Organic banana production system: Leaf emission, leaf senescence and crop duration in plant and ratoon cycles

An organic banana production system was developed by using National Programme for Organic Production approved inputs and practices. Studies were made on leaf emission rate (LER), leaf senescence rate (LSR), total leaf production and crop duration in plant and ratoon cycles. Organically raised plants produced similar number of leaves in plant and ratoon cycles as the conventionally grown (with inorganic inputs) plants. Leaf emission and senescence was slower in organic production system than in conventional system. Regardless of the production system, both LER and LSR were more in plant crop than ratoon crop. However, LER and LSR in conventional system was also higher in both plant and ratoon cycles than organic production system. Bunch emergence (shooting) was significantly delayed in both plant and ratoon cycles in organically grown plants compared to conventionally raised plants. Crop duration of organically grown plants was longer than conventionally raised plants. Organically raised plants took 170 to 198 more days over conventionally raised plants to complete both plant and ratoon cycles.