Direct Nutrient-Feeding to 'Ney Poovan' Banana (Musa Sp. AB) Bunch under Organic or Conventional Farming for Yield, Fruit Quality and Profitability

Abstract

Three types of direct nutrient-feeding methods [applying 500g fresh cow-dung and 100ml water enriched with (i) 2.5g each of urea + SOP; (ii) 100ml of panchangavya; and (iii) 100ml of cow urine] were evaluated in 'Ney Poovan' banana grown under organic or conventional farming. Plants grown under conventional farming were more robust in girth and length of their pseudostem and number of leaves retained on the plant at harvest. Conventional farming produced 62.6% and 59.0% higher fruit and bunch weight than plants grown under organic farming. Quality-wise, fruits from organic farming were superior in pulp:peel ratio and pulp total soluble solids (TSS). Conventional farming significantly increased P, S, Fe, Mn and Zn content of the pulp over organic farming. Benefit:cost ratio was significantly higher at 3.61 under conventional farming, while, it was 2.15 under organic farming. All the methods of direct nutrient-feeding of banana bunch tested were significantly superior to 'Control' where the male bud was retained on the bunch until harvest. Increase in fruit and bunch weight was in the following order of blend: urea + SOP > panchangavya > cow urine, with fresh cow dung. Improvement in pulp:peel ratio and benefit:cost ratio was maximum when direct nutrient-feeding was done using cow-dung blended with urea + SOP, while, TSS of the pulp declined to 24.0oB from 25.1oB when pancahgavya was used. Results indicated that conventional farming with adequate organic manuring, and, adopting direct nutrient-feeding of the banana bunch using cow-dung slurry enriched with 2.5g each of urea and SOP, achieved high bunch yield, pulp:peel ratio, and was profitable.