Cultivation of Banana

Botanical Classification:

• Botanical Name: Musa paradisiaca L. (Plantain Banana – Cooking Banana)
• Chromosome Number: 2n = 22, 33, 44
• Family: Musaceae
• Origin: South-East Asia (Indo-Malayan Region)

Soil Requirements:

• Type: Well-drained, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter.
• pH Range: 6.0 – 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
• Avoid: Waterlogged or saline soils.

General Characteristics:

• Fruit Type: Berry
• Inflorescence: Spadix
• Edible Part: Mesocarp and Endocarp
• Type of Plant: Monocot, Monocarpic, and Perennial Herbaceous
• Stem: Pseudostem
• Climacteric Fruit: Yes (ripens after harvesting, like apple, mango, papaya, etc.)

Nutritional and Crop Features:

• Sugar Content in Ripe Banana: 26% (Carbohydrates)
• Water Requirement: 180 – 220 cm (Moisture-loving plant)
• Storage Temperature: 16°C to 18°C
• Best Intercrop: Ginger

• Climate Requirement: Type: Tropical, Optimum Temperature: 20°C – 30°C
• India’s Status: Largest Producer: India (World Rank: 1st), Top Producing State: Tamil Nadu

Propagation Methods:

• Traditional: Suckers (especially Sword suckers)
• Modern: Tissue Culture (for virus-free planting material)

Planting and Crop Cycle:

• Planting Time: June–July
• Pit Size: 60 cm × 60 cm × 60 cm
• Flowering: June–July (following year)
• Harvesting: November–December
• Crop Duration: 12–15 months

Important Varieties:

• Dwarf Cavendish: Leading cultivated variety (58% area)
• Rasthali
• Robusta
• Grand Nain (G-9): Developed via tissue culture
• Champa
• Nendran and Monthan: Suitable for cooking purposes

Fertilizer and Nutrient Management:

• General NPK Recommendation (per plant/year):
  • Nitrogen (N): 200–250 g
  • Phosphorus (P2O5): 60–70 g
  • Potassium (K2O): 200–300 g
• Application: In 2–3 split doses for best results.
• Micronutrients: Zinc, Boron, and Magnesium enhance growth and fruit quality.

Irrigation:

• Frequency: Every 7–10 days in summer, 10–15 days in winter.
• Methods:
  • Drip Irrigation: Preferred for water efficiency and uniform distribution.
  • Basin Irrigation: Traditional method in flat lands.

Special Cultivation Practices:

• Propping: Supporting pseudostem using bamboo in high wind areas during bunch emergence.
• Desuckering: Removal of unwanted suckers to manage plant population.
• Denavelling: Removal of male bud after the female phase to enhance fruit quality and avoid infection.

Major Insect Pests: Banana Rhizome Weevil: Most serious pest in banana.

Major Diseases:

• Panama Wilt:
  • Pathogen: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense
  • Type: Fungal, soil-borne
  • Impact: Lethal, globally spread disease of banana.

• Bunchy Top of Banana:
  • Cause: Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)
  • Vector: Banana Aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa)
  • Impact: Most serious disease in India.

• Moko Disease:
  • Pathogen: Ralstonia solanacearum Breed 2 (formerly Pseudomonas solanacearum)
  • Type: Bacterial
  • Region First Detected: Mexico
  • Impact: Affects all banana varieties

Growth Stages:

• Planting and Establishment: 0–2 months
• Vegetative Growth Phase: 2–6 months
• Flower Initiation: Around 6–7 months
• Bunch Emergence: 7–8 months
• Maturation and Harvest: 10–12 months

Post-Harvest Management:

• Harvesting Index: 75–80% maturity (fruit angles become rounded)
• Ripening: Can be done using ethylene or in ripening chambers.
• Packaging: In foam-lined boxes or padded cartons.
• Storage Life: 1–2 weeks under controlled conditions.

Plant Spacing Systems:

• PIT System: 1.8 m × 1.8 m (approx. 3086 plants/ha)
• High-Density Planting: 1.2 m × 1.2 m (approx. 6944 plants/ha)
• Triangular System: Better light interception and air circulation.

Integrated Pest & Disease Management (IPDM):

• Biological Control: Use of Trichoderma spp. against soil-borne pathogens.
• Neem Cake: As organic amendment to suppress nematodes and weevils.
• Intercropping with Legumes: To improve soil fertility and reduce weed growth.

Yield Potential:

• Traditional Method: 30–40 tons/ha
• Tissue Culture with Best Management Practices (BMP): 50–70 tons/ha

Banana Export Potential:

• Major Exporting Countries: Ecuador, Philippines, India, Costa Rica.
• Major Indian Export Markets: Middle East, Iran, Nepal.
• Exportable Varieties: Grand Naine (G-9), Robusta, Cavendish.