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I think this would help our research because it explains the technique used for this type of farming. It goes into detail about how it is happening. 

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I think this would help our research because it explains the technique used for this type of farming. It goes into detail about how it is happening. 

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New Grafting Technique Could Save the Cavendish Banana

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The most common banana variety is at risk of going extinct. But researchers have discovered a potential way to save it—and many other plants.

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The banana equivalent to Covid-19 is spreading to new countries, forcing the industry to change how the world's most widely eaten fruit is farmed and even how it could taste.

Akiller disease turns up out of the blue. It moves by "stealth transmission", spreading before symptoms even show. Once it takes hold, it is already too late to stop it - there is no cure. Life will never be the same again. Sound familiar?

From a business point of view it was a licence to print money, from an epidemiological point of view it was an outbreak waiting to happen

It was García-Bastidas who spotted TR4 outside Asia for the first time, in Jordan in 2013. Ever since he has been "crossing his fingers" that it would not hit developing countries, where bananas are a staple food. But it is already in Africa, after being spotted in Mozambique.

Dan Bebber, associate professor of ecology at the University of Exeter, has spent the last three years studying the challenges to the banana supply system as part of a UK government-funded project BananEx. He says the best way for the banana industry to survive TR4 is to change how bananas are farmed.

According to Bebber bananas are too cheap at the moment. Not only because the environmental cost of a chemical-heavy monoculture has not been taken into account, but the social cost of employing people on very low wages. The charity Banana Link, which campaigns on the issue, blames the supermarkets for a "race to the bottom" that has forced prices lower and lower, compromising the environment, workers' health and ultimately the health of the banana crop.

It is time to start paying a fair price, not only for the workers and the environment, but the health of the bananas themselves - Dan Bebber

In her film Bananageddon, she talks to the scientists trying to stop the spread of TR4, the food security experts warning of shortages and the workers on the plantations concerned for their livelihoods.

Maybe we eat fewer bananas and we pay more for them. But you know what, they will be better bananas - Jackie Turner

To try to encourage the public to support smaller farmers growing different varieties she has set up the Banana List. This lists the shops selling different varieties of bananas so that consumers can see what they like and start creating demand. For example, Dwarf Red, that tastes a little like raspberries, Lady Fingers, that are smaller and sweeter than Cavendish, or Blue Java, that tastes like vanilla ice-cream. The bananas are not only delicious but will help create a diverse kind of farming more resilient to disease.

This article is part of Follow the Food , a series investigating how agriculture is responding to environmental challenges. Follow the Food traces emerging answers to these problems - both high-tech and low-tech, local and global - from farmers, growers and researchers across six continents.

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The 'banana pandemic' destroying the world's favourite fruit

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The banana equivalent to Covid-19 is spreading to new countries, forcing the industry to change how the world's most widely eaten fruit is farmed and even how it could taste. Akiller disease turns up out of the blue. It moves by "stealth transmission", spreading before symptoms even show.

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Soil

Banana can grow from the poorest to the richest type of soil with varying success.

The soil should be tested before banana cultivation

The soil should have good drainage, adequate fertility and moisture.

Deep, rich loamy and salty clay loam soil with pH between 6-7.5 is most preferred for banana cultivation.

Ill drained, poorly aerated and nutritionally deficient soils are not suitable for banana.

Extreme clayey, Sandy soil, Saline soil and Calcareous soil is not suitable for Banana cultivation.

Avoided soil of low lying areas, very sandy & heavy black cotton with ill drainage.

A soil that is not too acidic & not too alkaline, rich in organic material with high nitrogen content, adequate phosphorus level and plenty of potash are good for banana.

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Bananas are perennials which produce succeeding generations of crops. The first cycle after planting is called the plant crop. The ratoon is the sucker (also called the follower) succeeding the harvested plant. The second cycle is called the first ratoon crop. The third cycle is the second ratoon crop, and so on.

The growth cycle of Banana consists of two phases,

Vegetative phase

The vegetative phase (or 'shooting') begins with the production of leaves by the planted tissue culture plant and ends when the inflorescence appearing at the top of the plant. The reproductive phase begins with the transition of the vegetative meristem into a floral shoot. The division of phases is arbitrary, and it takes normally about 7-8 months after planting before the inflorescence emerges at the top of the plant. The fruit filling period, that is,the time between flowering and harvest, completes the reproductiv ephase and the growth cycle.

During the growth cycle, plants develop essentially three major components

1. an underground corm, producing suckers and roots.

2. a pseudo stem, consisting of encircling leaf sheaths and carrying the leaves.

3. an inflorescence, containing female flowers that develop into fruits.

4. The length of the growth cycle depends on the cultivar. Under the best growing conditions, the yield of the second cycle is higher than the yield of the first cycle. The mother plant and the ratoon are in competition for resources and ratooning is generally followed only in those areas where there is an assured source of irrigation.During the vegetative phase, most of the resources are directed to the growing mother plant. During flowering, ratoon development increases. Hence ratoon management or de-suckering becomes very important. As a rule, a follower is allowed only after the emergence of the inflorescence in the planted crop and the same package of practices are followed as that of the planted crop before allowing a follower for the second ratoon. Starting with a TC planting material that ensures uniform growth and early and uniform maturity, proper ratoon management (follower management) will result in yet another uniform ratoon crop. Thus it has been proved that in a span of 30 months (12 months for planted crop and 9 months each after harvest for the subsequent crops),three crops comprising of one planted crop and two ratoon crops can be harvested without reduction in yield.

Ratoon Management

Keeping the field and neighborhood free of weeds generally is advised to avoid spread of infestations. Though the TC plants, which are supplied are healthy and virus free, field contamination can be avoided only by keeping the generally field free of weeds.Ratoon management is important for sustained income.In a place like Theni, three ratoons have been done in 24-25 months. Once the flowers emerge and all the fruits have fully opened, the bunches are covered using a skirting bag which prevents the tender fruits from insect attack, besides maintaining uniform temperature inside.This is important for colour and fruit development.

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Spacing and planting

Spacing

Spacing for Hybrids

Spacing for Tamil Nadu Varieties

Spacing for Karnataka Varieties

Spacing for Kerala Varieties

Planting

Planting can be done in May-June or in September - October. Single sucker is planted upright in small pits taken in the centre leaving 5 cm pseudostem above soil level. Soil is pressed around the sucker to avoid hollow air spaces. Tissue culture plants are planted on the top of the pit at ground level.Polye cover should be removed before planting without damaging the roots. Planting is followed by light irrigation. Partial shade should be provided immediately after planting.

Banana can be planted throughout the year except in severe winter and during heavy rains when the soil remains very wet.

The ideal time (October-November) of planting is after the monsoon season.

With assured irrigation, the planting can also be done in February-March.

Plant population depends on cultivars, topography and soil fertility.

Apply 25 g Pseudomonas fluorescence / plant at the time of planting.

Pre-treatment of suckers

Trim the roots and decayed portion of the corm, cut the pseudostem leaving 20 cm from the corm and grade the suckers to size.

To avoid wilt disease in Rasthali, Monthan, Virupakshi and other wilt susceptible varieties, infected portions of the corm may be pared and dipped for 5 minutes in 0.1% Emisan solution (1 g in 1 lit of water).

Pralinage is done with 40 g of Carbofuran 3 G granules per sucker. (Dip the corm in slurry solution containing 4 parts clay plus 5 parts water and sprinkle Carbofuran to control nematodes).

Alternatively, dip the corm with 0.75% Monocrotophos, shade dry for atleast 24 hours and plant.

Use tissue cultured banana plants with 5-6 leaves.

System of Planting

Single row system

In single row planting, the distance within the row is close, whereas the distance between the row is wide.

This system allows good aeration to plant canopy, allowing wet leaves to dry more rapidly, reducing fungal disease severity.

In this, less number of trees occupied in the field and yield will automatically reduced.

Paired Row System

In this method, the distance between the two lines is 0.90 to 1.20 m. while plant to plant distance is 1.2 to 2 m.

Due to this spacing, intercultural operations can be carried out easily and cost of drip irrigation is decreased.

Square System

This is the most commonly followed system and is very easy to layout.

Banana is mostly cultivated by adopting 1.8x1.8m spacing

In this system, trees are planted on each comer of a square whatever may be the planting distance.

The central place between four trees may be advantageously used to raise short lived filler trees.

This system permits inter cropping and cultivation in two directions.

Triangular System

Method of planting

Pit Method

Pit planting is commonly followed in garden land system of cultivation. Pits of 60 cm x 60 x 60 cm x 60 cm size are dug, filled with a mixture of soil, sand and FYM (Farm Yard Manure) in a 1:1:1 ratio. Suckers are planted in the centre of the pit and soil around is compacted.

Planting is done from February to May whereas in North India, it is done during July-August. In South-India, it can be done any time of year except summer.This is mostly followed in biennial plantations for Dwarf Cavendish, Rasthali, Robusta, Poovan and Karpuravalli banana.

However this method is very laborious and expensive. The only advantage is that no earthing up is required as planting is done at the required depth. This practice is not very popular at present.

Furrow Method

Trench Planting
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Trench planting is practised in wet land cultivation of Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. Land is prepared like paddy using plenty of water and gauge wheel.

Water is drained from the field allowing setting for a day. Planting is done by simple pressing the suckers into the wet field.

After a week 15 cm deep trenches are opened both ways maintaining 4 or 6 plants in each block.

Deepening of trenches by 20-25 cm is taken up every month after planting till suckers put forth 1-3 leaves.

During third month trenches are broadened and deepened to 60 cm. in rainy season some trenches are used as drainage channels. After about 2 months, trenches are cleaned; decayed manure is used for plants for organic cycling.

Plant canopy and light intersection

Unlike other fruits, the vegetative growth, flowering and fruit growth is not seasonal in banana and are largely influenced by time of planting, type and size of planting material and prevailing temperature.

Planting density and their interception. Reduced light intensity at ground level with increase in size energy conversion efficiency was maximum in 1.2 x 1.2m spacing and minimum in 2.1 x 2.1m spacing.

Plant height and girth

Leaf number and leaf area index

Sucker production and root growth

The number of suckers per plant was more in wider spacing compared to that in closer to that in closer spacing.

The suckers per plant decreased with reduction in planting distance with reduction in planting distance in Robusta and Poovan.

The length of fine roots increased with increase in plant density to shooting and declined thereafter.

Weed growth

Flowering and fruit maturity

Bunch weight and quality
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Fruit yield

Diseases incidence

Introduction

Homestead or backyard cultivation

Mixed cropping

Multistorey System

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Intercropping System

TamilNadu

Intercrop can easily be grown in banana plantation at the earlier stage of growth. In some parts of india,mixed cropping is also practiced. Planting of banana may be followed by planting of intercropslikebrinjal,colocasia,turmeric,chillies,bhendi,radish,cauliflower,cabbage,spinach,maize etc. depending on climatic conditions. Mixed cropping of banana,arecanut,coconut is a common practice along the coastal belts of Tamilnadu. Banana is grown as a shade plant for coffee,cocoa,rubber,young mango trees and orange in different parts of india.

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Karnataka

Cucumber and amaranth can be cultivated profitably with banana raised in September-October without affecting the bunch weight. For vegetable purpose, cucumber may be harvested within 95 days and for seed purpose the duration may be about 130 days. Greater yam and elephant foot yam can be profitably intercropped with Nendran.

Kerela

..... Desuckering

..... Propping

..... Mulching

..... Removal of withered styles and Perianth

..... Pruning of Leaves

..... Mattacking

..... Earthing up

..... Bunch Covering

..... Denavelling

..... Bunch Thinning

..... Peduncle Wrapping

..... Tagging

..... Wind Break

Desuckering

Propping

Mulching

Removal of withered styles and Perianth

Removal of withered styles and Perianth

Pruning of Leaves

Mattacking

Earthing up

Earthing up is important which provides support to the base of the plant and also gives chances for the formation of a better root system.

Earthing up should be done at rainy season for avoiding water logged conditions.

It will also provide proper drainage facilities to the plant.

Bunch Covering

Denavelling
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Bunch Thinning

Peduncle Wrapping

Tagging

Wind Break

A farmer begins a new field of banana or plantain by planting either suckers from another banana field or young plants produced by tissue culture. Each new stem produces only one bunch, but numerous lateral shoots that become the next generation of bunches each from its own stem. In time the lateral shoots produce their own lateral shoots which produce bunches, each from its own stem. The stem bearing the bunch is cut down when the bunch is harvested. The parent plant and the successive lateral shoots are referred to as a stool or mat.

The sucker must be uprooted from an existing mat to reproduce the variety and, because of its bulk, transports poorly. Once farmers have acquired a new type, they can propagate it themselves and maintain its yield advantages for many years if the material is kept free of pests and diseases.

How many leaves per stem?

How fast does a stem produce a bunch?

Under optimal growing conditions (temperature, water, light, nutrients, soil), a new leaf emerges every 6-8 days. If the plant has optimum conditions, the time from the first leaf to the last leaf will be 245 to 320 days (8 to 11 months). However, when we plant a sucker or a tissue culture plant, they already have produced some leaves. Small suckers have produced fewer leaves up to the point of planting, while larger suckers have produced more leaves and therefore produce fewer leaves after planting until flowering.

Do all leaves emerge at the same interval?

Under optimum conditions, the very first leaves emerge every four days and interval becomes progressively long until the last leaves to emerge take seven to 10 days for each leaf.
Interval for leaf emergence under optimal conditions for

How long from one generations of bunches to the next?

This is an important factor in field productivity, since it strongly influences the time interval between the first generation of bunches and the next generation of bunches. In some types of Musa such as plantain, lateral buds are released for growth when the flower bud is initiated in the parent corm. Remember that we said that 11 leaves remain with the stem to emerge when the flower is initiated. Since this is the moment when lateral shoot growth begins, this means that overlap between the growth of the parent stem and the growth of the next generation, called the ratoon crop, is the time for the emergence of 11 leaves and the time for bunch formation. As a result, the interval from the harvest of the first bunch and the harvest of the second bunch may be as short as 180 days (6 months). In other cultivars, the production of new lateral shoots is not closely linked to flower initiation. Lateral shoots may be produced before flower initiation and continue afterwards. Lateral shoots are not usually produced on a parent after its bunch has emerged from the top of the pseudostem.

How do the roots grow?
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The root system is equally important for productivity. Bananas and plantains have a root system made up of many, many roots arising from the corm. These cord roots emerge from interior layers of the corm. Secondary roots are much thinner than the primary cord roots. If the growing tip is damaged or cut, lateral root formation can compensate. However, if damage occurs more than 20 cm from the tip, growth ceases and the root even loses the potential to generate secondary roots.

When a sucker is planted, roots already initiated emerge in a first flush and may reach 40 cm before leaves begin to emerge. The next flush of roots is delayed for several weeks. A cord root grows up to 2 cm per day. Once flowering is initiated, new root emergence from the corm stops, although existing roots continue to function. The root system of the mat consists of the roots from the mother stem and the roots being formed by the lateral shoots. Most roots are concentrated in a zone 60 - 100 cm from the base, but often extend beyond 2 meters.

Are bigger bunches enough?
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Of equal importance is the number of bunches produced in a given area of land over a given period of time. In addition, we need to know how many plants there are per land area. We also need to know the rate of production. The rate of production depends on the total leaves which a stem produces, the rate of leaf production and the point in the parent plant cycle when the lateral shoot is produced. Some of these factors depend on cultivar, while others are influenced by growing conditions.

Do's and Don'ts in Tissue Culture Banana Cultivation

Total returns per acre/two years = Rs.1,28,192+96,144+ 1,28,192 = 3,52,528 - P

Total cost = Rs 1,06,747+29,272+55,181 ==1,91,200 - C

Profit (P-C) = 3,52,528-1,91,200 =1,61,328

Comparison of Economics of Conventional and Tissue Culture Banana Cultivation

During First month

Second Month

Green manures viz., cowpea or sunnhemp should be ploughed back in to the soil at flowering stage or about 40 days after sowing.

Slight digging and earthing up to keep the weeds under control.

For Fusarium wilt susceptible varieties like Rasthali, Karpuravalli, Ney Poovan, Monthan and Pachanadan, drench the soil around the plant with 0.2% Carbendazim as a prophylactic measure, or

Apply 30g Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas flourescense along with FYM/compost 1 kg in the soil around the plant as a prophylactic measure for the control of wilt disease.

Third Month

Fourth Month
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Application of Azospirillum and phosphobacteria @ 30 g and Trichoderma viride @ 30g along with 5-10 kg FYM plant-1.

There should a gap of minimum 2-3 weeks between the application of chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers.

Periodical removal of side suckers by cutting them above the ground level and pouring 2 ml kerosene at the central core of the sucker.

If any virus affected plants are noticed in the field, remove and destroy it immediately and spray with any systemic insecticide to kill the insect vectors which spread the virus.

Fifth Month

Application of second dose of fertilizers @ 150:150 g Urea and MOP+ 300g neemcake per plant in the basins made about 45 cm away from the plant.

Removal of dried leaves.

Digging and weeding.

To cater the micronutrient need of the plant and to correct their deficiency, apply 50g agricultural lime and 25g magnesium sulphate per plant.

For Fusarium wilt susceptible varieties like Rasthali, Karpuravalli, Ney Poovan, Monthan and Pachanadan drench the soil around the plant with 0.2% Carbendazim as a prophylactic measure.

To prevent the egg laying and further attack of stem weevil, spray 'Neemosol' @12.5ml/litre or Chlorpyriphos @ 2.5ml/litre on the stem especially in Nendran, Red Banana, Karpuravalli and Monthan varieties.

To monitor the corm and stem weevil, 2 ft long longitudinal stem trap @40 traps/acre can be placed at different places. The collected weevils are to be killed using kerosene.

Keep the Banana fields as well as surrounding areas weed free and spray systemic insecticides to control the insect vectors.

Sixth Month

Digging and earthing up of soil around the plant.

Removal of the dried and diseased leaves and spraying of 0.1% Propiconazol (TILT) by thoroughly covering both the surfaces adding wetting agent with the spray fluid especially during winter and cool months for control of Sigatoka leaf spot diseases.

Yellowing of leaves which is a symptom of iron deficiency, spray 0.5% ferrous sulphate + 1.0% urea added with wetting agent on the leaves especially in high pH >8.5 and Calcareous soils.

To correct the deficiency of zinc, spray 0.5% zinc sulphate solution along with wetting agent.

Foliar application of 0.5 Borax is recommended to correct the deficiency.

Apply 30g Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas flourescense in the soil around the plant as a prophylactic measure to control the wilt disease.

For controlling the stem weevil attack, using 'Banana Injector', inject 2ml of Monocrotophos (150 ml Monocrotophos mixed in 350 ml of water) at 2 and 4 feet height on opposite direction.

Seventh Month

Eighth Month

Ninth Month:

Overcoming soil sodicity problem in Banana

Due to salinity and sodicity of soil, the Banana plants may suffer from marginal chlorosis and necrosis of older leaves, lesser proliferation of roots and an yield reduction by about 30%. This problem may be rectified by applying 0.5 kg of gypsum + 15 kg of FYM along with 120 % recommended potassium per plant. The water drainage facility of the land should be improved to leach down the excess sodium and salts.

Overcoming flood damage in Banana

Overcoming wind damage in Banana

Banana crop cannot tolerate the wind speed of even 30 km/hr. Banana being a shallow rooted crop requires proper propping with bamboo or casurina poles to avoid lodging during windy seasons. The supporting poles should be tied against the peduncle of developing bunches, so that it protects the plant from lodging during windy seasons and bears whole weight of developing bunch.
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Overcoming the stem weevil problem

Overcoming the chilling injury during winter

Overcoming the Erwinia rot

Overcoming the Wilt disease

Contingency plan against natural calamities - Drought

Protecting the peduncle from sun scorching

The fruit peduncle on exposure to sunlight suffers from sun scorching, which subsequently makes entry for pathogens that leads to rottig, poor uneven finger filling and ultimately breaking of the peduncle along with the bunch. Hence, the peducle should be fully covered using the 'boot leaf' that emerges just before the bunch.

Propping / giving mechanical support to the plants against the wind

By giving 'Double pole support' using bamboo or casuarina poles, the plants can be protected from uprooting by heavy winds during the hot months (April/May) or during summer showers locally called as 'Chiththirai chuli' and during monsoon winds.

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Soil Banana can grow from the poorest to the richest type of soil with varying success. The soil should be tested before banana cultivation The soil should have good drainage, adequate fertility and moisture. Deep, rich loamy and salty clay loam soil with pH between 6-7.5 is most preferred for banana cultivation.

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This resource is helpful because it gives an overall description of banana farming. It tells you how it is done and how they are harvested. It gives you more information about the care as well. 

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This resource is helpful because it gives an overall description of banana farming. It tells you how it is done and how they are harvested. It gives you more information about the care as well. 

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The following article details Banana Farming Techniques, Planting Methods of Banana, Caring Banana plants, and harvesting techniques.

Banana is one of the major and economically important fruit crops of India. Banana occupies 20% of the area among the total area under crop in India. Most the Banana is grown by planting suckers. The technology development in agriculture is very fast, it results in developing a Tissue Culture Technique . The Tissue Culture Banana is very tasty.

Banana, basically a tropical crop, grows well in a temperature range of 15ºC - 35ºC with a relative humidity of 75-85%. It prefers tropical humid lowlands and is grown from the sea level to an elevation of 2000m. above m.s.l. In India, this crop is being cultivated in climates ranging from humid tropical to dry mild subtropics through a selection of appropriate varieties. Chilling injury occurs at a temperature below 12ºC. The high velocity of wind exceeds 80 km /hr. damages the crop. Four months of monsoon (June to September) with an average 650-750 mm. rainfall is most important for vigorous vegetative growth of bananas. At higher altitudes, banana cultivation is restricted to a few varieties like 'Hill banana".

Deep, rich loamy soil with a pH between 6.5 - 7.5 is most preferred for banana farming. Soil for bananas should have good drainage, adequate fertility, and moisture. Saline solid, calcareous soils are not suitable for banana cultivation. A soil that is neither too acidic nor too alkaline, rich in organic material with high nitrogen content, adequate phosphorus level, and plenty of potash is good for a banana.

In Banana Farming, Soil for bananas should have good drainage, adequate fertility, and moisture. Deep, rich loamy soil with a pH between 6-7.5 is most preferred for banana cultivation. Ill drained, poorly aerated, and nutritionally deficient soils are not suitable for the banana. Saline solid, calcareous soil is not suitable for Banana cultivation. Avoided soil of low-lying areas, very sandy & heavy black cotton with ill drainage.

A soil that is not too acidic and not too alkaline, rich in organic material with high nitrogen content, adequate phosphorus level, and plenty of potash are good for the banana.

In India, banana is grown under diverse conditions and production systems. in your banana farming, the Selection of varieties, therefore, is based on a large number of varieties catering to various kinds of needs and situations. However, around 20 cultivars viz. Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Monthan, Poovan, Nendran, Red banana, Nyali, Safed Velchi, Basarai, Ardhapuri, Rasthali, Karpurvalli, Karthali, and Grandnaine etc..Grandnaine is gaining popularity and may soon be the most preferred variety due to its tolerance to biotic stresses and good quality bunches. Bunches have well-spaced hands with a straight orientation of figures, bigger in size. Fruit develops an attractive uniform yellow color with better shelf life & quality than other cultivars.

Prior to planting bananas, grow the green manuring crop like daincha, cowpea, etc., and bury them in the soil. The land can be plowed 2-4 times and leveled. Use a rotavator or harrow to break the clod and bring the soil to a fine tilth. During soil preparation, a basal dose of farmyard manure (FYM) is added and thoroughly mixed into the soil.
A pit size of 45cm x 45cm x 45cm is normally required. The pits are to be refilled with topsoil mixed with 10 kg of FYM (well decomposed), 250 gm of Neem cake, and 20 gm of conbofuron. Prepared pits are left to solar radiation helps in killing the harmful insects, is effective against soil-borne diseases, and aids aeration. In saline-alkali soil where PH is above 8 Pit mixture is to be modified to incorporate organic matter.

Read this: Post Harvesting Techniques of Fruits and Vegetables .

The addition of organic matter helps in reducing salinity while the addition of perlite improves, porosity and aeration. An alternative to planting in pits is planting in furrows. Depending on soil strata one can choose an appropriate method as well as spacing and depth at which plant is required to be planted.

About 70% of the farmers are using suckers as planting material while the rest 30% of the farmers are using tissue culture seedlings. Sword suckers with well-developed rhizome, conical or spherical in shape having actively growing conical bud and weighing approximately 450-700 gm are commonly used as propagating material.

In Banana Farming, suckers generally may be infected with some pathogens and nematodes. Similarly, due to the variation in age and size of the sucker, the crop is not uniform, harvesting is prolonged and management becomes difficult. Therefore, in-vitro clonal propagation i.e. Tissue culture plants are recommended for planting. They are healthy, disease-free, uniform in growth, and early-yielding.

1. True to the type of mother plant under good management.

2. Pest and disease-free seedlings.

3. Uniform growth, increases yield.

4. Early maturity of crop - maximum land use is possible in low landholding countries like India.

5. Round the year planting possible as seedlings are made available throughout the year.

6. Two successive ratoons are possible in a short duration which minimizes the cost of cultivation.

7. No staggered harvesting.

8. 95% - 98% plants bear bunches.

Planting of tissue culture Banana can be done throughout the year except when the temperature is too low or too high. The facility of a drip irrigation system is important. There are two important seasons in Maharashtra, India;
Mrig Baug (Kharif) Month of planting June - July. Kande Baug (Rabi) Month of planting October - November.

Traditionally banana growers plant the crop at 1.5m x 1.5m with high density, however, plant growth and yields are poor because of competition for sunlight. Various trials are conducted at Jain Irrigation System R&D farm with Grandnaine as a cultivar. And then the suitable spacing of 1.82 m x 1.52 m is being recommended, it accommodates 1452 plants per acre (3630 plants per hectare) keeping row direction North-South with wide spacing of 1.82 m between the rows. The region like north India, the coastal belt, and where humidity is very high and temp falls down up to 5-7ºC, the planting distance should not be less than 2.1m x 1.5m.

Pit planting is commonly followed in the garden system of cultivation. A pit size of 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 m. is normally required. Small pits are dug in case of ridges and furrows. The pits are to be refilled with topsoil mixed with 10 kg of FYM (well decomposed), 250 gm of neem cake, and 20 gm of carbofuran. Prepared pits are left open for 15-20 days for solar radiation to kill all the insects, soil-borne diseases, and for aeration before refilling. In saline-alkali soil where the pH is above 8, the pit mixture is to be modified incorporating organic matter and gypsum.

The suckers are planted in the center of the pit and the soil around is compacted. Plants are planted in the pits keeping pseudostem 2cm below the ground level. The soil around the plant is gently pressed. Deep planting should be avoided. The field is irrigated immediately after planting. Furrow planting is practiced in the annual planting system in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Trench planting is practiced in wetland cultivation of the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu.

Banana, a water-loving plant, requires a large quantity of water for maximum productivity. But Banana roots are the poor withdrawal of water. Therefore under Indian conditions, banana production should be supported by an efficient irrigation system like drip irrigation. The water requirement of bananas has been worked out to be 2000mm per Annum. The application of drip irrigation and mulching technology has reported improved water use efficiency. There is a saving of 56% of water and increasing yield by 23-32% under the drip.
Irrigate the plants immediately after planting. Apply sufficient water and maintain field capacity. Excess irrigation will lead to root zone congestion due to the removal of air from soil pores, thereby affecting plant establishment and growth. And hence drip method is a must for proper water management in Banana.
Read this: Banana Farming Project Report.
Banana requires a high amount of nutrients, which are often supplied only in part by the soil. The nutrient requirement that has been worked out on an India basis is to be 20 kg FYM, 200gm N; 60-70gm P; 300gm K/plant. Banana requires heavy nutrition. The banana crop requires 7-8 Kg N, 0.7- 1.5 Kg P, and 17-20 Kg K per metric tonne yield. Banana responds well to the application of nutrients. Traditionally farmers use more urea and less phosphorous and potash.
In order to avoid loss of nutrients from conventional fertilizers i.e. loss of N through leaching, volatilization, evaporation, and loss of P and K by fixation in the soil, application of water-soluble or liquid fertilizers through drip irrigation (fertigation) is encouraged. A 25-30% increase in yield is observed using fertigation. Moreover, it saves labor and time and the distribution of nutrients is uniform.

The Root system of bananas is superficial and easily damaged by cultivation, use of intercrop which is not desirable. However short durational crops (45-60 days) like mung, cowpea, dhaincha are to be considered as green manuring crops. Crops from the cucurbitaceous family should be avoided as these carry viruses.

Spraying of Glyphosate (Roundup) before planting at the rate of 2 lit/ha is carried out to keep the plantation weed-free. One or two manual weedings are necessary.

Micronutrient Foliar Spray : Combined foliar application of ZnSo4 (0.5%), FcSo4 (0.2%), CuSo4 (0.2%) and H3Bo3 (0.1%) can be adopted to improve morphological, physiological and yield attributes of banana. The micronutrient spray solution is prepared by dissolving the following in 100 lit. of water. Zinc sulfate - 500 gm - For every 10 liters of mixture 5-10 ml of sticker solution such as Teepol should be added before spraying. Ferrom sulfate - 200 gm - For every 10 liters of mixture 5-10 ml of sticker solution such as Teepol should be added before spraying. Copper - 200 gm - For every 10 liters of mixture 5-10 ml of sticker solution such as Teepol should be added before spraying.

Removal of male buds :(Denavelling) Removal of male buds helps fruit development and increases bunch weight. Male buds are removed from the last 1-2 small hands with a clean-cut keeping a single finger in the last hand.

Bunch Spray: Spray of monocrotophos (0.2%) after the emergence of all hands takes care of the thrips. Thrips attack discolors the fruit skin and makes it unattractive.

Bunch Covering: Covering the bunch using dried leaves of the plant is economical and prevents the bunch from direct exposure to sunlight. The bunch cover enhances the quality of the fruit. But in the rainy season, this practice should be avoided.
Sleeving of the bunch is done to protect fruits against dust, spray residue, insects, and birds. For this blue plastic sleeves are preferred. This also increases the temperature around developing bunch and helps in early maturity.

Dehandling of false hands of the bunch: In a bunch, there are some incomplete hands that are not fit for quality produce. These hands should be removed soon after bloom. This helps in improving the weight of other hands. Sometimes the hand just above the false hand is also removed.

Propping: Due to the heavyweight of the bunch the plant goes out of balance and the bearing plant may lodge and production and quality are adversely affected. Therefore they should be propped with the help of two bamboos forming a triangle by placing them against the stems on the leaning side. This also helps in the uniform development of the bunch.

Banana should be harvested at the physiological maturity stage for better postharvest quality. The fruit is climacteric and can reach the consumption stage after ripening operation

Maturity indices: These are established on the basis of fruit shape, angularity, grade or diameter of the median figure of the second hand, starch content, and number of days that have elapsed after flowering. Market preferences can also affect the decision for harvesting a slight or fully mature fruit.

Removal of the bunch: The bunch should be harvested when figures of the second hand from the top are 3/4 rounded with the help of a sharp sickle 30cm above the first hand. Harvest may be delayed up to 100-110 days after the opening of the first hand. The harvested bunch should generally be collected in a well-padded tray or basket and brought to the collection site. Bunches should be kept out of light after harvest since this hastens to ripen and soften. For local consumption, hands are often left on stalks and sold to retailers. For export, hands are cut into units of 4-16 fingers, graded for both length and girth, and carefully placed in poly-lined boxes to hold different weights depending on export requirements.

At the collection site injured and over-mature fruits are discarded and for a local market, bunches should be delivered through lorries or wagons. However, for more sophisticated and export market where the quality is predominant, bunches should be dehanded, fruits are cleared in running water or dilute sodium hypochlorite solution to remove the latex and treated with thiabendazole; air-dried and graded on the basis of the size of fingers as already stated, packed in ventilated CFB boxes of 14.5 kg capacity or as per the requirement with polythene lining and pre-cooled at 13-15ºC temperature and at 80-90% RH.
Such material should then be sent under cool chain at 13ºC for marketing

The planted crop gets ready for harvest within 11-12 months of planting. Firstly, the ratoon crop would be ready by 8-10 months from the harvesting of the main crop and the second ratoon by 8-9 months after the second crop.

Thus over a period of 28-30 months, it is possible to harvest three crops i.e. one main crop and two ratoon crops. Under drip irrigation combined with Fertigation yield of Bananas as high as 100 T/ha can be obtained with the help of tissue culture technique, even a similar yield in the ratoon crops can be achieved if the crop is managed well.

Banana Farming is Fun and Profitable provided if climatic conditions support it.

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Banana Farming; Planting; Care; Harvesting Guide | Agri Farming

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The following article details Banana Farming Techniques, Planting Methods of Banana, Caring Banana plants, and harvesting techniques. Banana is one of the major and economically important fruit crops of India. Banana occupies 20% of the area among the total area under crop in India. Most the Banana is grown by planting suckers.