Growth and seedling establishment of tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) under varying plantain shade in Southwest Nigeria

Tea beverage is reputed worldwide for its numerous medicinal and nutritional benefits. Hot and humid climate is a major abiotic constraint to the cultivation of tea in Southwest Nigeria. Planting tea with shade trees has been used to ameliorate the adverse effects of hot climate on tea. A field experiment was carried out in Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria stations in Ibadan and Owena, Southwest Nigeria to evaluate the growth and seedling establishment of tea plant under plantain shade. Two tea cultivars (C143 and C318) were planted on the field under three shade regimes (two plantain planting densities [1111 plantain ha^-1 and 2222 plantain ha^-1] and control [zero shade]). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design arranged in Split-plots with four replications. Data on Number of Leaves (NL), Number of Branches (NB), Leaf Area (LA), Plant Height (PH), Stem Diameter (SD) and Survival Count (SC) were collected and analysed with ANOVA and descriptive statistics at α0.05. The results showed that cultivar 143 was significantly better than cultivar 318 in NL, NB, LA, SD and SC in Ibadan and Owena. In Ibadan, plantain density of 2222 increased NL, NB, PH, SD and LA by 24%, 58%, 69%, 89% and 180%, respectively in comparison with 1111 plantain ha^-1, and by 198%, 228%, 320%, 240% and 2364%, respectively compared to zero shade. In Owena, 2222 plantain ha^-1 increased NL, NB, PH, SD and LA by 17%, 7%, 27%, 8% and 55%, respectively in comparison with 1111 plantain ha^-1, and by 94%, 60%, 64%, 18% and 106%, respectively compared to zero shade. Highest tea seedling SC of 79.43% and 78.69% in Ibadan and Owena, respectively was caused by 2222 plantain ha^-1. In Ibadan, highest NL (20.06), NB (5.81) and SD (0.53) were recorded in C143 under 1111 plantain ha^-1; while in Owena, highest NL (82.81), NB (16.56), SD (0.96) and LA (6295.84) were enhanced in C143 under 2222 plantain ha^-1. In conclusion, growing tea cultivar 143 under 1111 plantain/ha and 2222 plantain/ha shade densities enhanced its growth and seedling establishment in Ibadan and Owena.