Comparative Performance of Water Soluble and Routinely used Fertilizer with Respective to Different Fertigation Levels and Frequencies on Growth Parameters and Crop Duration of Banana cv. Grand Naine under Drip Irrigation

Field experiment with banana crop was conducted on moderately drained clayey soil which was classified earlier as “deep black soil” in Southern Gujarat. The study indicated that the fertilizer sources influenced significantly on growth parameters. Maximum plant height (3rd and 7th MAP), stem girth (3rd, 5th and 7th MAP), total leaf area (3rd and 5th MAP) was recorded with water soluble fertilizer (S2). Moreover, fertilizer sources and fertigation frequencies failed to exert any significant effect on crop duration. Considering the effect of fertigation levels, viz., 80 % RDF (L3) and fertigation frequencies, viz., fertigation applied at twice in a week (F2) induced early and vigorous vegetative growth was observed in terms of plant height, stem girth, number of leaves and total leaf area at various stages of growth of banana i.e. at 3rd, 5th and 7th MAP, and after harvest in banana cv. Grand Naine. The treatment L3 (80% RDF) was also found better with respect to crop duration parameters viz., early initiation of inflorescence, maturity of the fruit as well as total crop duration. In drip control vs. rest, all the rest of the treatments except 40% RDF (L1) were recorded higher values in plant height. However, stem girth and total leaf area were recorded maximum in treatment S2 (WSF), L3 (80% RDF) and F2 (twice in a week) as compared to drip control.