Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of banana Cv. Grand Naine (AAA) (ratoon crop)

Introduction

Banana (Musa spp.) belongs to the family Musaceae is one of the oldest fruits known to mankind. It is also known as Apple of Paradise and one of the most important sources of tropical fruits in the world as it is a significant staple food as well as a major export commodity (Rahman et al., 2013) [8] . Banana is a fourth important food crop in terms of gross value exceeded only by paddy, wheat and milk products and forms an important crop for subsistence farmers. Application of inorganic fertilizers though increases the yield substantially but could not able to sustain the fertility status of the soil and have caused several undesirable consequences in the fragile soil eco-system, leading to gradual decline in productivity. Chemical fertilizers have some deleterious effects on fruit quality besides adverse effects on soil, water and environmental conditions (Dutta et al., 2010) [3] . On the other hand, organic and microbial sources of nutrients have advantage of consistent and slow release of nutrients, maintaining ideal carbon and nitrogen ratio, improvement in water holding capacity and microbial biomass of soil profile, without having any adverse residual effects. In recent years, a new approach for utilization of available resources viz., organic, inorganic and microbial inoculants with an integrated approach for sustainable economic yield termed as 'Integrated Nutrient Management' (INM) has emerged which has already been receiving wide attention for contributing substantially towards acceleration of crop productivity by maintaining chemical, physical and biological balance in soil plant system (Bhalerao et al., 2010) [2] . The organics and biofertilizers help in better utilization of added inorganic fertilizers thus reduces its level of application as well as reduce the deleterious effect of harsh chemical residues that the inorganic fertilizers leave in the soil (Umar, 2007) [11] .

Materials and Methods

The present investigation was carried at Horticultural Research Station, Ashwaraopet. The experiment field was thoroughly ploughed and was levelled and divided into plots as per the layout Field was laid out in Randomized block design with three replications and eleven treatments. The treatment combinations are T1-100% RDF of N and K (farmers practice with fertigation), T2-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + jeevamrutha @ 3.0 percent + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+ Bunch covering, T3-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium(300g) + jeevamrutha @3.0 percent +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray Bunch covering, T4-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium (300g)+ jeevamrutha @ 3.0 percent +Arka banana special@ 5% foliar spray Bunch covering, T5-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium (300g), T6-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium (300g), T7-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + jeevamrutha @ 3.0 percent + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray +Bunch covering, T8-50% RDF of N and K(fertigation) +Arka microbial consortium(300g) + jeevamrutha@ 3.0 percent +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+ Bunch covering, T9-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium (300g) + jeevamrutha @ 3.0 percent +Arka banana special@ 5% foliar spray +Bunch covering, T10-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium (300g), T11-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium (300g).The observations were recorded for the growth and yield parameters.

Results and Discussion

Pseudostem height (cm) At all the crop growth stages the different nutrient treatments significantly affected the pseudostem height. The highest pseudostem height (100.56 cm) was also recorded in T4 at three months after ratooning and which was at par with T3 (98.88cm) followed by T2 (98.65 cm), whereas lowest pseudostem height (95.63cm) was noticed in T1. At five months after ratooning and shooting stages the highest pseudostem heights (152.74 cm and 226.22cm) respectively were recorded in treatment T4 over rest of the treatments. Whereas the lowest peseudostem height (137.51cm and185.83cm) respectively were observed in (T1).

T4 has recorded significantly higher pseudostem girth (56.37cm and 64.44 cm) at 5 MAR and atshooting respectively. Among different treatments, pseudostem girth was higher in T4 at 5 MAP which was at par with T3 (55.33 cm), T2 (54.08cm) and T5 (53.95cm) and at shooting stages T4 was found to be dominant over rest of the treatments. T1 has recorded lowest pseudostem girth (46.08cm and 52.36cm) at these stages. The increased growth in terms of height and girth under higher fertigation in combination with consortium of biofertilizers is be due to increased turgidity of thecells leading to better cell enlargement and cell wall development (Senthil kumar et al., 2016) [10] . In banana similar result was found by Yadav et al. (2010) [12] . Combination of micronutrients which helps to increase the plant growth like plant height, canopy spread this might be due to zinc is activator of enzyme, involve in the protein synthesis and had direct effect on the level of auxin in the plant as similar findings by Ram and Bose.

Lowest average number of days (45.47) taken for initiation of suckers in ratoon crop was found in T4 which was statistically at par with T2 (49.11), T3 (45.85) and T5 (50.15) and highest average number of days (65.44) taken for initiation of suckers was noticed in T1.

Number of suckers per plant

The highest number of suckers (5.26) was recorded in T4 which was significantly superior over rest of the treatments and lower number of suckers (2.32) was recorded in T1. The number of suckers noticed per plant during 5 months after ratooning did not differed significantly with nutrient management practices. Whereas at shooting stages the highest number of suckers (11.20) per plant was recorded in T4 which was superior compared to other treatments like T3 (10.67) andT2 (10.38) and are statistically at par and lower number of suckers (8.49) was recorded in T1.

From the above results it can be concluded that early initiation and more number of suckers per plant in ratoon crop is mainly due to availability of more amount of nutrients from different sources. The presence of biofertilizers andorganic sources around the plants throughout the period of growth, which are source of humus, N-fixers and nutrients, might have resulted in the higher values of vegetative parameters like number of suckers per plant and early initiation (Naik et al., 2016) [6] .

The days taken for initiation of functional leaves in ratoon crop differed significantly among treatments. Significantly less number of days (7.26 days) were taken for initiation of leaves in T4 and which are at par with T3, T2, T5 and T6 over rest of the treatments and significantly more number of days (8.66 days) was observed for initiation of leaves in T1.

Number of functional leaves

The number of leaves per plant significantly differed among the treatments at all the stages of crop growth. The differences for average number of leaves per plant were significant among treatments. There was trend of gradual increase in number of leaves per plant at different months of ratooning and shooting stages. The highest numbers of leaves (8.81,18.53 and 14.57) were found in T4 at 3,5 months after ratooning and at shooting stages respectively and the treatment T4 was at par with T3(8.15) in 3MAR while at 5MAR and shooting stage T4 recorded the highest number of leaves which was at par with T3, T2, T5 and T6. While, the least number of leaves (4.25, 15.28 and 11.53) were observed with T1 at all crop growth stages From the results it can be concluded that there was gradual increase in all the leaf characters like time taken for initiation of functional leaves, number of functional leaves. The trend of increase may be due to more nutrient availability and photosynthetic activity. The increase in number of leaves per plant might be due to combination of organic and inorganic nutrients facilitates the transport of carbohydrates through cell membrane i.e. starch and sugars as well as plays an important role in the activator for many enzymes which promote the growth of the plant. Similar trend was also reported by Khalifa et al. (2011) [4] .

Number of days taken for shooting

The early shooting (181.12 days) was recorded in treatment T4 which was at par with other treatments like T3 (184.06 days), T2 (185.67days), T5 (186.03days) and T6 (186.30days) followed by T7 (189.86 days). While late shooting was recorded in treatment T1 (197.26 days).

Number of days taken from shooting to harvest

The number of days taken from shooting to harvest differed significantly among the treatments for the ratoon crop (table 4.4.5 and figure 4.20). The less number of days (97.54 days) from shooting to harvesting was recorded in treatment T4 which was superior of all other treatments and it was followed by T3 (102.80). While more number of days (119.40) from shooting to harvesting was recorded in treatment T1.

Crop duration

The number of days taken from planting to harvest differed significantly among the different treatments for the ratoon crop. The effect of nutrients resulted in early (278.66 days) harvesting (T4) which was significantly different from the rest of the treatments. The late harvesting was observed in T1 which took about 316.66 days. Early flowering in fertigated plants could be further explained by rapid production of leaves with larger leaf area which would have resulted in better photosynthetic activity, thus the required "net assimilation" presumably would have reached early in the plants receiving both nitrogen and potassium through fertigation. This might be due to extended vegetative phase, more availability of required nutrients and release of nutrients by the farm yard manure and biofertilizers (Bhalerao et al., 2010) [2] .

Number of hands in a bunch

The soil application of nutrients and foliar spray of micronutrients along with fertigation had significant influences on the number of hands per bunch among the treatments in ratoon banana Cv. Grand Naine. The maximum number of hands per bunch (10.74) was noticed in T4 which was significantly at par with T3 (10.38) T5 (10.60) and followed by T6 (10.08). The minimum number of hands per bunch (9.25) was recorded in the treatment T1.

The highest finger length (18.80 cm) and finger girth (13.98cm) was obtained in treatment T4 in which finger length was at par with T2 (18.55) followed by T3 (18.67cm) and T6 (18.42), whereas the finger girth is statically at par with T3, T2, T5 and T6. The minimum finger length (17.81) and finger girth (12.80) was recorded in T1.

The highest finger weight (138.09g) was obtained in T4, which was superior over other treatments and followed byT3. While, the lowest finger weight (96.10 g) was recorded in T1.

The highest weight of hand (3.94 kg) was obtained in T4, which was significantly at par with T3 (3.79 kg), T2 (3.78kg), and T5 (3.70kg) and T6 (3.58 kg) followed by T7 (3.37kg). While, the lowest weight of hand (2.54 kg) was recorded inT1.

The highest yield per plant and per hectare (28.03 kg and 86.49t/ha) was obtained in treatment T4 which were significantly at par with T3 (27.48kg and 84.80 tonnes/ha) and T2 (26.66kg and 82.28 tonnes/ha). While, the minimum fruit yield (23.04 kg and 71.10 tonnes t/ha) was obtained in T1. Increase in the fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight and total yield might be due to better filling of finger under the bunch cover treatments which had more temperature than that of openair temperature particularly during cold season. The higher temperature inside the bunch covers triggered the nitrate reductase activity in the plants. The reason behind this might be increased temperature within the bunch cover. There is a positive association of temperature during shooting to harvest that temperature sets a limiting factor for bunch weight. The larger size, volume and weight of individual finger had exerted influence in augmentation of bunch weight (Sarkar et al., 2016) [9] . Higher yield response owing to application of organics ascribed to improved physical, chemical and biological properties of soil resulting in better supply of plant nutrients, which in turn led to good crop growth and yield. All the positive effects might have facilitated quick mobilization and availability of nutrients that would aid in increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index and photosynthetic rate. This in turn would have assisted for the increased yield of banana. This is in confirmation with the findings of Patel et al. (2010) [7] and Aba et al. (2011) [1] . T1-100% RDF of N and K (farmers practice with fertigation) T2-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T3-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T4-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T5-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T6-75%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium T7-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T8-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T9-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T10-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T11-50%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium MAR-Months After Ratooning T2-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T3-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T4-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T5-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T6-75%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium T7-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T8-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T9-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T10-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T11-50%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium MAR-Months After Ratooning T1-100% RDF of N and K (farmers practice with fertigation) T2-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T3-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T4-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special@ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T5-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T6-75%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium T7-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T8-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T9-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special@ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T10-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T11-50%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium T1-100% RDF of N and K (farmers practice with fertigation) T2-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T3-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T4-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special@ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T5-75% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 25% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T6-75%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium T7-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% + Arka banana special @5%foliar spray+Bunch covering T8-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special @ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T9-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium + jeevamrutham @ 3.0% +Arka banana special@ 5% foliar spray+Bunch covering T10-50% RDF of N and K (fertigation) + 50% Neem cake + Arka microbial consortium T11-50%RDF of N and K (fertigation) + Arka microbial consortium

Conclusion

From the investigation, it is concluded that banana responded favourably to organic nutrients in combination with chemical fertilizers. The integrated use of organics i.e, Arka Microbial Consortium (AMC), neem cake, jeevamrutha, panchagavya and inorganic nutrients through 75 per cent fertigation along with bunch protective measures has given the good results. Hence the integrated nutrient management practices in banana crop have been found to be an ideal option to improve yield.

References

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