PhD

The influence of crop intensification in banana by modifying the planting pattern and intercropping on productivity enhancement and developing an optimum fertilizer schedule for double sucker planting were evaluated by conducting two field investigations at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.
The first investigation was laid in factorial randomised block design with two systems of planting and four intercrops, replicated thrice.
Perusal of the results showed an increase in the number of functional leaves, total functional leaf area and leaf area index under modified system while maximum pseudostem girth was recorded under normal system of planting towards later stages of observation.
Among the yield attributes, number of hands and fingers per bunch recorded the highest values in normal planting system during both the seasons.
Individual bunch weight did not register any variation with planting systems. However, maximum yield per hectare was registered in double sucker planting.
During both the years sugar : acid ratio was maximum under modified system. Modified system of planting banana produced more dry matter during both the years. N and P uptake was enhanced in modified system and whereas K uptake was more in normal planting pattern during first year. N uptake was the highest with chittaratha and P and K uptake with cucumber-amaranthus under both systems during first year. During second year, N uptake showed maximum value with chittaratha under normal system and with cucumber-amaranthus in modified system. P uptake by chittaratha and K uptake by the pure crop of banana were on par with intercropping with cucumber-amaranthus.
Economic analysis revealed that combination of modified planting pattern intercropped with cucumber-amaranthus recorded the highest net profit and BCR. The highest net profit of Rs. 554384 and Rs. 615030 were realized ha-1 during first and second year respectively in this treatment.
The second investigation was conducted with three levels of nutrients and three sources of organic manure laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications.
The nutrient levels and organic sources had no influence on pseudostem height, girth and number of functional leaves during both the years. However total functional leaf area and leaf area index showed a linear negative trend with increasing dose of fertilizers during first year. During second year, total functional leaf area and leaf area index registered maximum values at 133 per cent of recommended dose with farmyard manure at shooting and at harvest.
During first year yield and yield attributes were unaffected by treatments, whereas during second year bunch characters like number of hands and fingers per bunch and bunch weight were maximum when farmyard manure/pseudostem along with 133 per cent of recommended dose and when vermicompost along with recommended dose of nutrients were applied.
Among the quality attributes higher values of TSS was observed with fresh banana pseudostem and total sugar with farmyard manure during first year. TSS, ascorbic acid and SAR recorded higher values at recommended dose and 133 per cent of recommended dose during second year.
Application of farmyard manure along with 133 or 167 per cent of recommended dose of nutrients enhanced dry matter production of banana in second year. Compared to leaf nutrient content, accumulation of nutrients in fruit, pseudostem and rhizome were found to be high during both the years.
Foliar nitrogen was maximum at 133 per cent of recommended dose in early stages and at 166 per cent of recommended dose at later stages. Foliar potassium at 6 MAP registered marked value at recommended dose during first year. Phosphorus recorded higher values with RDN among nutrient levels and FYM among organic sources during second year.
First crop of banana registered highest B : C ratio with recommended dose of nutrients and fresh banana pseudostem incorporation. Highest net profit of Rs. 461536 ha-1 and BCR of 4.64 was realized when farmyard manure was applied along with 133 per cent of recommended dose of nutrition.
Therefore it can be concluded from the study that planting banana at 3 m x 2 m spacing with two suckers pit-1and raising cucumber-amaranthus as intercrop is beneficial for getting higher yield per unit area and maximum economic returns. The study also reveal that 133 per cent of recommended dose of nutrients (400 : 153 : 600 g NPK pit-1) is required when farmyard manure @ 15 kg pit-1 or banana pseudostem @ 20 kg pit-1 is used as organic source. When vermicompost is used @ 5 kg pit-1 the recommended nutrient dose (300 : 115 : 450 g NPK pit-1) is sufficient. Moreover this nutrient schedule is economically viable and helpful in maintaining soil fertility.