Journal of Horticultural Sciences

S. C. Kotur ¹, P. R. Ramesh ², R. Venugopalan ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru – 560 089, IN
2 Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hirehalli, Tumkur - 572 104, IN

Abstract

Direct feeding of nutrients to bunch after de-navelling was evaluated in seven varieties of banana (Musa sp.) cvs. 'Grand Naine' (GN), 'Robusta'(R), 'Dwarf Cavendish'(DC), 'Ney Poovan'(NP), 'Nanjangud Rasabale'(NR), 'Nendran' (N) and 'Red banana' (RB) using 500g fresh cow-dung, 100ml water, and 2.5 - 10g each of urea and SOP in combinations. Across varieties, fruit and bunch weight increased by 41.5-104.0% and 44.5-97.3%, respectively, compared to 'control'. Maximum increase in fruit weight was observed with a blend of urea + SOP each at 10g in 'GN', 7.5g in 'R', 'DC', 'N' and 'RB', while, the level of urea + SOP was best at 2.5g for 'NP' and 5.0g for 'NR'. Magnitude of increase in fruit and bunch weight was higher in the cut-end (distal end) of the bunch compared to the leaf-end (proximal end). Improvement in pulp:peel ratio was best in 'NP' (4.29-5.91) and 'NR' (2.99-4.32), while, it was lowest in 'GN' (2.69- 2.72). Total soluble solids (TSS) in the pulp decreased with increasing fruit/bunch yield. 'N' showed an increase in TSS from 23.9-24.8°Brix in 'control', to 27.1-27.2° at 7.5g each combined urea and SOP application. Benefit: cost increased from 0.35 to 1.20 in 'GN', 0.79 to 1.62 in 'R', 0.60 to 1.43 in 'DC', 3.01 to 5.22 in 'NP', 2.16 to 3.41 in 'NR', 1.37 to 3.67 in 'N' and from 2.82 to 4.96 in 'RB', indicating obvious profitability of the technique. Nutrient composition in respect of N, K and S showed a general increase consequent to direct nutrient feeding. Differences in fruit quality and nutrient composition between the top and the bottom portion of the bunch differed with variety.

Keywords

Direct Nutrient Feeding, Nitrogen, Potassium, Sulphur, Musa Sp., Grand Naine, Robusta, Dwarf Cavendish, Ney Poovan, Nanjangud Rasabale, Nendran, Red Banana, Banana Varieties.

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S. C. Kotur ¹, Y. P. Shilpashree ¹, M. S. Sheshshayee ², P. R. Ramesh ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore-560 089, IN
2 Department of Plant Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore-560 065, IN

Abstract

In a pot-culture study, 'Arka Shrestha' tomato and 'Arka Komal' French bean were raised on red sandy-loam to compare urea coated with neem oil (2% w/w, NOCU) and prilled urea (PU) applied at 60, 80 and 100% of recommended N dose. To facilitate direct measurement of N use parameters, urea enriched with 15N (1 atom per cent excess) was used as the source of N. Compared to 'no urea' control, the application of N significantly increased dry matter production, fruit/pod yield as well as the parameters of N use. Prilled urea coated with neem oil (NOCU) was superior to PU in both the crops and produced 21% and 9% higher yield compared to the latter. Increasing the dose of N significantly increased dry matter production, yield and all parameters of N use. However, the interaction effects showed that N applied as NOCU at 80% the of recommended dose produced fruit/pod yield at par with that obtained at 100% of the recommended dose applied as PU in both crops. Corresponding fertilizer utilization achieved was 14.9% and 59.0% when 80% of N was applied as NOCU compared to 11.5% and 30.1 obtained when 100% of N was applied as PU in tomato and French bean, respectively.

Keywords

Neem Coated Urea, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Tomato, French Bean.

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