Growth, yield and quality of vegetable banana Monthan (Banthal-ABB) in relation to NPK fertigation

A field experiment was conducted at Central Horticultural experiment Station, Bhubaneswar during 2007–08 to assess the effects of NPK fertigation on growth, yield and quality of vegetable banana Monthan (Banthal- ABB). There were five treatments viz., T₁ - Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF - 200 g N: 80 g P: 220 g K/plant/crop cycle), T₂ - 75% RDF (150 g N: 60 g P: 155 g K/plant/crop cycle)+ application schedule-I (Application of N:P:K in the ratio of 2:1:0 at vegetative growth, 0:2:1 at flowering stage and 1:0:2 at fruit development and maturation stage), T₃- 75% RDF + application schedule-II (Application of N:P:K in the ratio of 3:2:1 at vegetative growth, 1:3:2 at flowering stage and 2:1:3 at fruit developmental and maturation stage), T₄ - 50% RDF (100 g N: 40 g P: 110 g K/plant/crop cycle) + application schedule - I and T₅ - 50% RDF+ application schedule-II laid out in randomized block design with 5 replications. Maximum pseudo-stem height (261.50 cm), stem circumference (65.75 cm), number of hands and fingers (7.20 and 70.12/plant), bunch weight (11.45 kg/plant) and fruit yield (28.63 t/ha), finger size (20.50 × 15.65 cm), finger weight (163.29 g), total leaf area (19.88 m²), productivity efficiency (0.575 kg/m² leaf area) and leaf, fruit and pseudo-stem dry matter (33.45, 15.27 and 9.98%) and leaf nutrient content (N-2.21%, P-0.26% and K-1.98%) and TSS (6.75°B) were recorded due to application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizers + application schedule-II (Applied N:P:K in the ratio of 3:2:1 at vegetative growth, 1:3:2 at flowering stage and 2:1:3 at fruit development stage). earliest flowering and fruit maturity (12.41 and 17.91 days) were also recorded in the same treatment. Pulp: peel ratio (2.68) was maximum due to 50% RDF + application schedule-II (applied 3:2:1 at vegetative growth, 1:3:2 at flowering stage and 2:1:3 at fruit development and maturation stage) in vegetable banana Monthan (ABB-Banthal).