Abstract:
Field experiments were conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kumarakom during 1994 – 1995 and 1995 – 1996, in order to formulate an Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) for increasing yield and quality of banana cv. Nendran. The optimum combination of various nutrient resources for the crop was arrived at in this study.
The treatments comprised of three types of organic inputs (Azospirillum, cowpea and vermicompost) along with a control and four levels each of fertilizer N (0,95,143 and 190 g plant-1) and 2, 4-D (0,15,30 and 45 ppm). The design of the experiment was 43 factorial confounding the highest order interaction. There were two replications.
The results revealed that cowpea (green manure) and vermicompost influenced the yield response to applied N significantly. The organic inputs helped to increase the bunch yield and net returns and reduced the chemical N requirement to 85 per cent of the present recommended dose (190 g plant-1). Besides, they improved the physical and chemical properties of the soil at the end of the experiment. Application of 2, 4-D at the rate of 30 ppm was beneficial for higher yield, particularly at the lower doses of fertilizer N. The growth regulator did not give any residue in the fruit.
The effect of interaction between organic inputs and fertilizer N was clearly evident in the growth attributes. The influence of organic inputs was significant on TSS, acidity and reducing and non reducing sugars. Applied N and 2, 4-D influenced all the quality parameters.
An IPN package consisting of either cowpea (green manure) or vermicompost, 85 per cent of the present recommended dose of fertilizer N (190 g plant-1) and 30 ppm of 2, 4-D is suggested for achieving high economic returns from banana cultivation.
