Banana

Grow With Knowledge

Introduction

Banana is one of the important commercial & staple fruit crops for millions of people, vital to food security, and ranks as one of the world’s top fruit crops. It also provides a valuable source of income through local and international trade and contributes to the livelihood of many people through crop production, processing, and marketing. Its year-round availability, varietal range, and taste make it a popular fruit among all classes of people. Nitrogen and potassium are key elements in boosting leaf, and sucker growth, maximizing flowering & fruit set. The Banana crop requires regular fertilizer scheduling & monitoring to maximize a grower’s yield & profits. In India, Major Banana producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. Read More

Climate and Soil Requirement

Banana is a tropical crop that grows well in a temperature range of 15ºC – 35ºC with a relative humidity of 75-85 %. In India, this crop is being cultivated in a climate ranging from humid tropical to dry mild subtropics through a selection of appropriate varieties. Deep, rich loamy soil with pH between 6 - 7.5 is most preferred for banana cultivation and soil rich in organic material with high nitrogen content, adequate phosphorus level, and plenty of potash is good for banana cultivation.

Land Preparation & Farm Management

Before planting bananas, green manuring crops like daincha, cowpea, etc. are suggested to be grown. The land can be ploughed 2 - 4 times and leveled with Rotavator or harrow. During soil preparation, the basal dose of Farmyard Manure (about 20 tonnes/acre. before the last harrowing) should be added and thoroughly mixed into the soil. The use of wheat straw and banana straw as a mulch material (12.5 kg. /plant) in banana orchards is useful in increasing the bunch weight and conservation of soil moisture and applied at the beginning of summer (February). Removal of unwanted suckers is a critical operation in banana for reducing internal competition with the main plant and small suckers should be removed on a regular basis for up to 7-8 months.

Planting Season

Planting of tissue culture bananas can be done throughout the year as per the market demand except when the temperature is too low or too high. The planting time for long-duration cultivars is different from short-duration ones. The planting time may be adjusted to avoid high temperature and drought at the time of emergence of bunches (i.e., approx. 7-8 months after planting). Earthing up should be done at 3-4 months after planting, thereby raising the soil level around the base of the plant by 10-12”. It is better to prepare a raised bed and keep the drip line on the bed 2-3” away from the plant. It also helps to protect plants from wind damage and production losses to some extent.

The important seasons for planting followed in different states are:

State	Planting Time
Maharashtra	June – July October – November
Tamil Nadu	February – April November – December
Kerala	April - May August - September

Propping & Bunch Cover

Due to the heavyweight of the bunch, the plant goes out of balance and the bearing plant may lodge and production and quality may get adversely affected. Therefore, they should be propped with the help of two bamboos forming a triangle by placing them against the stems on the leaning side. This also helps in the uniform development of a bunch. Covering the bunch using dried leaves of the plant is economical and prevents the bunch from direct exposure to sunlight and enhances the quality of fruit.

Irrigation

Banana is a succulent, evergreen, and shallow-rooted crop that requires a large quantity of water in the cropping cycle. The water requirement is estimated to be around 1,800 – 2,000 mm per annum.

Season	Irrigation frequency (No. of days)
Winter	7-8
Summer	4-5
Rainy	Need basis

Drip Irrigation

Application of irrigation through a drip system helps to maintain the proportion of soil air and soil water which results in early and vigorous growth of bunches. Raw bunch gets matured earlier by 30-45 days and yield is increased by 15-30 % and 58-60 % of water is saved on irrigation. Other advantages of adapting drip irrigation are reduction in weeds, saving of cost on intercultural operations and effective utilization of water-soluble fertilizers.

Fertilizer scheduling

* Dosages are applicable as per Maharashtra state.

Stages	Days	Product with Dosages	Application Method of fertilizer	Benefits
Planting	10-15	Mosaic DAP @ 75 kg/acre Mosaic MOP @ 50 kg/acre Mosaic Magna Liquid Zinc @1 mL/L Mosaic Magna Liquid Boron @ 1mL/L	Basal	Better root development and initial shoot growth
Early Growth (Vegetative)	45-90	Mosaic DAP @ 75 kg/acre Mosaic MOP @ 100 kg/acre Mosaic K-MAG @ 50 kg/acre Mosaic Magna Liquid Zinc @ 1 mL/L Mosaic Magna Liquid Boron @ 1 mL/L	Basal Spraying	Helps to produce healthy rhizome and strong root system, Overall development of the stem, provide better anchorage to the plant, improves chlorophyll content and photosynthesis and improves cell division, vigorous shoot growth.
Grand Growth	120-130
Flowering	170-180	MOP@100 kg/acre K-MAG@50 kg/acre	Basal	Helps in earlier fruit shooting and shortens the time required for fruit maturity
Bunch Development	240-280	MOP@100 kg/acre		Uniform bunch size & development, good color fruits, proper shinning of fruits, Sweetness of fruit.
Maturity	280-320	MOP@50 kg/acre		Uniform maturity of fruits

Nutrient Deficiencies

Deficiencies	Symptoms	Affected Area	Solution
Phosphorus	complete cessation of elongation, at a height of about two feet resetting of leaves, blue or dark green coloration of leaves	Leaf production is reduced, Plants show stunted growth with poor root development	Apply a recommended dose of Mosaic DAP
Potassium	orange-yellow color of old leaves, scorching along the margins, reduction in total leaf area, curving of midribs, etc.	Choking of leaves delays flower initiation, Fruits are badly shaped, poorly filled, and unsuitable for marketing.	Apply a recommended dose of Mosaic MOP and K-Mag.
Magnesium	The yellow discoloration is observed in the mid-blade and midrib portions; however, the margins of the leaf remain green. Purple mottling of the petioles, marginal necrosis	Plant height reduced, fruits do not ripen well and become tasteless.	Apply Mosaic K-MAG at 100 kg/acre each at the early vegetative stage & Flowering stage
Sulphur	The yellow or white appearance of young leaves, necrotic patches on the leaf margins, thickening of veins, stunted growth	Reduced leaf size and plant growth.	Apply Mosaic K-MAG at 100 kg/acre each at the early vegetative stage & Flowering stage
Zinc	Young leaves become smaller in size. The unfurled leaf has alternating chlorotic and green bands. Fruit is light green, twisted, short, and thin.	Reduced fruit yield and quality	Foliar spray of Mosaic Magna Liquid Zinc @1 mL/L at 45 and 60 days after planting.
Boron	Newly emerging leaves are malformed. Chlorotic streaks appear perpendicular to the veins Incomplete leaf formation and inhibition of fruit and flower.	A reduction in the weight and size of the bunch will affect the proper filling of the bunch.	Foliar spray of Mosaic Magna Liquid Boron @1 mL/L at 45-50 days after planting and 90-100 days after planting.