Growth comparison of Banana cv. Mchare (Huti Green) under full and deficit irrigation conditions in Northern Highlands, Tanzania

This research article published by International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2020Drip irrigation in banana farms is an uncommon practice as compared with other horticultural crops. Records for East African Highland Banana (EAHB) diploid (AA subgroup) cv Mchare-Huti Green (HG) cultivated under drip irrigation remain unavailable in the study area. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of drip irrigation on banana growth and bunch yield in the research site situated at 3°23′ 58″ S and 36°47′ 48″ E at an altitude of 1,188m above sea level in Arumeru District, Arusha Region, northern highlands of Tanzania . We investigated the performance of HG under Full irrigation (FI) and Deficit Irrigation (DI) treatments, to assess the influence of drought on banana growth parameters and bunch yield. The results exhibited significant differences within and between treatments of most tested variables. The mean bunch weight in FI was (28.3± 1.75kg plant-1) and DI (19.6±0.97kg plant-1) at (p<0.05) and fresh Aboveground biomass (AGB) in FI (78.81±2.61kg plant-1) and DI (59.23±1.06kg plant-1) at (p