Soil suitability and management for banana production Next End

SOIL SUITABILITY FOR BANANA Banana grow in all types of soils with adequate soil moisture. Deep, well drained, friable loamy soil with adequate organic matter is ideal for its cultivation. Banana is one of the few fruits which have a restricted root zone. Therefore, depth and drainage are the two most important considerations in selection the soil for banana. Previous Next End

SOIL SUITABILITY FOR BANANA It can grow well in slightly alkaline soils. Banana can be grown well in pH range of 6.5 – 7.5. Alluvial and volcanic soils are the best for banana cultivation. In India heavy clay soil of the Cauvery delta, alluvial soils, black loam in Maharashtra are also famous for growing good crop of banana. The coastal sandy loams as well as the red lateritic soil of the hilly tracts also yielded good crop. Previous Next End

CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT OF BANANA Major banana growing areas of the world are geographically situated between the Equator and latitudes 200N and 200S. Tropical, with comparatively small temperature fluctuation from day to night and from summer to winter is ideal for banana. Previous Next End

CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT OF BANANA In subtropics, between 200 and 300 North or south of the equator also banana is grown. In the subtropics, wide temperature fluctuations between day and night and between summer and winter, the high and the low rainfall which is also poorly distributed. Bananas perform very well under humid tropical conditions but can be cultivated successfully even under humid or semi arid sub tropical conditions. Previous Next End

CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT OF BANANA Better growth and yield of banana at a temperature range of 25-35°C though they can be cultivated at a temperature range of 10-40°C. A suitable banana climate is a mean temperature of 26.67°C and mean rainfall of 10 cm per month. There should not be more than 3 months of dry season. Under cooler climates the crop duration is extended. Previous Next End

METHODS OF SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 1.Clean culture Involves regular ploughing and removal of weeds. Deep and frequent cultivation may be avoided and also cultivation when the soil is too wet. To avoid loss of humus, nitrogen, soil erosion, formation of hard pan etc., Previous Next End

2. Clean culture with cover crops Involves raising of a cover crop or green manure after removing the weeds. Green manure crops like Sunnhemp, Cowpea, Dhaincha, Lupins etc. are more commonly used. Previous Next End

3. Mulching Crop residues like straw, cotton stalks, leaves, saw dust, pine needles, coir dust arid other materials like polythene films or certain special kinds of paper are spread in the tree basins and in inter spaces between trees. Previous Next End

4. Sod In this method, permanent cover of grass is raised in the orchard and no tillage is given. 5. Sod mulch This is similar to sod with the only difference is that the vegetation is cut frequently and the cut material is allowed to remain on the ground. Previous Next End

6. Intercropping The practice of growing any economic crop in alley spaces of the plant or in the unoccupied spaces of the long duration crop in the early periods is referred as intercropping. Ex. Intercropping of short duration vegetables such as tomato, oninon etc in banana fields. Previous Next End

7. Mixed cropping It refers to the practice of growing certain perennial crops in the alley spaces of the main perennial crops. The main advantage is the effective utilization of available area and increase in the net income of the farm per unit area. Previous Next End

8. Multitier system of cropping Intercropping and mixed cropping involve jointly multitier system of cropping It defined as a compatible companion of crops having varying morphological frames and rooting habits, grown together in such a manner that their canopies intercept solar energy at varying heights and their roots forage the soil at different zones. The main principle here is that the land, water and sunlight should be effectively used. Previous Next End