MSc

An experiment was conducted at the Instructional farm attached to
College of Agriculture, Vellayani during January 1995 to November 1995
with the objective of finding out the different sources of organic and
inorganic nutrients for increasing the productivity of Nendran banana, the
effect of post shooting application of urea and growth regulators on the
bunch weight and to work out the benefit cost ratio by the integrated use
of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Four levels of manures and three
levels of post shooting treatments were tried in RBD with 3 replications.
The results of the study revealed that application of poultry manure
at the rate of five kg plant-1 increased total crop duration. Farm yard
manure at the rate of 10 kg plant-1 and 2,4-D 10 ppm spray recorded
maximum height at all stages.
Bunch yield was maximum of (11.39 kg) with poultry manure at
5 kg plant-1, Highest bunch weight was recorded by 2,4-D 10 ppm spray
and total number of fingers with urea 1 per cent spray.
Among the ripe fruit characters, highest pulp / peel ratio was with
poultry manure at the rate of five kg plant-1 even though higher finger
weight, pulp weight and lower peel weight were recorded with poultry
manure at the rate of five kg plant-1. Application of urea one per cent
spray increased weight of finger.

Among the quality attributes, higher values for TSS were noticed
with level M1. Lowest value for acidity was observed for five kg poultry
manure and tying urea 15 g. Total sugar was high with 10 kg farm yard
manure and 2,4-D 10 ppm spray and non reducing sugar was high with
level farm yard manure at 10 kg plant-1. Sugar-acid ratio was low for
vermicompost at the rate of five kg plant-1. Sensory evaluation
revealed that all treatments produced fruits with similar taste, flavour
and colour.
N content of index leaf showed significant variation at harvest
with maximum value recorded with neem cake at the rate of five kg
plant-1. P content of leaf was maximum with level neem cake five kg
plant-1 and minimum with level farm yard manure 10 kg plant-1. The K
content of leaf was maximum with neem cake level five kg plant-1 among
manurial treatment.
When the economics of production was worked out, it was
observed that a combination of farm yard manure at 10 kg plant-1 and
2,4-D 10 ppm spray (M1P1) recorded the highest benefit cost ratio. The
highest net profit of Rs. 1,49,045 was realised per hectare in farm yard
manure at 10 kg plant-1 and 2,4-D 10 ppm spray.
The present study revealed that application of poultry manure at
five kg plant-1 and 2,4-D 10 ppm spray was beneficial for better growth,



yield and quality of fruit in 'Nendran' banana.