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Banana is cultivated over an area of 45.275 Hq in the state producing 9.59 lakh tonnes annually. It is cultivated in all the districts but extensively grown in East Godavari, West Godavari, Cuddapah, Guntur, Krishna, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Kurnool districts. It is third important crop after Mango and Citrus occupying 5% of fruit area in the state.
CLIMATE
It is grown through out the year. It is strictly a tropical plant and likes humid weather. The optimum temperature ranges between 25-30 degrees centigrates.
SOILS
Prefers a soil pH of 5.5-7.5. Almost all the agricultural soils are suitable, provided they are deep well drained and neutral in reaction. Black loams and sandy loams of uplands are most suited.
PROPAGATION
Suckers and Rhizomes.
VARIETIES WITH SPACING
| . |
VARIETY |
SPACING (Mt) |
| 1. | karpura Chakkarakeli | 2.0 X 2.0 |
| 2. | Tella chakkarakeli | 1.8 X 1.8 |
| 3. | Amruthapani (Rasthali) | 2.0 X 2.0 |
| 4. | Robustra | 1.8 X 1.8 |
| 5. | Dwarf Cavendish | 1.4 X 1.4 |
| . | Culinery Varieties | 1.8 X 1.8 |
| . | Bontha, Kovur Bontha | 2.0 X 2.0 |
Season of Planting
Throughout year except severe winter and heavy rains.
SELECTION OF SUCKERS & PLANTING
Healthy sword suckers of 3 months age having a strong base should be selected. The top portion of the pseudostem of the sucker may be given a slant cut leaving six inches pseudostem over the corn. This will facilitate easy draining of plant sap, rain water etc. leading to successful establishment of the sucker. All the old roots of the rhizomes should be trimmed. The suckers should be dipped in 0.1% carbendazim (1g in 1L) solution for 15 minutes and then planted. In areas prone to banana stem weevil, the suckers should be treated with 0.1% metasystox solution.
Field should be ploughed 2-3 times and allowed to weather for 2 weeks. Mark pits according to the spacing. Dig 1 feet cube pits and allow to dry for 10 days before planting. Fill the pit with the dug up soil, FYM 10 Kg. And 5% sevin solution.
Banana suckers should not be planted either too deep or too shallow. Press the soil around the sucker to give firm stand.
Gap Filling
Gap filling is to be taken up within 20 days to maintain uniformity in the stand of the crop.
Manures & Fertilizers
Superphosphate @ 500 Kg/ha may be turned down in last ploughing. 200 g Nitrogen and 200 g potash per plant may be applied in 4 equal split doses at 45 days interval after planting.
Shallow holes of 10 cm to be made with crow bar 30 cm away on either side of the plant. The first dose of fertilizer may be applied and covered with soil. Subsequent applications may be done at a distance of 60-90 cm from the plants.
IRRIGATION
Irrigate immediately after planting. About 30-40 weekly irrigation are required. When summer temperature crosses 37.5 degrees C irrigation on every 3rd day is essential. Inadequate irrigation to banana leads to delayed flowering, bunch size and delayed maturity of reduced fingers and also poor keeping quality of fruits.
INTERCROPS
Short duration leguminous crops like blackgram, greengram, etc., Vegetable crops like Bhendi, ridge gourd, turmeric, ginger, colacasia, diascorea etc., are suggested.
Mulching : It is desirable to mulch the garden immediately after planting with banana trash @15T/Ha. Mulching controls weeds, conserve moisture, hasten growth and improves yields.
Desuckering : All varieties of banana through suckers from 2-3 months after planting. All these suckers should not be allowed to grow as they will compete with mother plants for water and nutrients thereby reducing the yeild of main crop. Desuckering with sickle at 15-20 days interval right from the beginning till flowering is to be undertaken. The improved method of desuckering ia as follows.
A flattened crow bar or iron rod of 1-2m length and 1.25 cm. Diameter flattened at one end and provided with wooden handle at the other end is used for digging out the suckers with bit of its horn once in 35 days upto flowering. Once the plant flowers they should not be disturbed. So desuckering is later done by cutting suckers with a sickle. This method has given good results in research and farmers field. However, leaving one good sucker for rotooning should be commenced from the 7th month onwards till flowering.
General After Care : Same as furnished for Tissueculture banana. See page no.8)
Plant Production : Same as furnished for Tissueculture banana. (see page No.9)
HARVESTING
Bunches are harvested about 2-3 months time after flowering. Fully matured banana are round and free from angular shape and produce metallic sound when tapped. Banana meant for long distance are cut at 75-80% maturity. The bunches with long peduncles are cut to the maximum possible height of the plant. The bunches are wrapped with green leaves. Banana fruits can be stored well under 62-65 degree F with 85-90% of moisture upto 3 weeks using polythene bags and potassium permanganate.
PACKAGE OF PRACTICES FOR TISSUE CULTURE BANANA
CLIMATE
It is grown throughout the year. It is strictly a tropical plant and likes hot humid weather. Requires tropical climate where the temperature in winter does not fall below 15 degree C optimum temperature range is 25-30 degree C.
SOILS
Deep, well drained neutral soils. Black loams and sandy loams suited. PH 5.5 to 7.5.
Varieties / Spacing
| S.No |
Varieties |
Spacing |
No.of plants per acre |
No.of plants per Ha. |
| 1. |
Dwarf Cavendish Basrai |
51/2'X51/2'
(165cm x 165cm) |
1440 |
3600 |
| 2. |
Robusta, Poovan Amruthapani |
6'X6'
(180cm x 180cm) |
1210 |
3025 |
Land Preparation
Plough and dig pits of 2' X 2' X 1.5' and fill the pits with well decomposed FYM/compost(15 -20Kg) and thoroughly mix with sand and soil in 1:1:1 proportion. Irrigate the pits to allow the soil to settle. Apply 1/2 Kg. neem cake and mix well with soil or apply Furadan 3 G @20g/pit or thimmet 10 G @ 12g/pit within a week after planting.
Planting
Split open the polybag and remove the plant carefully with the ball of earth intact. Place the plant in the centre of the pit without disturbing the roots. Deep planting should be avoided.
After a week of planting, drench the soil with Emisan @ 1g/l. A week later spray streptocycline (500ppm) - 1/2 g/lr to control bacterial infection.
IRRIGATION
a) Flood Irrigation : Irrigate immediately after planting. Give light irrigation 4 days after planting. Subsequent irrigations at 5-10 days interval depending upon the water holding capacity.
b) Drip Irrigation :
Age of the crop
(Days after planting) |
Approx. water requirement
Lr./Plant/day |
| 1. Upto 55-60 Days | 8 |
| 2. 61-90 Days | 16 |
| 3. 91-120 Days | 24 |
| 4. 121-150 Days | 32 |
| 5. 151-180 Days | 40 |
| 6. 181-flowering and bunch formation | 48 |
| 7. Bunch maturity | 56 |
Reduce irrigation or stop irrigation when majority of the bunches have come to harvest.
Fertilizer Application :
Fertilizer Application depends on soil fertility. General recommendation is 200:100:200 g/plant of NPK in split doses as detailed below:
| S.No |
Day's after Planting |
Urea |
Fertilizer Dosage in g/plant
| Or Ammonium Sulphate |
Super Phosphate |
Muriate of Potash |
|
| 1. |
30 |
45 |
|
| 2. |
75 |
90 |
|
| 3. |
110 |
110 |
|
| 4. |
150 |
110 |
|
| 5. |
180 |
90 |
|
| 6. |
At Bunch emergence |
- |
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Apply fertilizers 2" to 3" below the soil surface. Apply 1st and 2nd dose of fertilizer at a distance of 20 cm away from the plant. 3rd and 4th dose of fertilizer should be applied at 40-50 cm. Away and 5th and 6th dose at 50-60 cm. Away from the plant.
General After Care
1. keep the fields weed free.
2. Remove all side suckers till bunch emergence. Retain one sucker following bunch emergence as a follower.
3. One month after bunch formation spray the bunches with bavistin @ 1 g/ Lr of water to control cigar end rot ( for Dwarf cavendish variety only)
4. Spray any one of the following chemicals whenever the infestation of sucking pests such as aphids, thrips and scales is observed - Nuvacron 1.25 ml. Or Dimecron 1.25 ml. Or Metasystox 1.25 ml/lr of water.
5. For control of Chewing pests like Spodoptera, flea beetle and other leaf eating caterpillars spray Sevin 50% WP @4 g or Ekalux 2 ml or metacid 1ml/lr.of water.
6. For the control of leaf spot disease spray bavistin @1 g orkawach @ 2 g or Dithane M.45 @ 2 g/l of water. During rainy days add Teepol or Sandovir @ 2 ml/l of water.
7. If bunchy top, banana bract mosaic virus and banana streak virus sumptoms are noticed, remove and destroy the affected plants along with rhizomes.
8. A week later bunch formation is completed, the terminal male flower bud may be cut off and burried under soil.
9. The last leaf may be suitable pulled over the bunch to protect it from scorching sun.
10. Provide supports to the plants to prevent lodging due to heavy bunch weight and strong wind.
PLANT PROTECTION MEASURES
PESTS
Rhizome Weevil :
Tunneling of rhizomes by grubs. Attacked rhizome gets riddled with holes and weakened. Secondary infection of fungi and bacteria accelerate rotting.
Control :
Application of Furadan 3G @ 20 grammes or Thimer 10G @ 12 grammes or Neem cake @ 1/2 Kg. per pit at planting.
Pseudostem Weevil :
Boring symptoms in the pseudostem which gets weekened and rotten.
Control :
Application of Furadan 3G @ 20 grammes or Thimet 10g @ 12 grammes or neem cake @ 1/2 Kg. per pit at planting.
Nematodes :
Besides causing root damage, nematodes act as pre-disposing factor for panama wilt which is caused by soil borne fungal pathogen.
1. Black lesion in the roots
2. Decaying of the roots
3. Stunted growth of the plant and bunch size is affected.
Control :
Application of Furadan 3G @ 20 grammes or Thimet 10g @ 12 grammes or neem cake @ 1/2 Kg. per pit at planting.
Marigold serves as repellent and trap crop. It can be grown in the inter space to begin with.
VIRAL
Bunchy Top :
1. Size of the leaf greatly reduced and there is a rosetting of reduced leaves.
2. Broken dark green streaks along the vents, midrib or petiole.
3. Leaves are brittle and dark in colour.
4. In early infection, bunches are not produced.
5. In late infection after bunch emergence, further development of bunch is affected.
Control:
1. Remove and destroy affected plants along with rhizome.
2. Spray any one of the systemic insecticides like Metasystox @ 1.25 ml or Nuvacron @ 1.25 ml or Dimecron @ 0.5 ml/litre of water to control aphid vector.
FUNGAL
Leaf Spot :
Brown spindle shaped spots on older leaves and drying of leaves.
Control :
Spray Bavistin @ 1g or Kavach @2g or Dithane M45 @ 2g per litre of water.
Cigar and rot :
Tip of the fingers gives the appearance of ash at the end of the cigar.
Control :
Hand removal of floral remnants after bunch maturity. Spray Bavistin @ 1g/litre of water.
Panama Wilt (Dwarf Cavendish is tolerant to panama wilt)
1. Yellowing of the leaves
2. Buckling or hanging of the petiole.
3. Splitting of the pseudostem at the base.
4. Brown discoloration of inner tissue of pseudostem / rhizome.
Control
1. Apply recommended dose of farm Yard Manure.
2. Avoid root injury through intercultural operations or nematode infestation.
3. Make a hole (2 to 3 depth) at 30 degree angle at the base of pseudostem. Insert one capsule of Bavistin 200 mg. Per plant and close the hole with mud slurry or inject 10 ml. Of 2% Bavistin ( 20 ml/litre of water) in the hole and close it with mud slurry.
4. If the infection is observed in the early stages, i.e. 3-4 months after planting, repeat any one of the above treatments 2 months after the first application. If late infection is observed 6 months after planting, one application of any of the above treatments may be sufficient.
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