Effects of irrigation on the growth and yield of banana

Abstract

'Robusta' bananas were grown as a plant crop under four irrigation regimes in which the soil was brought to field capacity when the available soil moisture levels were 75, 66 and 50%, respectively. A non-irrigated control was included. No significant growth response in this plant crop was detected, but significant increases in fruit yield were obtained from treatments irrigated at 66 and 75% soil available moisture, respectively, back to field capacity. The first ratoon crop received a modified irrigation regime, under which differences between treatments in time of bunch emergence and in bunch weight were significant. In terms of cost and benefit the irrigation treatment at 50% of consumptive use less effective rainfall every 4 days was seen as the most effective regime for Windward Islands conditions.