MSc

The investigations on “Effect of organic sprays and bunch cover on yield and quality of banana (Musa AAB) Nendran” were conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2012-2013. The objective of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of various organic sprays and bunch cover on yield and quality of banana variety Nendran. The experiment was done in randomized block design (RBD) with eleven treatments and three replications. The treatments includes T1 (control, without any spray or bunch covering), T2 (water spray at 15 and 30 days after bunch emergence) T3 (panchagavyam, 3.0 per cent spray at 30 days after bunch emergence) T4 (panchagavyam, 3.0 per cent spray at 15 and 30 days after bunch emergence), T5 (vermiwash, 10.0 per cent spray at 30 days after bunch emergence), T6 (vermiwash, 10.0 per cent spray at 15 and 30 days after bunch emergence) T7 (cow’s urine, 10.0 per cent spray at 30 days after bunch emergence) T8 (cow’s urine, 10.0 per cent spray at 15 and 30 days after bunch emergence), T9 (jeevamrutham, 3.0 per cent spray at 30 days after bunch emergence), T10 (jeevamrutham, 3.0 per cent spray at 15 and 30 days after bunch emergence) and T11 (K2SO4, 3.0 per cent spray at 15 and 30 days after bunch emergence). All the treatments except control was having bunch covering.
The investigations revealed that jeevamrutham 3.0 per cent bunch spray 15 and 30 days after emergence and bunch covering recorded the maximum bunch weight (7.72 kg/plant). The second hand weight, fruit length, fruit weight, pulp weight, pulp percentage, pulp: peel ratio and shelf life were also superior. The treatment also showed superiority with respect to quality attributes such as TSS, reducing sugars, sweetness, flavour, texture, firmness, colour of fruit as well as overall acceptability. Absence of skin blemishes and spray residues were also observed. The treatment also recorded higher net profit and B/C ratio (2.06).
K2SO4 (3.0 per cent) bunch spray 2 and 4 weeks after bunch emergence and bunch covering resulted in higher bunch weight (7.69 kg/plant), weight of hand, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit girth, pulp percentage, pulp: peel ratio and shelf life with lesser bunch maturity period. Quality attributes were higher in this treatment. Skin blemishes and spray residues were absent. Net profit and B/C ratio (2.06) were also higher for this treatment.
Treatment T8 (Cow’s urine 10.0 per cent bunch spray 15 and 30 days after emergence and bunch covering) was also superior to other treatments with respect to bunch weight (7.33 kg/plant) and weight of hand. Length, girth and weight of fruits, pulp weight, pulp: peel ratio, shelf life and quality attributes were also higher in this treatment.
The above mentioned treatments (T10, T11 and T8) were superior to other treatments but did not differ significantly among them in most of the characters studied. Therefore, these three treatments can be recommended for improvement of yield and quality of bunches of banana variety Nendran.