FOLIAR NUTRITION TO ESTABLISH BANANA AS AN ALTERNATE CROP IN RESOURCE POOR SITUATION

The IVLP of IIHR, Bangalore team interacted with the farmers and suggested Integrated Nutrient Management involving supplying 50% of nutrients by spray on leaf and bunch (0.5% urea, 0.5% SOP, 0.2% ZnSO4 and 0.1% Boric Acid) four sprays on leaf from 5th month to 8th month and two sprays on bunches and leaves in 10th and 11th month and improving root health by application of Trichoderma enriched FYM resulted in yield increased to 30 kg/bunch from 25kg in farmers practice in cultivar Robusta and decrease in cost of cultivation by Rs.6,000/-.

Since use of costly surfactants limited the spread of technology, a refinement involving use of one Rupee shampoo sachets available in all the village shops as surfactants and use of juice of one lime fruit to adjust the pH to 5.5 to 6.0 resulted in significant increase in foliar spray efficiently and yield increased to 35-40kg. But the higher yield resulted in water stress and sandy soil texture was one reason. Hence, the technology was once more refined by filling the pit at planting with tank silt clayey in texture but with more than 55% water-holding capacity. This resulted in mean bunch yield increasing an average of 40-45 inspite of being under conventional irrigation. The crop was early by 32 days reducing the cropping duration and saving on precious inputs like water, nutrient and land. The reduced soil application of nutrients and saving of nutrients also made this an environment friendly technology.

The technology has been disseminated. The technology has spread geographically to two districts. Foliar formulations were prepared in the Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry and supplied through Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) of IIHR, Bangalore.

Kestur called Tharkari Halli (vegetable village) has become Balegrama (Banana Village). Banana suckers from this village are sought after by farmers of neighbouring taluks and is sold at a premium rate and has added to the profitability. Foliar nutrition technology also has been disseminated. In drought year the banana leaves are being fed to milch animals as alternate green fodder which is an additional benefit because of popularity of banana as an alternate crop.