Agronomic Performance of Big Ebanga Plantain Banana (Musa paradisiaca) Using Rubber Seed Cake Meal as Biofertilizer Popularized in Ivory Coast

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biofertilizing effect of rubber seed meal on the agronomic parameters of the Big Ebanga variety of plantain (Musa paradisiaca). Place and Duration of Study: National Agricultural Research Center (Bimbresso, Abidjan, Ivory Coast) from March 2024 to January 2025. Methodology: A randomized block experimental design was used with four treatments and four replicates for each treatment on an area of one hectare. The treatments consisted of: T1 (240 kg/ha of nitrogen (N) and 658 kg/ha of potassium (K)); T2 (5 kg of banana cake); T3: (7.5 kg of cake/banana tree) and T4 (10 kg of cake/banana tree). The work consisted of measuring agronomic parameters such as the height and circumference of plantain trees, the number of leaves produced, the number of functional leaves, and the interval between planting and flowering. Results: The results showed that rubber seed meal promotes optimal growth in banana plants. Banana plants that received 10 kg of rubber seed meal flowered only ten days after those that received chemical fertilizer. The number of leaves alive at flowering was also higher than the minimum recommended for a good yield. The yield was 22 t/ha for treatment T4 and 25 t/ha for chemical fertilizer (T1). Statistically, the two yields are identical. Conclusion: Seed cake is rich in fertilizing potential. A dose of 10 kg/plant could be suitable for plantain cultivation.