Effect of Mechanized Weeding on Plantain Production in Southeastern Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Plantains are a strategic crop for food security in Côte d'Ivoire, however, the productivity of this crop is constrained by the arduous nature of agricultural work and a growing labour shortage. In order to explore alternatives, a study was conducted in Aboudé-Mandéké (Agboville) and Azaguié-Abbè to evaluate the effectiveness of small-scale mechanization in weeding. The experimental design, randomized in blocks with three replicates, included eight weed control treatments and 17 to 20 plants per replicate. The techniques tested included different types of brush cutters (portable and frame-mounted, equipped with wire or blade), a rotary tiller equipped with a rotary shredder, a Dendelion machete, an ordinary machete, and a herbicide. The results showed that the herbicide (T8) promoted the greatest average plant height (214 cm). In terms of working time, treatment T5 proved to be the most efficient (632.2 min/104 m²), followed by treatment T2 (portative brushcutter with blade). Inversely, the longest times were recorded with the Dendelion machete (T6) and the ordinary machete (T7). Moreover, the portative brushcutter with wire (T1) performed better than the portative brushcutter with blade (T2), while the brushcutter on frame with fire (T3) required more time than the brushcutter on frame with blade (T4). Mechanized weeding appears to be an effective solution for reducing labor intensity and working time, thus offering a promising response to the scarcity of agricultural labor.