The Bananas of Upland East Africa - D&E Trial at Kalema

The site was 3 km past the large Roman Catholic Mission at Kashozi and some 14 km north from Bukoba (Tanzania Grid Reference UP694661) and at approximately 1240 m (4070 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 was done on 23.12.88.

The first germination was seen on a visit of 14.1.89, with one stool in each plot.

Forty-one of the sixty-four stools had germinated on 4.2.89, with 15 of 16 in Plot FC. The whole site had been weeded and mulched.

An inspection visit with sub-plot treatment was made on 26.6.89. The revised site layout shows the subdivision for the additional carbofuran, plus the numbers of suckers prior to "pruning" and reduction to one sucker per stool. The "R" indicates a replanted stool. The line of stools on the right was noticeably stunted, presumably due to competition from the adjoining coffee and Gros Michel bananas.

The first measurement of height and girth, together with notation of flowering was made on 16.1.90, week 55, together with a further application of carbofuran to FC2 and C2. The photo was taken from beside the house, showing stools in Plots FC and F (one with a bunch).