Combining fertigation and consortium of bio-fertilizers for enhancing growth and yield of banana cv. Robusta (AAA)

The present investigation was carried out to study the effects of combination of fertigation and consortium of bio-fertilizers in enhancing the production of banana cv. Robusta (AAA) and improving the soil biological properties. The results shown that, fertigation with 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and 300 g of consortium of bio-fertilizers (CBF) produced significantly higher yield (115 MT ha⁻¹) as compared to other treatments in the main crop. The yield increase was nearly 32 per cent as compared to soil application of fertilizers (78 MT ha⁻¹). However, the yield difference between 100 and 75% RDF with CBF was not significant. Moreover, there was no significant yield difference between 75 and 50% RDF. In the ratoon crop, fertigation with 100% RDF and 100 g of CBF produced significantly higher yield (109 MT ha⁻¹), which was 30 per cent higher as compared to soil application of fertilizers (76 MT ha⁻¹) and 42 per cent higher than the treatment comprising of farm yard manure (FYM) + 300 g of CBF. In the ratoon crop, the yield difference between 100 and 75% RDF with CBF was not significant. Similarly, yield difference between 75 and 50% RDF was not significant. In both the cropping seasons, the soil biological activity in terms microbial population of was enhanced at higher level of consortium of bio-fertilizers.