Nutrient Use and Yield of Banana as influenced by Fertigation

A field experiment was conducted during 2010-2011 in medium deep clay soils at the Research Farm of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra to find out the effect of drip fertigation on yield and nutrient use efficiency of banana (cv. Grand naine). The treatments comprised of 100, 80 and 60 % recommended dose (RD) of fertilizer applied through drip in two schedules (Schedule A-equal, Schedule B crop growth stage), drip irrigation with only N through drip, drip with conventional fertilizers through soil and surface irrigation as control. The drip irrigation increased banana yield by 59.6 per cent and saved fertilizer to the tune of 40 per cent .The treatment comprising of 100 % RD of fertigation (schedule B) had maximum banana yield (81.84 t ha-1) over surface irrigation (51.26 t ha-1), however, it was at par with 100 % RD of fertigation in uniform 16 splits and 80 % RD of fertigation. Application of water soluble fertilizers through drip resulted in highest nutrient availability than control. In general, 100 % RD had the highest nutrient availability than 80 % and 40 % RD of fertilizer. The nutrient availability was more in treatment in which fertilizers were applied as per growth stages (schedule B) than equal splits (schedule A). The uptake of nutrients was higher in fertigated treatments than other treatments