Response of banana Musa (AAB) 'Nendran' to nutrient sources

Abstract

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.