Combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan)

Introduction

Banana is a globally important fruit crop, predominantly cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions. It belongs to the family Musaceae and genus Musa, of the order Scitaminae. Bananas contribute significantly to human nutrition due to their high carbohydrate content and the presence of essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, along with B-complex vitamins. In addition to their nutritional value, bananas contain bioactive compounds that have been reported to reduce the risk of several health disorders, including cancer, asthma, and hypertension (Koeppal, 2008) [8] . Banana have also been utilized in the development of edible vaccines against the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), with plant-based HBV vaccines produced in edible banana offering a costeffective approach for human healthcare (Uma et al., 2008) [18] . Furthermore, in Ayurvedic medicine, banana is traditionally used to treat certain stomach and intestinal disorders. Banana is grown worldwide over an estimated area of about 5.9 million hectares, with a total production of nearly 135 million tonnes and an average productivity of 23 tonnes per hectare (NAB, 2024) [11] . India occupies the leading position in global banana production, covering approximately 8.8 lakh hectares and producing 324.54 lakh tonnes (NHB, 2022). Among Indian states, banana cultivation is most prominent in Andhra Pradesh (108.10 ha), Karnataka (108.00 ha), Tamil Nadu (97.80 ha), Maharashtra (83.20 ha), Gujarat (59.20 ha), and Madhya Pradesh (27.00 ha), making them the principal producers of the crop. Bananas are a highly nutritious fruit that remains widely available and economically accessible throughout the year.

Poovan banana belongs to the Musa AAB genomic group and is widely cultivated across different regions because of its broad adaptability and high drought tolerance under perennial cropping systems, making it the leading commercial cultivar in Tamil Nadu. Banana, owing to its large biomass and rapid growth rate, requires substantial amounts of nutrients to attain higher yield and superior fruit quality. Although the application of inorganic fertilizers significantly enhances productivity, their continuous use alone is insufficient to maintain soil fertility over time. Considering the present concerns related to soil health and environmental sustainability, the combined use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers has become necessary. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of organic manure, inorganic fertilizers, Bio NPK liquid consortia, campesterol and stigmasterol on the growth, yield of banana. The results are expected to assist farmers in selecting appropriate combinations of organic, inorganic fertilizers, Bio NPK liquid consortia and campesterol and stigmasterol to achieve efficient crop management.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted during 2023-2024 at farmer's field in Ramanayaganpatti Village, Batlagundu, Tamil Nadu, India. The sword suckers were procured from farmer's field at Kulithalai, Tiruchirappalli. The suckers were treated to prevent from fungal disease, nematode infestation and planted in the pits size of 45 cm³ with the spacing of 2.1 m × 2.1 m. Top soil and 10kg of FYM were applied to each pit during filling. The experimental field was maintained weedfree through regular hand weeding. Irrigation was applied in the interval of 7-8 days in winter and 4-5 days interval in summer. The experimental plots were arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 10 treatments and three replicates. The treatment details are T 1-100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), T 2-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia, T 3-50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 8 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 2 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia, T 4-100% RDF + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1%, T 5-75% RDF + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1%, T 6-50% RDF + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1%, T 7-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1%, T 8-50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 8 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 2 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1%, T 9-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2%, T 10-50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 8 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 2 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2%. The recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) of 110:35:330 g NPK per plant was applied at three levels. Nitrogen and potassium fertilizers were applied in three equal splits during the 2nd, 4th, and 6th months after planting, while the entire phosphorus dose was applied as a basal treatment. Vermicompost and neem cake were applied at two levels in two splits: First split as a basal application and the second split at 4 th month after planting. Bio NPK liquid consortia applied as basal dose. Campesterol and Stigmasterol were applied as foliar spray at three levels in three splits at 4 th , 6 th and 8 th month after planting. Different growth and yield parameters obtained during the study were subjected to statistical analysis by using Randomized Block Design (RBD) as per procedure given by Panse and Sukhatme (1978) [13] .

Results and Discussion

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan). The results revealed that T 9 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2%. demonstrated superior performance and T 1100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) exhibited the least desirable outcomes.

Plant height

The data pertaining to the combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan) are presented in Table 1. Among the treatments, T 9 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2% (88.27, 155.86, 206.51, 267.62 cm) at 3 MAP, 5 MAP, 7 MAP, shooting. recorded the maximum plant height, followed by T 7 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1% (85.66, 152.57, 202.90, 264.09 cm) at 3 MAP, 5 MAP, 7 MAP, shooting. The minimum plant height was observed in T 1-100% RDF (control) (62.71, 126.38, 172.92, 233.17) at 3 MAP, 5 MAP, 7 MAP, shooting. The superior plant height observed under treatment T9 can be attributed to the synergistic supply of nitrogen through RDF, vermicompost, and neem cake. Adequate nitrogen availability promotes the synthesis of proteins and amino acids, which are essential for new tissue development (Shelke et al., 2025) [17] . In addition to that inorganic phosphorus co-administration with vermicompost enhances the intake of some basic plant nutrients (NPK) and increases the plant height (Muhammad et al., 2016) [22] . Bacterial production of auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins appears to growth promoting effects. These beneficial effects in plants inoculated with consortium of biofertilizers enhanced the growth attributes such as plant height (Senthilkumar et al., 2014) [15] . Stigmasterol and Campesterol played a significant role in stimulating vegetative growth. Stigmasterol enhanced the production of growth hormones like IAA and GA₃ and improved the uptake of essential nutrients such as K⁺, Ca²⁺, and P³⁻, which supported pseudostem elongation and overall plant vigor, contributed to sustained growth. Campesterol aids plant growth by stabilizing cell membranes, thereby improving nutrient absorption and internal transport, which enhanced the metabolic activity and biomass accumulation (Bhat et al., 2011) [4] .

Plant girth

The data pertaining to the combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan) are presented in the Table 1. Among the treatments, T 9-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg [14,1] . The role of consortium biofertilizer in slow release and mobility of nutrients to the plants enhanced the pseudostem girth. In addition to that, the increase pseudostem girth can be attributed to the role of stigmasterol in maintaining membrane fluidity and permeability, which are essential for cell elongation and division (Du et al., 2022; Valitova et al., 2024) [21,20] .

Phyllochron

The data pertaining to the combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan) are presented in the Table 1. Phyllochron is the number of days for the successive leaf production. Among the treatments, T 9 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2% recorded minimum number of days (7.02 days) for the successive leaf production followed T 7-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1% (7.35 days). maximum number of days (10.11 days) for the successive leaf production was recorded in T 1 -100% RDF (Control). Maximum number of days was observed in T 1 -100% RDF (Control). The minimum number of days was observed in T 9. This positive effect on early phyllochron in banana may be attributed due to the combined application of RDF, vermicompost, neem cake, and Bio NPK liquid consortia. This ensured a continuous and balanced supply of nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Improved nutrient availability and uptake enhanced photosynthetic activity and metabolic processes, thereby promoting rapid leaf initiation and emergence, resulting in minimum number of days for the successive leaf production.

Crop duration

The data pertaining to the study on the combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan) are presented in the Table 1. Among the treatments, T 9-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2% recorded minimum number of days from planting to shooting, shooting to harvest and total duration (237.28, 106.42, 343.70 days) followed by T The minimum number of days was observed in T 9 attributed to better microbial activity of Azospirillum and PSB in vegetative growth. This might be due to the optimum quantity of nutrients available through chemical and organic fertilizers such as vermicompost, neem cake which might have increased the process of initiation and emergence of inflorescence due to rapid production of leaves with better disposition of photosynthetic activity resulting in higher required net assimilation (Kuttimani et al., 2013) [9] . In case of shooting to harvest T 9 recorded minimum number of days for the maturity. This might be due to the better source sink relationship in this treatment which recorded more leaf area that might have enhanced the photosynthetic activity and translocating the carbohydrates more efficiently to the developing bunch. (Arumugam Shakila and Manivanan, 2001 and Sharma, 2002) [2,16] . Shorter the vegetative stage and minimum the number of days for the maturity lead to reduction in the total crop duration.

Yield Parameters

The data pertaining to the combined effects of organic, inorganic and biological nutrient inputs with phytosterols on growth and yield of banana (Musa spp., cv. Poovan) are presented in the Table 2. Among the treatments, T 9 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2% recorded the highest number of fingers per hand (15.33) and number of fingers per bunch (186.11), followed by T 7 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1% for number of fingers per hand (15.00), number of fingers per bunch (181.80), whereas the lowest values were observed in T 1-100% RDF (control) (12.51) and (150.25).

The increased number of fingers in T 9 may be due to the application of the recommended dose of fertilizers, vermicompost, neem cake along with the microbial consortium. The enhanced phosphorus availability through phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, along with the production of growth-promoting substances such as IAA by Azotobacter, could have increased endogenous hormonal levels in plant tissues. This improved nutrient uptake and hormonal balance would have stimulated better floral development, cell division and fruit growth, ultimately leading to increased number of fingers per bunch in banana. Application of stigmasterol enhanced reproductive yield components through increased growth regulator activity and improved photosynthetic efficiency. A similar physiological mechanism enhanced the number of fruits per bunch in banana under a treatment stigmasterol and campesterol. Maximum bunch weight (19.43 Kg/plant), Total yield (43.91 t/ha) was observed in T 9-75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2% which was followed by T 7 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + Campesterol & Stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.1% (18.69 Kg/plant) (42.24 t/ha). Minimum bunch weight (13.38 kg/plant) and yield (30.24 t/ha) was recorded in T 1100% RDF (control). The maximum bunch weight recorded in T 9 may be due to the integrated application of RDF, vermicompost, neem cake which collectively enhanced key

physiological processes such as chlorophyll synthesis, nutrient absorption, photosynthetic efficiency during fruit development, ultimately resulting in increased bunch weight (Vanilarasu and Balakrishnamurthy, 2014) [19] . In addition to that, effective role of consortium of biofertlizers increased the input use efficiency and the active association of microbes with roots might have afforded more uptake of moisture, increased percent of water and nutrients which enhanced the bunch weight and total yield. (Senthilkumar et al., 2014) [15] . Similar findings by (Lalmuanpuii et al., 2025) [10] . In addition to that, stigmasterol and campesterol, played crucial roles in improving traits like bunch weight and total yield by supporting the membrane integrity and nutrient uptake (Cabianca et al., 2021; Griebel & Zeier, 2010) [5,7] . These sterols may work with plant growth regulators (PGRs) to optimize growth, enhancing bunch weight (Flouda, 2022) [6] . Manipulating sterol levels has shown promising results in increasing total yield (Berli et al., 2021) [3] .

Conclusion

The findings of the present investigation demonstrated that integrating organic manures with campesterol, stigmasterol, and reduced inorganic fertilizer levels significantly enhanced growth and yield attributes of banana cv. Poovan. Among the thirteen treatments, T 9 -75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 4 kg plant⁻¹ + Neem cake @ 1 kg plant⁻¹ + Bio NPK liquid consortia + campesterol and stigmasterol (SL) @ 0.2% consistently recorded superior performance in all growth parameters including plant height, pseudostem girth, phyllochron and crop duration, as well as yield attributes such as number of fingers per hand, number of fingers per bunch, bunch weight and total yield. The application of inorganic fertilizer alone T 1 -100% RDF resulted in the lowest growth and yield. These results conclude that the combined use of organic inputs with reduced chemical fertilizer, campesterol and stigmasterol is more effective in enhancing banana productivity. Therefore, the treatment T 9 can be recommended for achieving improved growth and higher yield in Poovan banana cultivation.

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