Effect of Subsurface Drip Fertigation on Growth and Yield of Banana
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Author:S. Krishnasamy, P.P. Mahendran, A. Gurusamy and R. Babu
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:99, Issue:oct-dec
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100199
Abstract
Field experiment was carried out during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 at Agricultural College and
Research Institute, Madurai. There were nine treatments replicated thrice in RBD using banana
cv. G9 as test crop. The results indicated that the growth, yield attributes, fruit yield and
quality characters were higher under the fertigation treatment with the application of 100 per
cent recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) in which 50 per cent of P and K was applied as
basal and the remaining NPK as WSF through drip along with sulphozinc @25 kg / ha as soil
application. However this was on par with application of 100 per cent RDF where in 50 per cent
of P and K were applied as basal and the remaining NPK applied as WSF through drip. Surface
irrigation with soil application of fertilizers accounted for lesser growth, yield attributes, fruit
yield and quality characters when compared to drip irrigation with fertigation. Surface irrigation
accounted for higher total water use of 2099 mm where as drip irrigation accounted for only
1665 mm resulting in a saving of 21 per cent. Higher water use efficiency, water productivity,
net income and B:C ratio were recorded under drip fertigation of 100 per cent RDF wherein 50
percent of P and K applied as basal and the remaining NPK applied through drip along with soil
application of 25 kg of sulphozinc / ha.
Key words : Banana, subsurface drip fertigation, water soluble fertilizers,water productivity