Effects of Repetitive Transplanting and Leaf Pruning on Growth and Dry Matter Partitioning of Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman)

摘要

The practices of repetitive transplanting and leaf pruning methods of enset (Ensete ventricosum) plants are not consistent over enset growing areas. Current yield levels in enset production are relatively low and vary between growing areas depending on the different repetitive transplanting and leaf pruning practices. Patterns of enset plant growth over the entire growing season and relative distribution and accumulation of dry matter to the harvestable parts of the crop as influenced by the different practices are important parameters to understand and modify the management practices in an effort to increase the yield of the plant. Influence of repetitive transplanting and leaf pruning methods on growth, dry matter partitioning and dry matter production were studied at the Areka Research Centre, North Omo, Southern Ethiopia. Transplanting treatments significantly affected height, circumference of pseudostem and dry matter yield of corm and pseudostem at all harvest dates. Increase in dry matter was earlier in once (T_1) compared to twice (T_2) and thrice (T_3) treatments. Maximum total plant dry matter yield per unit space of T_1 and T_2 transplanted enset suckers was obtained at flowering at 104 and 234 weeks after first transplanting, respectively. Repetitive transplanting reduced the fitted maximum rate of increase (g m~(-2)week~(-1)) compared to direct transplanting. The dry matter partitioning to the harvestable parts however, were increased as a result of repetitive transplanting. Partitioning of dry matter to the harvestable organs of the plant seems more important than total dry matter production for determining kocho yield of enset plants. For early yield, livestock feed and other purposes however direct transplanting might be practical. Leaf pruning alone or the interaction between leaf pruning and transplanting did not significantly affect dry matter production and partitioning. Circumference of the pseudostem seems a good indicator for high yield of kocho.