Banana Cultivation: Production Technology of Banana. - Agrobotany

Botanical Details

Scientific Name: Musa paradisiaca L / M. cavendishii L
Family: Musaceae
Chromosome Number: 2n = 22, 33, 44

Introduction

Banana is a key tropical fruit and ranks fourth among global food commodities. India contributes around 32% of the world's banana production. It's the only tropical fruit exported in substantial quantities, playing a major role in international trade.

Known as the “apple of paradise,” banana is believed to be one of the earliest fruits cultivated by humans. It is often referred to as “Adam’s fig” or the “tree of wisdom.” Bananas are staple food in many African countries and are consumed both raw and ripe throughout the year.

Uses and Nutritional Composition

Referred to as “Kalpataru” due to its multiple utilities, banana is mainly consumed as a ripe fruit. In many Central and West African countries, cooking bananas or plantains are staple foods. Banana flowers and the central pseudostem core are also used in cooking.

Banana leaves are used as serving plates, while the sheath serves as a wrapping material. Dry leaves are used as fuel and other plant parts as cattle feed. Processed products include chips, puree, flour, vinegar, jam, jelly, and wine. Banana fiber is used to make eco-friendly products like table mats and bags.

Bananas are rich in energy (350–550 kJ/100g), containing 73% moisture, 25–30% carbohydrates, 1.4% protein, 0.3% fat, 0.5% minerals (including calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium), and vitamins C and K. They help treat ulcers, acidity, hypertension, joint pain, and heart diseases.

Origin and Distribution

Banana is native to tropical South-East Asia, particularly India, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and Indonesia. India possesses the second-largest diversity of indigenous bananas, with over 300 germplasms out of the 600 reported globally. Edible bananas originated from natural hybrids of Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana.

Globally, bananas are cultivated between 30°N and 50°S latitudes. Major banana-producing countries include India (17 million tons on 0.5 million ha), Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Fiji, Philippines, Taiwan, Australia, and others. In India, bananas are the second most grown fruit after mango, occupying 20% of the fruit crop area and contributing 32% to fruit production.

Soil and Climate

Banana thrives in diverse soils, but deep, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter is optimal. It can tolerate slightly alkaline conditions but not water stagnation. The ideal pH range is 6.5–7.5. The crop is suited for tropical climates, grows up to 1200 m altitude, and prefers temperatures between 25–30°C. Frost and extreme temperatures negatively affect growth.

Species and Cultivars

The Musaceae family includes two genera—Ensete and Musa. The genus Musa has 40–45 species, with several cultivated varieties. It is divided into the following sections:

• Eumusa (2n=22): Largest section; includes cultivated parthenocarpic bananas from M. acuminata (A) and M. balbisiana (B).
• Callimusa (2n=10): Ornamental types; parthenocarpy absent.
• Australimusa (2n=20): Female-sterile fruits with orange skin and red sap. Example: Musa textilis (Manila hemp).
• Rhodochlamys (2n=22): Ornamental plants like M. ornate and M. velutina.
• Incertae sedis (2n=14): Tall species like M. ingens and M. beccarii.

Edible bananas are usually diploid (2n=22), triploid (2n=33), or tetraploid (2n=44). Triploid cultivars are most common.

Propagation

Banana is propagated vegetatively using suckers, rhizomes, or tissue culture plants due to its parthenocarpic nature. It produces two types of suckers:

1. Water Suckers

• Broad leaves and weak pseudostem.
• Poorly developed rhizomes.
• Lower yield and longer time to fruit (over 18 months).

2. Sword Suckers

• Well-developed rhizome and pseudostem.
• Yield in 12–13 months with large bunches.
• Develop close to the mother plant, ensuring strong growth.

Selection Criteria for Planting Material

• Source from disease-free orchards.
• Preferred weight: 1.0–1.5 kg.
• Select sword suckers from high-yielding mother plants.
• Free from rhizome weevil infestation.
• Ideal sucker age: 3–4 months.
• When unavailable, split rhizomes or rhizome bits can be used.
• Tissue culture plants are preferred for commercial cultivation.

Sucker Preparation (Paring & Pralinage)

• Remove old leaves, roots, and soil particles.
• Cut the sucker 15 cm above the rhizome.
• Dip suckers in cow dung slurry and treat with phorate (10–15 g/rhizome) to prevent pests.
• Rhizomes may also be dipped in fungicide solution and cut at a slant for planting.

 Planting Methods

Season and Suitability: Banana can be cultivated throughout the year except during extreme winters and heavy rainfall. June–July is generally the best planting period.

1.1 Pit Method: Suitable for tall varieties. Pits (60 cm³) are dug at 1.8 x 1.8 m or 2 x 2 m spacing. Filled with topsoil + 20–30 kg FYM, neem cake (250 g), and Trichoderma (50 g). Suckers planted centrally and watered.

1.2 Furrow Method: Commonly used. Rhizomes placed in 15–20 cm deep furrows at appropriate spacing.

1.3 Tissue Culture Planting: Gains popularity. Requires extra care. Yields 10–20% more than sucker-propagated plants.

1.4 High-Density Planting (HDP): Close spacing or double suckers per pit. E.g., Robusta/Dwarf Cavendish at 1.5 x 1.5 m spacing = 4444 plants/ha (as per IIHR).

Nutrient Management

Banana is a heavy feeder. Fertilizer application is crucial.

Schedule: Apply fertilizers in 3 splits – 2nd, 4th, and 6th months post-planting. Apply in circular basin at 30–45 cm from base before irrigation.

Recommended Doses:

Species	N (kg/ha)	P (kg/ha)	K (kg/ha)	FYM (t/ha)
Dwarf Cavendish	540	325	675	40
Robusta	405	245	507	40
Others	400	240	500	40

Irrigation Management

Requires 1800–2500 mm/year. About 40–45 irrigations needed with 4–5 day intervals. Soil should not dry completely.

Weed Control

Use cover crops, hand weeding, intercropping, and herbicides. Apply Diuron (4 kg/ha) pre-emergence, Glyphosate (2 kg/ha) or Gramoxone (1.8 kg/ha) post-emergence.

Important Cultural Practices

Desuckering: Remove unwanted suckers using kerosene or 2,4-D (0.5%). Retain 1–2 sword suckers for ratooning.

Earthing Up: Mound soil around base to avoid lodging during rains.

Propping: Support plants with bamboo sticks to prevent lodging during bunch formation.

Denavelling: Remove male bud after last hand to improve bunch weight.

Thrashing: Remove old/diseased leaves. Keep at least 12 leaves for max yield.

Bunch Covering: Use perforated plastic or dried leaves to avoid sunburn and pest attack.

Use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)

Gibberellins and anthecins regulate flowering (Dual Factor Hypothesis).

NAA (100 ppm) at 5th & 7th months improves size & yield.

2,4-D (20 ppm) improves quality. GA₃ (50 mg/L) enhances yield and maturity.

Maturity and Harvest

Flowering: Occurs 9–12 months after planting.

Maturity: 4–5 months after flowering. Harvest fully mature or ¾ mature (for chips/transport).

Maturity Indicators:

• Drying of top leaves
• Plump fruit with reduced angularity
• Basal fruit shows ripening signs
• Starch content: 22–25%

Bunches are cut with 2 ft long peduncle.

Mattocking

Cut pseudostem after harvest, leaving 0.6 m stump to support the following sucker.

Yield

Tall types: 15–20 t/ha
Cavendish: ~40 t/ha
Hill/Cooking types: 11–15 t/ha

Post-Harvest Management

Storage: 13°C, 85–95% RH for up to 3 weeks. Avoid refrigeration.

Ripening: 16.5–21°C for 1 week. Use 100 ppm ethylene gas for uniform ripening.

Traditional method: smoking with straw and cow dung. Use sealed bags and KMnO₄ for shelf life extension.

Rhizome and Sucker Production

Banana’s stem is a rhizome. Must be completely underground. Diploids produce more suckers than triploids/tetraploids.

Healthy mother plants with high nutrient uptake give better suckers. E.g., Anaikomban (AA) and Monthan (ABB).

Major Pests and Diseases

Pests:

• Pseudostem Borer: Causes sap exudation and black mass.
• Rhizome Weevil: Damages corm. Nendran is highly susceptible.
• Aphids: Transmit Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV).
• Scarring Beetle: Affects fruits/leaves in rainy season.

Diseases:

• Panama Wilt: Caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Rasthali = susceptible; Robusta = resistant.
• Sigatoka Leaf Spot: Yellow to brown leaf lesions. Gros Michel = susceptible; ABB clones = resistant.
• BBTV: Causes rosetting, stunted growth, no bunching. Transmitted by aphids.

Go to Link