Cultivation of Banana - ICAR JRF

 Cultivation of Banana - ICAR JRF

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* Botanical name :- Musa paradisica
* Family :- Musaceae
* Origin :- South East Asia
* Chromosome no :- 2n=22
* Inflorescence type :- Spadix
* Fruit type :- Berry
* Edible part :- Mesocarp and Endocarp
* Banana is rich source of energy (67 - 137 K.ca/100g)
* Banana is rich source of dietary potassium (k).
* Banana is also known as 1) Kalpataru 2) Adam's Fig 3) Tree of wisdom 4) Tree of paradise 5) Apple of paradise.
* Aroma in Banana is due to Amylester.
* Most of cultivated banana is triploid in nature.
* Banana is moisture loving plant.
* in Tamil nadu, Maharashtra, Andhrapradesh mostly bananas hybrids of  the two types i.e 1) M. acuminata 2) M. balbisiana.
- in Tamil Nadu, Banana is specially grown for leaf production.
- India is the largest producer of banana in the world.
- Tamil Nadu is leading state in production of banana.

* Climate

- Banana is humid tropical region plant.
- Optimum temperature range should be 10°c - 30°c.
- Temperature above 36-38°c cause scorching effect due to increase transportation.
- wind velocity more than 80m/hr will damage the crop heavily.

* Soil

- Soil should be Deep, well drained soil with abundant Organic Matter.
- Soil ph :- 5.5 - 8.0 found to be optimum.

* Important Varieties of Banana

1) Dwarf Cavendish
2) Robusta
3) Poovan
4) Narendran
5) Rasthali
- Poovan is the variety of banana is resistance 'Panama Wilt'
- Narendran is the best variety of banana for chips making.
- Musa acuminata is the source of today's edible banana.
* Planting Method
- Furrow method used in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- Trench method is mostly used in Tamilanaadu.

* Propagation

A) Sword Suckers

- Commercial propagation in banana is done by sword suckers.
- sucker with well developed base and pointed tip having narrow sword shaped leaf bladder in early stages.
- Sword suckers are move vigorous, grows faster and comes to bearing early.
- The sword suckers produce bigger and heavier bunches in 11 month.
- About 80-120 CM height of sword suckers are planted.
- Weight of sword suckers should be 500-750 g.

B) Water Suckers or Broad leaved suckers.

- small, undersized suckers of superficial origin bearing broad leaves.
* Field Preparation
- The land is ploughed deeply and leveled.
- The pits of size 45 cm² is dug
- The pits are refilled with top Soil mixed with 10kg of FYM, 250 g of neem cake.
* Spacing
- Spacing in banana should be 3 × 3 m² or 1.8 × 1.8 m².

* Irrigation

- irrigation should be given immediately after planting.
- Drip irrigation is 15 lit/Plant /day from planting to 4th month.
- 20 lit/plant/day from 5th shooting and 25 lit/plant/day from till harvest.

* Intercultural Operations

A) Desuckering

- Removal of undesired suckers  known as desuckering.
- it should be done once in 45 days of planting, two suckers are left per plant.

B) Denavelling

- Removal of male flower bud after the completion of female phase is known as denavelling.

C) Propping

- it is a method by which support is given to banana bearing plant with the help of bamboo crutches.

D) Wrapping

- it is a covering of bunches with polythene or gunny cloth that protects the fruits from intense heat, hot wind etc. and also improve the color of fruit.

E) Mulching

F) Earthing up

* Flowering Time

- June to July

* Fruiting Time

- October - December

- Only one time Banana crop gives fruit in life.

* Harvesting

- For long distance transportation, harvesting is done at 70-80% of maturity.
- Bunches attain maturity from 100-150 days after flowering.

* Storage

- Banana fruits can be stored for 3 weeks at 13°c temperature and 85-90% of Relative Humidity.

* Yield (t/ha/year)

Poovan – 40-50
Monthan – 30-40
Robusta – 50-60
Dwarf Cavendish -50-60

* Plant Protection

A) Diseases
a) Panama wilt (Fusariunm oxysporium pv.cubensis)
b) Sigatoka leaf spot (Cercospora musicola)
c) Bunchy top – transmitted by Aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa)
d) Moko wilt ( Pseudomonas solanacearum)

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