Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Dr. R Naga Lakshmi, Dr. K Mamatha and Dr. BVK Bhagavan

Abstract:
Tella chakkera keli (AAA) is high priced commercial banana cultivar grown in Andhra Pradesh owing to its characteristic taste, aroma and quality. Demand for this banana could not met due to its low productivity. Timely and precise application of inputs like water, fertilizer, to the crop optimizes its productivity. The integrated approach is to adopt practices like drip irrigation, fertigation, mulching, foliar sprays, bunch sprays and bunch sleeves etc. to enhance the productivity. Hence, the present study was conducted to increase the yield of Tella Chakkerakeli banana in sustainable manner. Thirteen treatments with different combinations of micro nutrient foliar sprays, bunch sprays with various sources of potassium, with or without polyethylene bunch sleeves along with control were carried out in Randomised Block Design, replicated twice at Dr. YSRHU-Horticultural Research Station, Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh. Among all the treatments, by adopting drip irrigation, fertigation with 75% of recommended dose of fertiliser based on soil test, 100 micron polyethylene mulching, foliar sprays with IIHR Arka Banana Special @ 0.5% at 5, 6, 7 months after planting and bunch spray with KNO₃ @ 0.5% on de-navelled bunches at 5 and 30 days after last hand opening without bunch sleeves enhanced the yield (45.16 t ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.51) of Tell chakkera keli banana over traditional practices like flood irrigation, 100% recommended dose of fertiliser through pocketing, without mulching, foliar, bunch sprays and bunch covers (32.76 t ha^-1, 1.23 respectively).