Response of banana to drip irrigation, mulches and irrigation scheduling in South Gujarat

Banana is a major perennial cash crop of Central Western India having high water requirement. Due to heavy surface irrigation, in some areas, rise in watertable and secondary salinisation have started building up and also overuse of canal water has lead to inequitable water distribution in canal commands. Therefore, experiments were planned in heavy black soils of Gujarat Agricultural University, Navsari, to study the repsonse of banana crop to drip irrigation, effect of mulches and schedule of irrigation through drip. The treatments comprise of nine drip-rrigated treatments and one surface irrigated control.

Three years' pooled results showed that drip irrigation, in general, increased banana yield as compared to surface method along with water saving of 30%, 43% and 56% in 0.45, 0.60 and 0.75 FPE (Fraction of Pan Evaporation), respectively. It was observed that while drip alone could save water considerably without any reduction in banana production, drip coupled with mulches could Simultaneously increase the crop yield in addition to water savings. Between the two mulches, sugarcane trash mulch was found better than black plastic. The maximum yield (66 t/ha) was recorded in the treatment of drip with SM at 0.75 (FPE), which did not differ Significantly from 0.60 FPE of the same combination, but significantly better than 0.45 FPE. The net income indicated that all drip treatments either alone or in combination with mulches, except 0.60 and'0. 75 FPE of SM (Sugarcane trash Mulch) resulted in lower return than surface method. But drip alone at 0.75 FPE resulted in almost same return as the surface method along with 30% water saving. However by covering an additional area through the saved water gross income could be increased (doubled in DSM0.60 (Drip + Sugarcane trash Mulch + 0.60 FPE) as compared to control.