The Bananas of Upland East Africa - D&E trial at Ibaraizibu

The site, shamba of Mr Yusto Barubuka, was alongside the main A1 road, 10 km from Bukoba (Tanzania Grid Reference UP625475) and at approximately 1280 m (4200 feet) asl. The site layout was as shown. Pre-planting all old corms inspected had major root destruction and most fresh roots infested with nematodes. Observed weevil damage was mainly to the exterior of the corms.

Planting work started on 28.7.88 and was completed by 3.8.88; other than a few in the centre of Plot FC, held up by waiting for more manure, and finished on 26.9.88.

Sadly a film with photographs of the planting and early growth was lost.

On 16.12.88 almost all had germinated, the last being in Plot O.

The whole was in good condition on 11.1.89. but by 2.2.89 Plot FC was markedly the better, then C, F and O (noticeably the poorest).The delayed FC plants had caught up with the earlier plantings.

R = replant; S = stunted (most probably due to proximity to rocks which were scattered through the site), M = missing.

At that time the rearmost row of Plot O appeared somewhat overshadowed by large banana plants (e.g. the Gros Michel shown below) and coffee bushes.

The state of the site, as seen from the FC end (nearest stool is bottom left of FC2) in August 1989.

Some plants had flowered by 9.1.90, so all plants were then measured for heights and girths. Plots FC2 and C2 were given another carbofuran treatment. A final evaluation was made on 30.4.90.