MSc

An experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm
attached to College of Agriculture, Vellayani during December
1995 to September 1996 with the objectives of finding out the
optimum dose of fertilizer and frequency of their application
to maximise the productivity of banana. Three levels of NPK and
four frequencies of application and two additional treatments
(Farmer's practice and NPK based on soil test value) were



tested


for their efficacy in 3x4+2 factorial RBD with two



replications.
The results of the study revealed that application of
I
380:115:600 g NPK plant-1 (L2) significantly improved the
vegetative characters viz. height and girth of pseudostem,
number of leaves and LAI and induced early shooting (184.06
days) and reduced the total crop duration (268.59 days).
Fertilizer application in six splits have also significantly
improved the vegetative characters. However application of



380:115:600 g NPK plant-1 in six splits could impart
significant improvement only on the height of the plant.
Bunch yield was observed to be the highest (10.42 kg)
at L2 level. Significant improvement in the bunch characters
and finger characters (mature) observed at this level resulted
in higher bunch yield. Among the bunch characters, number of

fingers bunch-1 (46.49) and bunch length (54.35 cm) were
highest at L2 level. Significantly higher values for all the
finger characters studied were recorded at this level. In the
case of frequency of application, six splits recorded the
highest bunch weight (11.20 kg) compared to other splits. Here
also as in the case with NPK levels, six splits recorded
significantly higher values for all the finger characters
studied and the bunch characters viz., number of fingers
bunch-1 and bunch length which in turn contributed to higher
bunch weight.
Among the ripe fruit characters, highest pulp/peel
ratio was recorded at the lowest level of NPK (190:115:300 g
NPK plant-1) even though higher finger weight, pulp weight and
peel weight were recorded at L2 level. Six splits recorded
significantly higher finger weight and pulp weight compared to
other splits. However highest pulp/peel ratio recorded at six
splits was on par with ten splits. Application of 380:115:600
g NPK plant-1 in six splits recorded significantly higher finger weight and pulp weight compared to other treatments.
Among the quality attributes, significantly higher
values for TSS, total and nonreducing sugars, sugar/acid ratio
were recorded at lowest level of NPK (L1) and these values
showed a decreasing trend with increase in levels of NPK.
However acidity and reducing sugar content values were lowest

at L1 level and these values increased with increase in levels
of N and K. However starch content was highest at L2 level.
Frequency of application and interaction effects were
significant only with respect to starch content and non reducing sugar content. Sensory evaluation of ripe fruits
revealed that lowest level of NPK (190:115:300 g NPK plant-1)
produced better quality fruits.
NPK content of index leaf at harvest did not show any
significant variation among treatments. Available NPK content
of the soil after harvest recorded higher values compared to
initial status. Available phosphorus and K20 contents recorded
highest values at L3 level indicating lesser uptake by the
plant.
When the economics of production was worked out, it
was observed that T2 recorded the highest B:C ratio (2.46)
followed by T6 (2.45) while highest net profit (Rs.18460) was
obtained in T6,
The present study revealed that application of
380:115:600 g NPK plant-1 in six splits was beneficial for
better growth, yield and quality of fruits in ‘Nendran' banana.