RADOPHOLUS SIMILIS INFECTION ON MUSA SPECIES AS AFFECTED BY PLANTING DEPTH AND POULTRY MANURE RATES IN NIGERIA ULTISOL

Abstract

Yield and burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis infection of Musa species as affected by planting depth and poultry manure rates as soil organic amendments were studied in a Randomized Complete Block Design fitted into a 2x3x3 factorial experiment with 6 replications. The soil organic amendments were applied to two Musa varieties (Musa AAB and Musa ABB). The poultry manure was applied at the rates of 0 t/ha, 5 t/ha and 10 t/ha while the planting depths were 30 cm,45 cm and 60 cm depth respectively. The 0 t/ha of poultry manure served as the control. Result at harvest showed that R. similis population density and its infection assessment on Musa species varied among the organic amendments applied. The same was true for leaf area, leaf area index, number of leaves, plant height, flowering-maturity intervals, length of fingers, finger girth, number of fingers per hand, number of hands per bunch, weight per hand and weight per bunch. Planting depth of 60 cm and 10 t/ha of poultry manure rate efficiently inhibited the activities of R. similis nematode inversion and therefore improved yield and yield components. Hence, 60 cm planting depth and 10 t/ha of poultry manure demonstrated better soil organic amendment for control of R. similis damage on Musa species in Nigeria ultisol endemic with burrowing nematodes.