Abstract
Plantains, cv Agbagba, established in September were irrigated only during peak soil moisture stress in Nigeria, January-February. Their performance was compared with those irrigated throughout the dry season and those not irrigated at all. Plant establishment was 96.8, 84.6 and 71.4%, respectively, in continuously, peak-and non-irrigated plots. Time to 50% shooting was shortest in the continuously irrigated plantains, the differences between this treatment and the peak-irrigated and non-irrigated treatments being 51 and 111 days, respectively. In association with percentage survival, yields were 12.1, 10.3 and 8.8 t ha-1, respectively, for continuously-, peak-and non-irrigated plantains. The corresponding yields of the first ratoon crops were 13.0, 12.9 and 7.3 t ha-1, respectively.
