Response of distillery spentwash through fertigation on dry matter accumulation and concentration of nutrients in banana

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out in a loamy soil (pH = 8.10, EC = 0.30 dSm-1 and organic carbon = 0.57%) to study the response of distillery spentwash fertigation under different combinations on the nutrient content of banana cv. Grand Naine from 2008 to 2010 at the Shanthi Farm of the M/s Gemini Distilleries Pvt. Ltd., Nanjangud, Mysore located in Southern Dry Zone of Karnataka and situated at 12°11’ North latitude, 76° 69’ East longitude with an altitude of 610 m above mean sea level. Significantly higher nitrogen content in leaf, pseudostem and fruit (2.95, 1.20 and 0.96%, respectively) was observed in 25% N through fertilizers plus 75% N through distillery spentwash irrigation followed by 100% N through distillery spentwash irrigation. Similar trend was also observed in phosphorus content. Potassium content was significantly higher in treatment 100 percent N through distillery spentwash irrigation which recorded significantly higher potassium content (1.36, 3.72 and 0.68%, respectively) during main crop. Whereas, in ratoon crop, it was higher with 25% N through fertilizers plus 75% N through distillery spentwash irrigation. Higher calcium, magnesium and sulphur contents were noticed with 100% N through distillery spentwash irrigation.