MSc

The thesis work entitled ‘Organic nano NPK formulation for enhancing growth,
yield and quality in banana cv. Nendran (Musa AAB)’ was carried out in the
Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani from December 2020
to November 2021. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of soil
application of organic nano NPK formulation on crop growth, yield and quality in
banana cv. Nendran.
The field experiment was laid out in the Instructional Farm (Block V) of
College of Agriculture, Vellayani in RBD with eight treatments and three replications.
The treatments T1 to T6 consisted of combinations of different doses of granular
organic nano NPK formulation (15g, 30g and 45g per plant per year) and different
splits of application (two splits and six splits). T7 was soil test-based Package of
Practices (POP) recommendation (133.86: 28.8: 338.4 g N: P2O5: K2O plant-1
in six
splits) and T8 was ‘control’ (maintained without fertilizer application). Suckers of
uniform size were used as the planting material. FYM @ 10 kg per plant as basal dose
and lime @ 100 g per pit two weeks prior to planting were applied uniformly to all the
treatments.
Analysis of granular organic nano NPK formulation revealed that it had a pH
of 7.79 with an EC of 0.14 dS m-1
. Organic carbon and humic acid content were 2.35
per cent and 19.19 per cent respectively. The primary nutrients like N, P and K were
1.97 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 2.96 per cent respectively. In addition, the formulation
had considerable amount of secondary nutrients like Ca (0.33 per cent), Mg (0.28 per
cent) and S (0.62 per cent).
The results indicated that, at all stages of crop growth, the pseudostem height,
girth, functional leaf area, and leaf area index (LAI) recorded the highest values for
the treatment T7 (soil test-based POP recommendation). Application of 45 g nano
NPK in 6 splits (T6) was the best treatment with respect to total number of functional
leaves at 4 and 6 MAP and at harvest.
The earliest bunch emergence was noticed in T7 (soil test-based POP
recommendation) and it was on par with T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6 splits). The shortest
crop duration was recorded for T6. However, it was on par with T7 and T2 (15 g nano
NPK in 6 splits). The highest sucker production after harvest was noticed in T6 (45 g
nano NPK in 6 splits).
Soil test-based POP recommendation (T7) recorded highest bunch weight,
number of fingers in D hand and total biomass yield at the same time the treatment
was on par with T6. Application of 45 g nano NPK in 6 splits (T6) recorded the
highest number of hands per bunch, number of fingers per bunch and weight of
finger while the treatment T7 was on par. T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6 splits) recorded
significantly higher length of fingers, girth of fingers and pulp-peel ratio.
Quality parameters like TSS, total carotenoids, starch content, total sugars,
reducing sugars, sugar acid ratio, ascorbic acid and moisture content of fruits were
significantly high in T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6 splits). However, highest non -
reducing sugar content was recorded inT5 (45 g nano NPK in 2 splits). The lowest
acid content in fruits was noted in T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6 splits). The control (T8)
recorded the lowest peel thickness. T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6 splits) recorded the
longest shelf life and the fruits took longer time for ripening.
Post-harvest soil analysis revealed that the highest pH, electrical
conductivity, organic carbon content, dehydrogenase enzyme activity, soil primary
nutrients (N, P and K) and soil S content were recorded by T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6
splits). Soil Mg content was significantly higher in T7 (soil test-based POP
recommendation) and the highest Ca content was recorded in T4 (30 g nano NPK
in 6 splits). Plant uptake of primary and secondary nutrients was increased with the
application of 45 g nano NPK in 6 splits (T6) along with 10 kg FYM and 100 g
lime plant-1
year-1
.
Incidence of pest (pseudostem weevil) and disease (Sigatoka leaf spot) was
observed during the field experiment for which appropriate remedial measures
were adopted.
Though the highest net income was obtained from T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6
splits), it was on par with T7 (soil test-based POP recommendation). However, the
BC ratio was the highest in T6 (45 g nano NPK in 6 splits).
The study revealed that the application of 45 g granular organic nano NPK in
6 splits along with 10 kg FYM and 100 g lime per plant per year increased the
overall growth, yield and quality of banana cv. Nendran with high net income and
BC ratio.