Effect of High Density Planting and Nutrient Stick on Growth of Banana

Abstract

An investigation entitled “High density planting and use of nutrient stick for enhanced productivity in Tissue Culture (TC) banana (Musa AAB) cv. Nendran” was carried out at Instructional farm II, Nileshwar, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kasaragod, Kerala during 2023 to 2024.The objective of experiment was to analyse the productivity of TC Nendran banana supplemented with nutrient stick under high density planting. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications. The experiment had two main factors (i) planting density D1: One sucker per hill (2m x 2m), D2: Two suckers per hill (2m x 3m), D3: Three suckers per hill (2m x 3m) and (ii) fertilizer schedule, F1: KAU POP, F2: KAU POP + 10 nutrient sticks per hill each at 2 months after planting (MAP)  and 4 MAP, F3: KAU POP + 10 nutrient sticks per hill each at 2 MAP, 4 MAP and 6 MAP.  Results of the field experiment showed significant changes in the growth attributes. Pseudo stem height was highest for D1 in initial stages but at harvest D3 produced maximum height while in case of pseudo stem girth, D1 had the highest value till harvest. Number of functional leaves, total number of leaves was the highest in D1. The present investigation revealed that high density planting of Tissue Culture banana one and two sucker per hill had better growth attributes.