RESPONSE OF TISSUE CULTURED BANANA (Musa acuminate L.) cv. GRAND NAINE TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NUTRIENTS UNDER DRIP FERTIGATION AND BLACK PLASTIC MULCH

D. T. SANTOSH
2017 Applied Ecology and Environmental Research  
A field experiment was carried out in two crop seasons in the lateritic sandy loam soils of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, to investigate the response of banana (Musa acuminata L.) cv. Grand Naine at different levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium nutrients applications through drip fertigation and plastic mulch. A randomized complete block design was used with four fertigation levels in conjunction with mulch and without mulch. Fertigation levels caused a significant increase in fruit
more » ... ield and determined the response to N, P and K fertilizers. The results of recommended dose of fertilizers application through drip either alone or in conjunction with black plastic mulch conditions were compared with other fertigation treatments in terms of growth and crop of yield. Both the main and ratoon crops performed best for 80 per cent of the recommended fertigation dose (160 N: 48 P: 240 kg plant -1 year -1 ) covered with plastic mulch in respect of (a) growth parameters; maximum plant height, stem girth, functional leaves, yield parameters and shortened total crop duration for 34 days and for (b) quality parameters; higher levels of TSS, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar, pulp:peel ratio and lower content of acidity . Hence, fertigation with 80 per cent of the recommended dose coupled with plastic mulch was found to be optimum and economical for banana cultivation.
doi:10.15666/aeer/1504_14731488 fatcat:ovfn6hu56zauleja5sbblh566q