ABSTRACT

The ethno-agroforestry practiced by farmers who grow plantain (Musa AAB, false horn) in rainforest ecosystems after clearing and burning of high forest vegetation in the Blase and Akamkpa Areas of Cross River State, Nigeria was student. The activities of the farmers from forest clearing and burning sucker collection and planting, filed maintenance to bunch harvest were monitored. Their perceptions of the practice and ethno-agroforestry inputs such as ash inputs to the soil following burning and influence of forest belts surrounding the plantain farms were identified and discussed. Soil samples from adjoining forest and cycles of plantain farms were analyzed. Woody plants in adjoining forest belts were identified. Growth and yield parameters measured in sample clumps were; total number of leaves (TNL), number of sound leaves (NSL), number of senescing Leaves (NSCL), number of Leaves with tear (NLT), number of dead leaves (NDL), mean Leaf length MLL mean leaf width (MLW) pseudostem girth (PG) and pseudostem height (PH), 43 woody plants including high tariff species such as Brachystegia spp (1), Diospyros mespi1formis (1) Gosweilerodendron balsamferum (2), Irvingia spp (0), Klaenedoxa spp (2) Lovoa trichiloides (I) Milicia excel.a (I), Poga oleosa (1), Plerocarpus osun (I), Terminalia ivorensis (1), Triplochylon scleroxylon (2) and Funtumia elastica (0), were identified in the forests surrounding the farms. Important soil nutrients for plantain production were enhanced following slashing and burning (K=0.45me/lOogns, Mg=2.4Ome/loogms, Om% = 3.39, PH (H0) =6.43). Analysis of variance of growth parameters in virgin forest land plantain (VFLP), forest fallow land plantain (FFLP) and home garden land plantain (LIGLP) showed that TNL (7.55 to 7.90 ± 0.38) did not differ significantly in the three ecosystem farms. Mean NSL (3.30 to4.90±0.38 NSCL (2.70 to 3.85 ± 0.23), NLT (1.75 to 6.55 ± 0.32), NDL (5.65 to8.45±0.89), PG (33.90 to 69.59 ±5.19cm), PH (2.07 to 3.3 ±0.16m) differed significantly (P=0.01). pattern of development of the different parameters though the growth cycle of about 12 months átter 2 planting was consistent with the growth habit of plantain. Analysis of variance comparing growth parameters in vegetative and bunching phases showed t mean values of TNt (6.05±0.36), NSCL (3.61 ±0.32), MLL (2.14 ±0.07m), differed significantly (p=O.Ol between the phases but not within phases. Mean NSL (2.70 ±0.25), NLT (5.51± 0.40), MLL (2.14 ±0.1 im), MLW (69.3 ± 0.40cm), PG (57.44 ± 0.40cm) and pH (2.89 ± 0.06m) differed significantly (P<0.05) within and between phases. Number of fingers per bunch were related to the other mother pseudostem parameters (R2= 0.63). values of R2 >0.50 for pairs of pseudostem parameters were, TNL and NSL (0.83), TNL and NLT (0.50), TNL and MLL (0.64), TNL and MLW (0.52), TNL and PG (0.59) TNL and pH (O.'12) MLL and MLW (0.91) MLL and PG (0.85), MLW and PH (0.84), PG and P (0.78). Regression of girth of mother pseudostem with number and mean height of suckers per clump showed very low R2 (

<0.1). Mean bunch weight for rainforest and home garden plantains were I4tJha and 1 it/ha respectively. The difference was not statistically significant not with standing the high yields, the practice in rainforest is highly destructive of forests and associated biodiversity. Strict enforcement of forest conversation rules and regulations adoption of participatory a resources management nd utilization and encouragement of alternatives to slash and burn for sustainable food, fruit and fibre production such as tree based forest or home gardening are urgently needed to halt the destruction of what is left of the rain forest in southeastern Nigeria>