Banana Cultivation
Banana (Musa sp.), belonging to the family musaceae, is the favorite fruit among all classes of people because of its year-round availability, affordability, taste, nutritive value, and good export potential. Being a long-duration crop, the total water requirements of banana is high, ranging from 1200 mm in the humid tropics to 2200 mm in the dry tropics. Since banana is a high-nutrient feeder crop, it requires more nutrients compared to other crops, especially potassium, and hence the need for suitable soil preparation and maintenance to get the best yield.
Suitable Soil Conditions
This tropical crop is grown throughout the year under humid weather conditions. The optimum temperature suitable for banana ranges between 25–30°C. The soil type preferred for banana cultivation is deep, well-drained, aerated and nutritionally rich loamy soil with pH of 6–7.5. Saline and calcareous soils are not suitable for banana cultivation.
Land preparation & banana planting system
The land is prepared by plowing twice and harrowing thrice. Leveling is done by tractor after harrowing. Ridges and furrows are made and the pits (30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm) are dug and filled up with well-decomposed farm yard manure (FYM) / compost. The pits are irrigated to allow the soil to settle. In irrigated areas, the planting is done in February–March, and in hilly areas, in April. The planting material (sword sucker of 1.5–2.0 kg weight) is treated with a solution of 250 gm of ghee, 0.500 gm of honey and 15 kg of cow dung. The spacing adopted is 1.5 m x 1.5 m and 1.5 m x 1.8 m (depending upon the variety).
The plants need to be irrigated immediately after planting. About 30–40 weekly irrigations are required. When summer temperatures cross 37.5°C, irrigation on every third day is essential. Inadequate irrigation in the banana plantation leads to delayed flowering, irregular bunch size, delayed maturity, reduced fingers and poor keeping quality of the fruits.
Intercropping banana
The intercropping preferences and suitability varies based on agro-climatic conditions and in Tamil Nadu, the common mixed-
cropping of banana are with arecanut and coconut. In Kerala, greater yam and elephant foot yam can be profitably intercropped with
Nendran variety. In Karnataka region, cucumber and amaranth can be cultivated profitably with banana.
Onion, soybean, and cowpea can be grown as intercrops with banana by planting them on a raised bed, which will give additional
income to growers. Growing intercrops like cowpea and soybean also helps in suppressing weed growth. Avoid growing
cucurbitaceous vegetables. With intercropping, the crop duration of banana extends from 20 to 40 days, but the yield is not affected.
Windbreaks and fencing for banana crops
Tree crops like jack, silver oak, and sesbania established as border crops around banana fields act as shelter in preventing wind
damage, which banana plants are likely to sustain.
Banana organic nutrient management and recommendations
15 t of FYM/compost is applied at the time of land preparation. After plantation, the manuring is done by applying 5 kg FYM per
plant in first year and FYM at 10 kg per plant during subsequent two years. To maintain the soil fertility green manures sown on 45th
day and incorporated into the soil at its flowering stage, i.e. after about a month, when the nitrogen fixation is at its maximum.
Banana input application schedule
Duration | Basal | 1st month | 2nd month | 3rd month | 4th month | 5th month | 6th month | 7th month | 8th month |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Product Dosage | Valarchi 50gm | Induce 2.5ml/lt | Valarchi 200gm | Induce 2.5ml/lt | Valarchi 300gm | Energion 2ml/lt | Valarchi 250gm | Energion 2ml/lt | Valarchi 200gm |
- |
Prod | Mode of Application | Dose | Product Information | Product role |
---|---|---|---|---|
Valarchi | Basal application | 1kg per plant | Vriksha-Ayurveda-based powder formulation with organically derived macro and micro nutrients blended with plant-derived active ingredients | Steady and slow release of nutrients, strengthens soil microbiome and boosts overall health of the plant |
Induce | Foliar spray – once | 2.5ml/lt | Liquid formulation with amino acid chelated micronutrients (Zn, Mg) and macronutrients (N,P,K,S) | Rapid establishment and healthy early stage plant growth with enhanced photosynthetic ability |
Energion | Foliar spray – thrice | 2ml/lt | Seaweed-based liquid formulation with amino acid and plant derived polysulphides | Prevents premature flowering, fruit drop, improves strong flower stalk formation and size of fruit, and quality of final produce |
Tricit | Immediately after initial | 4ml/lt | Non-synthetic EC formulation with non-edible oil | Antifeedant and deterrent property |
Special measures to be taken in banana cultivation
On-farm banana nutrient management practices
01
To improve plant growth
A mixture is prepared by using 5 liters cow urine, 5 kg cow dung, 1/4 kg local brown sugar and 5 liters water. This mixture is left for
24 hours. In 1 liter mixture, 10 liters water is added and sprayed at the bottom of the tree. This mixture improves the banana-plant
growth.
02
Bunch feeding - To improve the fruit quality
∙Tie 100 ml Panchakavya once the flowers are removed. This will increase fruit quality and size by acting as a potash supplement.
∙Cow dung mixed in water is applied to get good bunch weight.
03
To control rhizome weevil and its grubs
∙Dip suckers for 5 to 6 hours in running stream or other water source before planting. This process reduces/kills the young
grubs and weevils due to lack of oxygen.
∙Cool the cooked tapioca water and pour it to the base of banana plant intermittently from 2 to 3 leaf stage to control rhizome
weevil. Since the HCN (Hydrogen cynic acid) in cooked water of tapioca has some insecticide property and ovicidal action, it
controls grubs and adults. Furthermore, the starch in cooked water forms a coating on young grubs which leads to suffocation
and death of grubs.
∙Remove the suckers immediately after harvest of banana bunches and apply lime in the pits to destroy resting stages of pest and disease causing agents.
04
To control pseudo stem weevils
∙Put small pieces of kadhi soap (washing) in the leaf axils to control pseudo stem weevil
∙Apply fried fenugreek powder to the leaf axils of the banana plant as it acts as a deterrent for oviposition
∙Fill the leaf axils with ash and salt in 1:1 ratio or only ash to control pseudo stem
∙At the stage of 3 months, clean the banana plant and fill the bored holes with paste of mud to control the weevils
05
To control nematodes
Growing of Ussi Thagarai (Cassia tora ) will control nematodes in banana
06
To control bunchy top of banana
∙Cut the bunchy top affected banana trees to half its height and apply curd on it at the initial stage to arrest the disease
∙Applying 5 gm fried fenugreek powder at the leaf axis acts well against bunchy top and banana aphid
∙To control aphids – spray Tricit at 4 ml / lt dosage
Banana harvest
The dwarf bananas are ready for harvest within 11 to 14 months after planting, while tall varieties take about 14 to 16 months to harvest. Fruits usually mature in 120 to 140 days after flowering; the fruit bunch is harvested when the ridges on their surface change from angular to round and the dried parts of flowers at the top of the fruit drop off easily.
Natural ripening of banana fruit
Farmers use twigs of Basuti (Adhatodavasica) for ripening of banana fruits in piles. The bananas are kept wrapped in basuti foliage, either in bamboo baskets or in khatris (pits dug underground). The reason for wrapping with basuti is that it generates heat due to which the bananas ripen.
For quick ripening of banana fruits, lime solution is sprinkled over the bunches or neem leaves are inserted in between the bunches.
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