Production Technology of Banana (Musa spp.)

Banana is one of the most important fruit crops grown in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a major staple food and cash crop, widely cultivated for domestic consumption and export.

Botanical Classification

• Family: Musaceae
• Genus: Musa
• Species: Musa paradisiaca (Edible banana), Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana
• Chromosome Number: 2n = 22, 33, or 44 (varies by species and hybridization)

Climate & Soil Requirements

Climatic Conditions

• Type: Humid tropical and subtropical crop
• Temperature Range: 10°C to 40°C (Optimum: 27°C ± 5°C)
• Rainfall Requirement: 1500–2500 mm annually
• Humidity: 75-85%
• Wind Protection: Strong winds (>80 km/hr) can cause lodging. Windbreaks like trees or banana intercropping help reduce damage.

Soil Requirements

• Soil Type: Deep, well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter
• pH Range: 5.5 to 7.5
• Soil Depth: Minimum 1 meter
• Drainage: Waterlogged conditions must be avoided.

Major Banana Growing States in India

• Tamil Nadu
• Maharashtra
• Gujarat
• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• West Bengal

Important Banana Varieties

• Dwarf Cavendish (AAA) – Commercially popular, short plant, high yield.
• Grand Naine (AAA) – Widely cultivated, good bunch weight.
• Robusta (AAA) – Resistant to wind damage, medium height.
• Rasthali (AAB) – Known for its unique taste and aroma.
• Poovan (AAB) – Grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Nendran (AAB) – Preferred for chips and processing in Kerala.
• Red Banana (AAA) – High nutrient content, reddish skin.
• Monthan (ABB) – Cooking banana variety.

Propagation & Planting

Methods of Propagation

• Suckers (Traditional method)
• Tissue Culture (Preferred for commercial farming due to disease-free and uniform planting material)

Types of Suckers

1. Sword Suckers:
   • Preferred for planting
   • Well-developed root system and narrow leaves
2. Water Suckers:
   • Weak growth and delayed fruiting
   • Not recommended for planting

Pre-Treatment of Suckers

• Remove roots and decayed parts.
• Dip in Carbendazim (0.1%) solution for 5 minutes to control fungal infections.
• Treat with Carbofuran (40 g/sucker) to control nematodes.
• Shade-dry suckers before planting.

Planting System & Spacing

Pit Preparation

• Pit Size: 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm
• Filling: Topsoil + 10 kg FYM + 250 g Neem Cake + 50 g Lindane (1.3%)

Season of Planting

Irrigation Management

• First Irrigation: Immediately after planting
• Subsequent Irrigation:
  • Weekly in garden land
  • Every 10-15 days in wetland

Nutrient & Fertilizer Management

Fertilizer Dose (g/plant/year)

Fertilizer Application Schedule

• Basal Dose:
  • FYM: 10 kg/plant
  • Neem Cake: 250 g/plant
  • Phosphorus: 50% at planting time
• Top Dressing:
  • 1st Dose: N & K (50%) at 3rd month
  • 2nd Dose: Remaining N & K at 6th month

Micronutrient Spray (Recommended at 3rd, 5th, and 7th months)

• ZnSO₄ (0.5%)
• FeSO₄ (0.2%)
• CuSO₄ (0.2%)
• H₃BO₃ (0.1%)

Intercultural Operations in Banana Cultivation

Weeding & Mulching

• • Weeding:
    • Manual weeding is essential in the early growth stages to reduce competition for nutrients.
    • Chemical weed control with Paraquat (0.4%) or Glyphosate (0.2%) can be used carefully to avoid damage to banana plants.
  • Mulching:
    • Organic mulch (e.g., dry leaves, straw, banana pseudostems) helps retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weed growth.
    • Mulching with black polythene sheets (100-micron thickness) can further control weeds and conserve soil moisture.

Desuckering

• • Banana plants produce multiple suckers, but only one or two main suckers should be allowed to grow for better yield.
  • Methods of Desuckering:
    • Manual removal: Cutting suckers close to the soil
    • Chemical treatment: Applying kerosene or 2,4-D (2 ml/liter) on cut suckers to prevent regrowth
  • Ideal Time for Desuckering: Every 30-45 days

Propping

• • As banana plants bear heavy bunches, they are prone to lodging (falling) due to strong winds.
  • Methods:
    • Bamboo props (Y-shaped supports) are used to support the pseudostem.
    • Twin-propping: Two stems are tied together for mutual support.
    • Guy ropes (wire or coir rope tied to poles) in large plantations to reduce damage from wind.

De-leafing

• • Purpose:
    • Improve light penetration and air circulation.
    • Reduce the spread of fungal diseases like Sigatoka leaf spot.
    • Remove old, dried, and diseased leaves at regular intervals.
  • Technique:
    • Use a sharp knife to cut leaves at the base without injuring the pseudostem.
    • Remove only 2-3 leaves per plant per month to maintain healthy growth.

Physiological Disorders

Kottavazhai

• Observed in certain pockets of Tamil Nadu, mainly affecting cv. Poovan.
• Fruits become distinctly conical, ill-filled, and inedible due to non-viable seedy structures.
• Management:
  • Spray 2,4 D (20 ppm) when the last hand of the bunch opens.
  • This application also improves bunch weight and uniform fruit grade in cvs. Nendran and Monthan.

Hard Lump

• Affects cv. Rasthali, causing pinkish-brown, firm pulp that tastes unripe.
• Management:
  • Spray 2,4 D (1000 ppm) uniformly on bunches.
  • Alternatively, dip the cut end of the peduncle in the solution for 5 minutes.

Sunscald

• Occurs due to excessive exposure to sunlight.
• Management:
  • Cover the peduncle with a flag leaf to prevent main stalk rot.
  • Cover the bunches with banana leaves to avoid direct sun exposure.

Pests and Diseases

Nematode Infestation

• Bunchy Top Virus: Caused by the aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa.
• Crop Duration: Bunches are ready for harvest 12-15 months after planting.

Viral Diseases

a) Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)

• Symptoms:
  • Short and narrow leaves clustered at the top, forming a “bunchy” appearance.
  • Margins of leaves become wavy and roll upward in later stages.
• Management:
  • Remove affected plants along with rhizomes.
  • Use virus-free suckers for planting.
  • Spray 0.3% Rogar or Phosphomidon or 0.05% Monocrotophos to control aphids.

b) Banana Bract Mosaic Virus (BBMV)

• Symptoms:
  • Necrotic streaks and discoloration on bracts of the male bud.
  • Spindle-shaped discoloration on the pseudostem.
• Management:
  • Early detection and removal of infected plants.
  • Effective aphid control, similar to BBTV.

c) Banana Streak Virus (BSV)

• Vector: Planococcus citri (citrus mealy bug).
• Symptoms:
  • Foliar symptoms resemble banana mosaic in early stages.
  • Later, necrotic streaks develop.
• Management:
  • Similar control measures as for other viral diseases.

Fungal Diseases

a) Panama Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense)

• Symptoms:
  • Yellowing of leaf blades.
  • Leaves wither, petioles break, and leaves hang around the pseudostem.
  • Longitudinal splitting of the pseudostem, leading to plant death.
• Management:
  • Remove infected plants and apply lime @ 2 kg/pit, leaving the field fallow for 6 months.
  • Grow resistant varieties like Dwarf Cavendish, Poovan, and Nendran.
  • Crop rotation with paddy in wetland cultivation.
  • Capsule application of 50-60 mg Carbendazim in the diseased corm at a 45° angle.

b) Sigatoka Leaf Spot (Mycosphaerella musicola)

• Symptoms:
  • Yellowish-green streaks along veins.
  • Streaks enlarge into elongated spots, leading to leaf drying.
• Management:
  • Spray Copper Oxychloride or Carbendazim @ 500 g/ha.
  • Avoid close planting to improve aeration.

Bacterial Diseases

a) Moko Wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum)

• Symptoms:
  • Yellowing starts from the inner leaf and spreads upward.
  • All leaves turn yellow, leading to plant wilting.
• Management:
  • Ensure good drainage.
  • Suppress the disease using Pseudomonas fluorescens.
  • Rotate crops with sorghum.

Tip-Over or Heart Rot (Erwinia carotovora)

• Common in: Tissue-cultured plants.
• Symptoms:
  • Middle tender leaves show rotting.
  • Pseudostem easily detaches from the corm.
  • Bacterial oozing is observed from the corm and pseudostem.
• Management:
  • Use disease-free suckers for planting.
  • Resistant variety Poovan can be grown.

Harvesting & Yield

Maturity Indices

• Duration: 10-12 months after planting
• Signs of Maturity:
  • Ridges on fruit become smooth
  • ¾ of the bunch turns yellow-green
  • Milky latex from cut fruit turns watery

Harvesting Process

• Cut the bunch carefully with a sharp knife.
• Keep harvested bunches in a cool, shaded area.

Yield Per Hectare

Post-Harvest Handling

• Dehanding: Separate banana hands from the bunch.
• Ripening: Using ethylene gas or natural methods in ripening chambers.
• Storage: Bananas should be stored at 13-15°C for extended shelf life.
• Marketing: Sold in domestic and export markets.