Caractérisation de l’agroforêt LIMBA-bananier de la Réserve de Biosphère de Luki (Mayumbe, Bas-Congo)

Few studies have been realised about agroforestry systems including banana plants. The aim
of this study is to carry out a better knowledge of the original agroforestry system: the limba –
banana (Terminalia superba- Musa acuminate cult. ‘Gros Michel’). To achieve this aim, the
attention has been put on three points: characterizing the woody component, estimating the
yield of the banana understorey crop and evaluating the vegetal diversity of this system. The
limbas’ plantation doesn’t show anymore its expected silvicultural potential. Its density is in
average 26 limbas per hectare, which represents a volume of 136.71 m³/ha, that is to say the
third of a limba’s plantation volume with the same age and with 86 limbas/ha. The botanical
composition of this system does not fundamentally differ from a pure limba’s plantation.
However, the woody vegetal diversity is reduced by a half. With a canopy closure at 60 %,
the yield of 20-year old banana plantation is 25 % lower than a classic banana plantation yield
of the province (Bas-Congo). This yield is suitable for a banana plantation of this age with no
external input. Banana plantations in open field are usually abandoned after 10 years because
of an unsufficient yield, and they are then lied fallow for 10 to 15 years. This agroforestry
system appears to be sustainable and it suits perfectly the transition areas of the Biosphere
Reserve of Luki.