Nutrient Management

Manuring

Apply compost, cattle manure or green leaves at the rate of 10 kg/plant at the time of planting.

Apply N:P2O5:K2O at the following dose (g/plant/year).

Variety Recommendation

Nendran (irrigated) 

190:115:300

Other varieties depending upon soil fertility level 

60-200 : 160-200 : 320-400

Palayankodan (rainfed) 

100:200:400

Palayankodan (reclaimed alluvial soils of Kuttanad)

Plant crop

100:200:400

First ratoon

150:200:800

Second ratoon

150:200:800

Plant crop followed by two ratoon crops gives maximum yield. Two suckers per clump should be retained for ratooning.

Apply the fertilizer 60-75 cm around the plant in two equal split doses; the first, two months after planting and the second, four months after planting. For ratoon crop, the entire fertilizers have to be applied in a single dose immediately after the harvest of the preceding crop. Irrigate immediately after manuring.

Note: For Nendran, apply the fertilizers in six split doses as detailed below which will be beneficial to improve the finger size and bunch weight, provided the farmers can afford the cost of application.

Time of fertilizer application

N:P2O5:K2O g/plant

One month after planting

40:65:60

Two months after planting

30:50:60

Three months after planting

30:00:60

Four months after planting

30:00:60

Five months after planting

30:00:60

Just after complete emergence of bunch

30:00:00

Total

190:115:300

For Palayankodan (rainfed), planting may be done in January and the suckers may be given pot irrigation @ nine litres of water once in 15 days until April-May.

After planting banana, sow sunn hemp / daincha / cowpea adopting a seed rate of 50 kg/ha. Incorporate the crop into the soil 40 days after sowing. Repeat sowing of green manure crop and incorporate into soil 40 days after sowing.