Understanding growth of East Africa highland banana: experiments and simulation.

East Africa Highland banana yields on smallholder farms in the Great Lakes region are small. The major causes of poor yields are declining soil fertility in Uganda, Burundi and soil moisture stress. In order to improve production, knowledge on highland banana physiology, growth patterns and response to fertilization is important, to establish the potential yield of the crop, to quantify the yield gaps between potential and actual yield, and to explore options for closing the yield gaps.

Measurements of plant morphological characteristics, radiation interception and biomass (by destructive harvesting) were taken in experimental fields in central and southwest Uganda.