Banana Cultivation Guide

Banana Cultivation From seed to fruit Complete crop Information

Explore Banana with HPM Banana is the fruit that smiles at you whether or not you eat it. This curvy, yellow fruit which is simply delicious to eat and loaded with vital nutrients was first domesticated in Papua New Guinea.

Archaeological evidence suggests banana cultivation to go back to at least 5000 BCEThe banana is one of the most produced and commercialized fruits in the world. Brazil, India, and the Philippines are the principal countries in terms of cultivated area, representing 722, 481 and 454 thousand hectares respectively.

Bananas are believed to have originated up to 10,000 years ago and some scientists believe they may have been the world’s first fruit.

Today, there are over 1000 different varieties of bananas growing around the world. But 95% of banana exports come from a single cultivated variety, the Cavendish. In 327 BC, when Alexander The Great and his army invaded India, he discovered banana crop in the Indian Valleys. After tasting this unusual fruit for the first time, he introduced this new discovery to the Western world. A banana contains a diverse range of nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B6, key amino acids, iron, manganese, magnesium, folate, vitamin A, protein and a number of antioxidants, all of which make bananas one of the most nutrient dense and delicious foods you could add to your diet.

1000 different varieties of bananas growing around the world.

Banana a natural mood booster

Farming requires the dedication of many of our natural resources, including land, water, and climate. So let’s talk about these important points.

Farmers need natural resources , such as land, air, nutrients, water and sunlight for heathy crop. Every crop is highly dependent on the climate. Climate affects all components of crop production. The second key component is soil. It is a key element of agriculture. Without it we wouldn´t be able to grow plants, which are used as food for both humans and animals. Like climate or soil Water is also very important for both livestock and for plants. It forms a large part of all plant tissues as well as being an essential component of all animal body cells.

In crop agriculture, water is an important climatic factor. It affects or determines plant growth . And the last process is harvesting. It is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. For maximum vase life of cut flowers, harvest flowers daily at their proper stage of development. Harvesting too early or too late significantly reduces the vase life of the flowers. With these sources farmers can easily grow a healthy crop.

Climate and Season for Banana cultivation Banana grows at an altitude of 1200 meters from sea level in a warm and humid climate. 20⁰C- 35⁰C is the most favorable temperature range along with a high level of humidity for banana farming in India. The growth gets retarded below 20⁰C and above 35⁰C. They take longer time to mature in cooler climates while the growth and yield is reduced at lower humidity and temperature. An average annual rainfall of 1700 mm distributed evenly throughout the year favors good growth and satisfactory yield.

Tissue culture banana cultivation gives more freedom a s t i s s u e c u lt u r e b a n a n a varieties can be planted any time of the year as per the market demands. However, the temperature at the time of banana plantation must be moderate- neither too high nor too low.

Soil for Banana cultivation The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plains, sandy loam of Kerala and red laterite soil in the hilly regions of Kerala are ideal for banana plantation. Needless to say, these areas are wellknown for banana cultivation.

For successful banana plantation, good porous, fertile soil with rich organic content is necessary since it is a heavy feeder. In addition, they have a restricted root zone therefore; drainage and depth of the soil are two important factors that must be considered. In addition to having a good drainage capacity, the soil must be able to retain moisture and have a pH of 6.5-7.5. The nitrogen content of the soil must be high along with adequate levels of potash and phosphorus. Black loamy soil of Maharashtra, clayey heavy soil along the Cauvery delta region.

Land Preparation for Banana cultivation Prior to planting banana, grow the green manuring crop like daincha, cowpea etc. and burry it in the soil. The land can be ploughed 2-4 times and leveled. Use ratovator or harrow to break the clod and bring the soil to a fine tilt. During soil preparation basal dose of FYM is added and thoroughly mixed into the soil. A pit size of 45cm x 45cm x 45cm is normally required. The pits are to be refilled with topsoil mixed with 10 kg of FYM (well decomposed), 250 gm of Neem cake. Prepared pits are left to solar radiation helps in killing the harmful insects, is effective against soil borne diseases and aids aeration. In saline alkali soil where PH is above 8 Pit mixture is to be modified to incorporate organic matter. Addition of organic matter helps in reducing salinity while addition of purlite improves, porosity and aeration.

Alternative to planting in pits is planting in furrows. Depnding on soil strata one can choose appropriate method as well as spacing and depth at which plant is required to be planted.

Irrigation for Banana cultivation.

Each of them have their own merits and demerits. However, t h e m o st e c o n o m i c a l a n d popular one is drip irrigation.

This is because they ensure water being dispensed at the root zone.

For the entire life cycle of banana it needs 900-1200mm of water. This is generally met through rainfall and whatever extra is needed it is provided through irrigation. It is important to maintain the moisture level at optimum during all growth stages and also drain out the excess water from the root zone. This is important from the point of view of growth and productivity of banana tree. Irrigation is done once a week when the climate is cool and once in every 3 days under hot conditions. Drip irrigation, trench irrigation and ood are some of the common irrigation systems followed for cultivation of banana.

Pest and Disease management for Banana cultivation Bananas may be one of the most popular fruits sold in the United States.

Grown commercially as a food source, bananas also feature prominently in warm region gardens and conservatories, making striking additions to the landscape. When planted in areas with plenty of sun, bananas are not all that hard to grow, but problems with banana plants are bound to crop up

A number of pest and diseases can aect banana plants, causing signiďŹ cant losses to farmers and threatening food security.

Small reddish-brown to almost black oval shaped aphids.

Banana aphid is a minor and frequent pest in northern Queensland where bunchy top does not occur. A more serious pest in south-east Queensland because it is a vector of bunchy top disease. Direct feeding damage is uncommon. Damage from excessive honeydew and the resultant sooty mould development occurs only rarely and only when populations build up to high levels.

Aphids

Banana Pests

Thrips Thrips cause corky scab, which is primarily a problem in the drier banana-growing areas. Fruit damage is caused by feeding and oviposition. Feeding damage results in slightly raised areas on the fruit that are grey-brown to grey-silver at ďŹ rst. They develop to form the corky raised areas of brown corky scab.

Weevil Borer The larvae tunnel within the corm that lies below the soil surface. When there are large populations, tunnels are found through most of the corm tissue and a short distance up the pseudostem. This tunnelling weakens the plant and renders it susceptible to 'blowdown' in windy weather. Heavy infestations interfere with the movement of nutrients to the plant, and plants appear unthrifty.

Sigatoka Sigatoka, also known as leaf spot, is caused by the fungus Mycospharella musicola. It is most commonly found on areas of poorly draining soil and areas of heavy dew. The initial stages show small, pale spots on the leaves that gradually enlarge to about a half inch in size and become purple/black with gray centers. If the whole plant is infected, it looks as if it has been burned

Banana wilt Another fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, causes Panama disease or Banana Wilt (Fusarium wilt). It begins in the soil and travels to the root system, then enters the corm and passes into the pseudostem. Leaves begin to yellow, starting with the oldest leaves and moving in towards the center of the banana. This disease is lethal.

Banana Diseases

Black end stems from another fungus that causes anthracnose on the plants and infects the stalk and fruiting end. Young fruit shrivels and mummifies. Stored bananas afflicted with this disease rot.

Cigar tip rot starts in the flower, moves to the tips of the fruit and turns them black and fibrous.

Cigar tip rot

HPM’S Contribution in Banana cultivation.

HPM is a highly focused research driven agrochemical company. Every day HPM touches thousand of lives. At HPM, we want make agriculture better for farmers and families. we pledge to do so in a transparent and sustainable way. In future we will do more than treat agricultural problems—we will aim to make a remarkable impact on farmer’s lives.

Using the latest mechanical movements HPM provides the best agro-chemicals for Banana cultivation .

Also improves the physiological efficiency of the crop by stimulating the hormonal and enzymatic activities and increases the yield and quantity of the crop produce. 24 Karat mobilizes reserves in seed to germinating point leading to breaking of seed dormancy and faster germination 24 Karat stimulates cell division and elongation that causes internodes to stretch leading to better growth of the plant. Improves taste and quality of fruits , and enhances their marketability specific to crop.

24 Karat Dose : 1.2-2 ml in ltr of water Improves photosynthesis and plant metabolism, Improves leaf area and root system. Regulates GA: ABA ratio leading to less flower and fruit drop. It increases stem length in flowers grown for ex p o r t . 2 4 Ka r at i s u n i q u e combination of Sea weed extracts and GA . Gibberellic Acid acts s y n e r g i s t i c a l ly w i t h p l a n t metabolism and accelerates the growth functions of the plant.

HPM GOLD is unique product containing microbes as Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and has broad spectrum action in granular form. It contains granular spores and other propagules of VAM Mycorrhizal Fungi in a granular carrier and has broad spectrum fertilizer activity. Due to high solubility in water it is absorbed rapidly through plants and roots, resulting maximum supply of compost and micronutrient to the crop. roots growth with excellent root setting, resulting greenness by vanishing yellowing in crop. It helps in greater utilization of nutrients, and provides plant protection from disease causing organism to the root and also makes insect resistant plant.

HPM Gold Dose : 4 kg / acre It is completely safe to use HPM Gold. It also combats with the drought and stress loss by the crop. Its mycelial threads penetrate inward into the root, thereby increasing the surface area for absorption and translocation of essential p l a nt n ut r i e nt s i n c l u d i n g Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Calcium, Zinc and copper.

Aasra Dose : 5 ml in 15 ltr of water Aasra is designed in such a way that it ensures proper wetting of leaf surface, which makes the pesticide or agro product uptake and absorption rapidly by the plant. It ensures the proper penetration of the agrochemical product into the plant by reducing the droplet sizes of the spray. It is suggested to uses Aasra with agrochemicals at 0.025%-0.1% dose. General recommendation is 5 ml/ 15 lit. of water.

Aasra solution spreads quickly, and provides enhanced spreading of agrochemicals on the leaf surfaces and leads to better spray coverage, which improves the eďŹƒcacy of the agrochemical used. It is when added to spray water tank lowers the tension of spray water on leaf surface, which promotes the better spreading and penetration of Agro product. Aasra is compatible with most agrochemical formulations and can be used on a wide variety of crops. It has improved deposition of the agro product which enhances its coverage and retention on foliage. It ensures the solution doesn't wash o even after immediate rain.

Kind of fungicides - Foliar sprays, seed treatment, nursery drenching. Fit for resistance management - Multisite mode of action, the risk of resistance development is very low. Cost eective - Cost beneďŹ ts for disease control over non-EBDCs.

Hindustan M-45 Dose : 600-800 gm / acre Provide nutrients - Manganese and Zinc as micro nutrients.

Environmentally Safe - Low persistence in environment as it rapidly degrades is soil and water, no leaching potential.

Sigatoka leaf spot

Tip Rot

Exhibits both contact & stomach action. It is a broad spectrum insecticide. It has short life in plant tissues. Rapid degeneration in the soil thus no problem of residues.

Rogohit Dose : 594-792 ml / acre

Lace wing bug

Aphid

Harvesting Harvesting of banana is done 12 to 15 months after planting in dwarf and 15 to 18 months after planting in tall varieties. Signs of maturity of banana fruits are, fruit becomes plumpy and angles are ďŹ lled in completely, when tapped gives metallic sound, drying o of top leaves and change in colour of fruits from deep green to light green.

Tall varieties like Poovan yield 15-25 tonnes/ha, while Dwarf Cavenshish yield 25-50 tonnes/ha. It can be stored at temperature slightly above 550F and relative humidity of about 85-95% for about three weeks.

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