Location and plant materials: All field trials were established at
Al- Suwiaq in Al-Batinah region in northern Oman, (23.87°N latitude
and 57.23°E longitude). The region is characterized by a warm and
humid tropical climate. It is located at an altitude of 27 m above sea
level. Banana (Musa acuminata Colla, Cavendish cv. 'Williams')
plants were grown in the field at a spacing of 1.8 m between mats
and 2.0 m between rows. The mats were planted in three lines with
two (guard) borderlines and each mat had a maximum of two
suckers. Other standard practices such as pruning dry leaves,
desuckering, propping, bell or male flower removal and weeding
were regularly done.