Effect of diferential irrigation, soil moisture stress and mulch on growth, yield and water use in banana (Musa paradisiaca L.)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore during June 1994 to August 1996 to study the effect of differential irrigation, soil moisture stress and mulch on growth, yield and water use in Elakki banana (Musa paradisiaca L.). The results revealed that irrigation scheduled at an IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 during vegetative stage recorded significantly higher fruit yield (main cop: 28.75 t/ha, ratoon crop: 24.89 r/h) and it was lower with an IW/CPE ratio of 0.4 (main cop: 21:89 t/ha, ratoon crop: 18:81 t/ha). Similarly, irrigation scheduled at an IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 during reproductive stage recorded higher fruit yield (main crop: 27.13 t/ha ratoon crop: 23:22 t/ha) and it was lower with an IW/CPE ratio of 0.4 (main crop: 24:42 t/ha, ratoon crop: 21.52 t/ha). Irrigation scheduled at an IW/CPE ratio of 0.8 (no stress throughout the crop growth) gave significantly higher fruit yield (man crop: 30.25 t/ha, ratoon crop: 24.41 t/ha) and it was lower with stress imposed during 201 to 240 days after planting (main crop: 23.91 t/ha, ratoon crop: 18.28 t/ha). Among the stress treatments, stress imposed during 321 to 360 Days After planting (DAP) gave higher banana fruit yield (main crop: 29.16 t/ha, ratoon crop: 23.53 t/ha) and it was lower with stress given during 201 to 240 days after planting (main crop: 23.91 t/ha, ratoon crop: 18.29 t/ha). Stress imposed during 321 to 360 DAP gave increased yield to the extent of 18.01 and 22.32 per cent with main and ratoon crops respectively as against stress imposed during 201 to 240 DAP. Irrigation scheduled at an IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 recorded higher fruit yield (main crop: 32.47 t/ha, ratoon crop: 26.56 t/ha) and it was lower with an IW/CPE ratio of 0.4 (main crop: 23.29 t/ha, ratoon crop: 19.35 t/ha). The fruit yield was higher with mulch treatment (main crop: 26.53 t/ha, ratoon crop: 24.82 t/ha) as compared to no mulch (main crop: 23.53 t/ha, ratoon crop: 22.16 t/ha).