Reflective Mulch Application and Cover Crop Usage to Stimulate Earlier Banana Flowering

Abstract

Bananas possess unique potential as a specialty crop, but require considerable inputs making their production cost prohibitive for smaller farm operations. Innovative production practices of interest are the incorporation of reflective mulches and cover crops in banana production systems. Reflective mulches and cover crop effects on banana phenology were documented under sub-tropical conditions of the Alabama Gulf Coast. Flower emergence of MusaAAB (Mysore subgroup) was 5 days earlier in plants grown on white mulch, but was delayed by 26 days on reflective silver mulch compared to the control. Banana bunches from plants on white or reflective silver mulch were 27% and 15% heavier and were produced on pseudostems that were 12% and 3% taller, respectively, compared to control bunches. MusaABB ‘Dwarf Orinoco’ bananas were planted into experimental plots of crimson clover ( Trifolium incarnatum), hairy vetch ( Vicia villosia) or into natural cover that was 60% bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum) as the control. Banana leaf area was 24% greater in the crimson clover and 10% greater in the hairy vetch compared to the control. Banana pseudostems in crimson clover and hairy vetch were 20% and 8% taller, respectively, than those of the control. Use of mulches or cover crops provided slight gains in advancing productivity of sub-tropical banana cultivars in the Alabama Gulf Coast.