Growth, yield, nutrient uptake and water use of banana crops under drip and basin irrigation with N and K fertilization

Abstract

Growth, productivity, nutrient uptake and water use of bananas under drip and basin systems of irrigation with different levels of N (100, 200 and 300 g plant-1) and K (100, 200 and 300 g K2O plant-1) fertilization were investigated at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, in plant and first ratoon crop cycles. Plants under drip irrigation had better growth, flowered earlier, accumulated more dry matter and nutrients and produced higher yield with increased water use efficiency compared with those under basin irrigation. Fruit quality was not affected by the irrigation method except in one year when total soluble solids was higher under basin irrigation. Increasing level of N fertilization had no significant effect on growth, yield and water use efficiency but nutrient uptake (N, K and Mg) and total soluble solids increased in the plant crop. Increasing level of K applications improved growth, yield, total soluble solids, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency but decreased pulp-peel ratio.