Vol. 9, Issue 10 (2020)

Author(s):
A Premalatha, PR Suresh and Dr. NK Binitha

Abstract:
The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of foliar application of micronutrient mixture on yield enhancement of banana (Musa AAB) cv. Nendran. A field experiment was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station farm, Nileswar during the year 2015-16 employing randomized Block design having thirteen treatments replicated thrice such that four plants were maintained in each replication. Micro-nutrient mixture (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) was foliar sprayed at 2nd, 4th and 6th month after planting. The vegetative characters such as pseudostem girth (52.08 m) at the time of shooting and number of leaves at 4 month after planting and at the time of shooting were significantly improved with the foliar application of micronutrient mixture mostly at 2 per cent mixture in three sprays. Bunch weight of the plant is the major economic factor considered in banana cultivation. All the treatments were found to be superior over control on which T₁₁ recorded highest bunch weight (12.76 kg) and control T₁₃ (control) recorded lowest bunch weight (8.32 kg). There was significant difference between the treatments with respect to number of finger per bunch, average weight of fingers and finger length. T₁₁ (3% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) produced highest average weight of fingers of 282.64 g, finger length of 23.05 cm. Effect of treatment application on bunch maturity period (from the day of bunch emergence to harvest) of banana also found to be significant. 3% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays took lowest bunch maturity period of 82 days which was on par with T₁₀ (2% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) and T₉ (1% micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays) while control took highest days to maturity with 105.50 days. Foliar spraying of 2 and 3 percent micronutrient mixture as 3 sprays enhances the growth and yield parameters of Nendran banana.