Growth, yield and quality of vegetable banana Monthan (Banthal-ABB) in relation to NPK fertigation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Bhubaneswar during 2007-08 to assess the effects of NPK fertigation on growth, yield and quality of vegetable banana Monthan (Banthal- ABB). There were five treatments viz., T1 - Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF - 200 g N : 80 g P : 220 g K /plant/crop cycle), T2 - 75% RDF (150 g N : 60 g P : 155 g K /plant/crop cycle)+ application schedule-I ( Application of N:P:K in the ratio of 2:1:0 at vegetative growth, 0:2:1 at flowering stage and 1:0:2 at fruit development and maturation stage), T3- 75% RDF + application schedule-II ( Application of N:P:K in the ratio of 3:2:1 at vegetative growth, 1:3:2 at flowering stage and 2:1:3 at fruit developmental and maturation stage), T4 - 50% RDF (100 g N : 40 g P : 110 g K/plant/crop cycle) + application schedule - I and T5 - 50% RDF+ application schedule-II laid out in randomized block design with 5 replications. Maximum pseudo-stem height (261.50 cm), stem circumference (65.75 cm), number of hands and fingers (7.20 and 70.12/plant), bunch weight (11.45 kg/plant) and fruit yield (28.63 t/ha), finger size (20.50 × 15.65 cm), finger weight (163.29 g), total leaf area (19.88 m2), productivity efficiency (0.575 kg/m2 leaf area) and leaf, fruit and pseudo-stem dry matter (33.45, 15.27 and 9.98%) and leaf nutrient content (N-2.21%, P-0.26% and K-1.98%) and TSS (6.75°B) were recorded due to application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizers + application schedule-II ( Applied N:P:K in the ratio of 3:2:1 at vegetative growth, 1:3:2 at flowering stage and 2:1:3 at fruit development stage). Earliest flowering and fruit maturity (12.41 and 17.91 days) were also recorded in the same treatment. Pulp: peel ratio (2.68) was maximum due to 50% RDF + application schedule-II (applied 3:2:1 at vegetative growth, 1:3:2 at flowering stage and 2:1:3 at fruit development and maturation stage) in vegetable banana Monthan (ABB-Banthal).