PhD

Banana is the leading tropical fruit in the world market today with a
highly organized and developed industry. Banana having a root system spread
in the top 60 cm soil, is heavy feeder of nutrients and requires large quantities
of nutrients for its growth, development and yield. Nutrient removal from soil
by crops must be replenished. Under good management conditions and
adequate supply of biofertilizers and organic manures, the nutrient removal
can be replenished and soil physical, chemical and biological properties can
be improved. Organic and inorganic sources of nutrients have significant
influence on fruit quality and soil characteristics. The current agricultural
policy emphasize a shift towards safe agricultural practices for which organic
management is the best option. However the crop behaviour under organic
and inorganic management needs elaborate studies. Hence the research
entitled ‘Response of banana Musa (AAB) 'Nendran' to nutrient sources was
formulated to elucidate response of banana in terms of growth, yield and
quality to nutrient sources and to compare the fruit quality of banana grown
under organic and conventional systems in farmer’s field.
The study revealed that vegetative growth of Musa Nendran banana
was not influenced by different sources of nutrients in early stage in both the
years but later differences were recorded between the treatments. Plant
height, number of leaves and pseudostem girth showed significant differences
from 90 DAP.
At bunching stage plant height and pseudostem girth were higher in
organic treatments. There was significant difference in pseudostem girth
between the treatments throughout the growth stage of Nendran banana.
Among the treatments, T8 resulted in better growth of plants.
Leaf characters like number of leaves and leaf area index were not
influenced significantly between organic and integrated nutrient management.
Early leaf production was also noticed in treatment T8 as indicated by the
observations on phyllocron. Growth was delayed in control where no manures
and fertilizers. In general more number of leaves per plant and lesser duration
for leaf emergence was recorded in both the years in organic treatments.
Chlorophyll production in the index leaf of banana was influenced
with organic and inorganic nutrition. Chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll in
the index leaf were distinctly higher in treatment T8 (fertigation with FYM)
which was on par with treatments T3 and T5 where organic manures alone
were applied.
Early flowering and early harvesting were observed in organic
treatments. Higher total biomass production was recorded in organic
treatments. Yield and yield attributing characters like bunch weight, number
of finger, finger weight were highest in treatments with organic sources of
nutrients. The mean bunch weight was influenced significantly by organic
and inorganic sources of nutrients. Fertigation with organic sources of
nutrients resulted in the production of heavier bunches in both years.
Maximum bunch weight was recorded from treatment T8 which was on par
with other organic treatments as well as integrated management with
fertilisers applied as fertigation as well as based on soil test results.
No significant variation was observed between treatments on number
of hands per bunch and finger characters like finger length and girth. Peel
thickness of fruits were not significantly influenced but the pulp to peel ratio
was significantly influenced by the treatments. Pulp to peel ratio was higher
in all treatments other than T1 and control where T1 is the POP
recommendation for TC banana under integrated nutrient management.
Yield per plant was positively correlated with available N, P, K,
Calcium, magnesium, sulphur, Zn, Cu, B, content of the soil. Yield was also
positively correlated with soil properties like pH, organic carbon content,
CEC, Bulk density, and Dehydrogenase enzyme activity.
Higher biomass production was recorded in plants that received
nutrients from organic sources compared to integrated nutrient management
and control.
Shelf life of fruits were improved in organic treatments. Fruit quality
parameters like TSS, Total sugars, ascorbic acid and β carotene of ripe
banana fruits were improved in organic treatments compare to inorganic
system. Sensory score of ripe fruits and fruit chips were maximum in organic
treatments. The taste of ripe banana fruits was improved in plants grown
under organic treatments. Fertigation with organic manures (T8) resulted in
improved fruit quality of Nendran banana in both the years.
Different soil physical and chemical properties also improved when
nutrients were supplied through organic sources.
Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon content, cation
exchange capacity, available, N, P, K, Mg, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Mn and boron
were better in soils receiving organic manures alone. Similarly the soil
biological properties like dehydrogenase activity, nitrogenase activity,
microbial biomass carbon, and viable counts of total fungi, bacteria and
actinomycetes were better in organic treatments. Bulk density of soil was low
in soils receiving organic manures alone compared to integrated nutrients.
Total uptake of nutrients in organic and integrated nutrient
management system was compared. Uptake of N, Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu
was higher in organic system of cultivation of banana compared to integrated
system.
Higher benefit cost ratio was recorded banana grown in organic
system.
The study revealed that organic sources of nutrients improved soil
properties and thereby improved growth, yield and quality of banana.