Mg ha −1.
Verbatim
e0“Mean actual yields reported ranged from 2.9 to 8.9 Mg ha −1 with a mean of 5.7 Mg ha −1 for False horn plantain”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
French plantain actual yields ranged from 4.5 to 10.2 Mg ha −1, averaging 7.8 Mg ha −1.
Verbatim
e0“4.5 to 10.2 Mg ha −1 with a mean of 7.8 Mg ha −1 for French plantain.”
t0“Improving plantain”
e1“Mean actual yields reported ranged from 2.9 to 8.9 Mg ha −1 with a mean of 5.7 Mg ha −1 for False horn plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping showed no evidence of reducing plantain yields.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupe0
- Treatment
- intercroppinge1
- Outcome
- yield reductionse0
- Direction
- no evidencee0
Verbatim
e0“there was no evidence of yield reductions for plantain.”
e1“intercropping should be retained according to farmer preference”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend retaining intercropping according to farmer preference.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Outcome
- intercropping should be retained according to farmer preferencee0
Verbatim
e0“intercropping should be retained according to farmer preference”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend boiling water treatment of suckers universally.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Outcome
- Boiling water treatment of suckers should be universally recommendede0
Verbatim
e0“Boiling water treatment of suckers should be universally recommended.”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulch reduced plantain losses.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Treatment
- mulche0
- Outcome
- plant lossese0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Inputs, whether mulch or K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 , should be applied as both reduced plant losses and increased bunch mass.”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 reduced plantain losses.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Treatment
- K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1e0
- Outcome
- plant lossese0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Inputs, whether mulch or K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 , should be applied as both reduced plant losses and increased bunch mass.”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulch increased plantain bunch mass.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Treatment
- mulche0
- Outcome
- bunch masse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Inputs, whether mulch or K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 , should be applied as both reduced plant losses and increased bunch mass.”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 increased plantain bunch mass.
- Taxon
- plantainMusa ABB Groupt0
- Treatment
- K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1e0
- Outcome
- bunch masse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Inputs, whether mulch or K fertiliser up to 300 kg ha −1 , should be applied as both reduced plant losses and increased bunch mass.”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
With the highest yielding local landrace, purchased inputs could increase yields from 7.8 to 35.5 Mg ha −1.
Verbatim
e0“With the highest yielding local landrace type, on-farm yields could be increased from 7.8 Mg ha −1 to 35.5 Mg ha −1 with purchased inputs”
t0“Improving plantain”
Claim · model-written summary
With the highest yielding local landrace, yields could increase from 7.8 to 23.7 Mg ha −1 without purchased inputs.
Verbatim
e0“With the highest yielding local landrace type, on-farm yields could be increased from 7.8 Mg ha −1 to 35.5 Mg ha −1 with purchased inputs or to 23.7 Mg ha −1 without purchased inputs.”
t0“Improving plantain”
The same questions in other papers
fertilization · survival · Musa x paradisiaca (banana)Positive and negative results
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- negative
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mulching · survival · Musa x paradisiaca (banana)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.