MSc

The investigation entitled “Foliar nutrition in nendran banana using multinutrient
water soluble fertilizers” was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram,
Kerala Agricultural University during 2016 April - 2017 February. The objective of the
experiment was to assess the feasibility of foliar nutrition in reducing the fertilizer dose of
Nendran banana and to study the impact of foliar nutrition on growth, yield, quality and
economics. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments
and three replications. The treatments were T1 (KAU- POP recommended dose of nutrients
(RDN), T2 (75% RDN+ 19:19:19 (0.5%) foliar spray at 2 and 4 months after planting (MAP),
T3 (60% RDN+ 19:19:19 (0.5%) foliar spray at 2 and 4 MAP), T4 (T1 + foliar spray of
micronutrient mixture - KAU banana micromix (1%) at 3 MAP),T5 (T2 + foliar spray of
KAU banana micromix (1%) at 3 MAP),T6 (T3 + foliar spray of KAU banana micromix
(1%) at 3 MAP),T7 (foliar spray of 19:19:19 fertilizer mixture (0.5%) 7 times, at monthly
intervals after planting) and T8 (T7 + foliar spray of KAU banana micromix (1%) at 3 MAP).
Organic manure (10 kg plant
-1
) applied as basal and two pre harvest bunch sprays of
Sulphate of Potash (3%) at 2 and 4 weeks after bunch emergence were given uniformly to all
treatments.
As per the results of the investigation, T4 (KAU recommended nutrient addition +
foliar spray of micronutrient mixture - KAU banana micromix (1%) at 3 MAP) could record
significant improvement in growth characters including plant height, pseudostem height,
plant girth, leaf area index and functional leaf area and was comparable to T5 at most of the
growth stages. The treatment which received only foliar sprays of nutrients at monthly
intervals apart from the basal dose of organics (T7) recorded significant delay in bunch
emergence (234.33 days) and prolonged crop duration up to 324.33 days. Early bunch
emergence and shorter crop duration were observed in T4 and T5. The treatment T4 recorded
higher values for yield attributes including number of hands bunch-1 (4.33), fingers bunch-1
(41.66), weight (245.5g), length (21.81cm) and girth
(14.97 cm) of D finger and was
comparable to treatment T5. Bunch weight was significantly higher for T4 (10.14 kg) and was
comparable to T5 (9.83 kg). An increase in yield of crop to the tune of 13 per cent was
observed in T4 compared to KAU recommended nutrient addition (T1). Quality attributes like
TSS, TSS/acid ratio, total sugars and Pulp Peel ratio were the highest in T4. The same
treatment recorded a favourable reduction in acidity (0.31%). The shelf life of fruits was
significantly higher in T5 (8.82 days) and was comparable to T4, T1 and T2 .
Treatment T4 recorded significantly higher uptake of major nutrients nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium. Available N and K status of soil after the experiment was found
higher and comparable for treatments which received soil addition of organic manures and
inorganic fertilizers (T4, T5, T1 and T2), whereas treatments T7 and T8 which received only
foliar nutrition of water soluble fertilizers apart from basal dose of organic manures recorded
only lower status of available N and K.
The treatment T4 recorded significantly higher net income (₹ 5.88 lakhs ha-1) and B:
C ratio (2.37) and was comparable to T5. Treatment T1 registered a net income of ₹ 4.76 lakhs
ha -1 and a B: C ratio of 2.12.
From the results of the study it was inferred that 75 per cent of the RDN when
supplemented with foliar sprays of 19: 19:19 (0.5%) at 2 and 4 MAP and KAU banana
micromix (1%) at 3 MAP (T5) resulted in higher yield of Nendran banana which was on par
with 100 per cent of RDN and foliar spray of KAU banana micromix (1%) at 3 MAP (T4).
The treatment T5 saved 25 per cent of RDN with distinct advantage in yield and economic
returns. Basal application of organic manures and foliar nutrition of 19:19:19 (0.5%) at
monthly intervals reduced the crop yield and prolonged the crop duration. The study therefore
proves the efficacy of foliar nutrition as a supplement to soil nutrition and not a substitute.