Table of Contents
Introduction
Banana (Musa paradisica L.) is a major tropical fruit crop under Musaceae family. It is known as ‘Apple of paradise’, Adam’s fig, and Tree of Wisdom.
Bananas are versatile fruits used both as a dessert and in culinary applications. Ripe, sweet bananas are enjoyed fresh as a snack or dessert, while unripe green bananas are commonly used for cooking in various savory dishes or as a vegetable ingredient. Banana leaves serve as natural plates for serving food, while their sheaths are used as packaging materials and dry leaves as fuel.
Additionally, parts like pseudo stems, leaves, and underground rhizomes are utilized as fodder for cattle. Various products such as banana powder, flour, chips, vinegar, jam, jelly, wine, pickles, and more can be produced from bananas. Furthermore, banana fibers can be crafted into appealing items like napkins, and carry bags. Due to its multiple uses, it is known as ‘Kalpataru’.
Management Practices in Banana
Proper care and management are essential throughout the cultivation of this versatile banana trees to ensure they remain healthy and produce high-quality fruit. Without adequate attention, the trees can suffer damage and yield fruits that are smaller and of inferior quality. Some management practices that is to be performed in banana are described below :
De-suckering
De-suckering is essential for maintaining banana plant health, ensuring normal bunch weight, and quality. Suckers, which compete with the main plant for nutrients, should be removed starting two months after planting. The process of removing surplus and unwanted suckers from banana plants is called de-suckering. This involves cutting side suckers at their base and pouring a few drops of kerosene to prevent regrowth, repeating the process every 45 days until flowering. These suckers compete with the main plant for food and nutrients.
Only one sucker is retained per plant for ratooning, with its growth arrested at the two-month stage to enhance rhizome development. By the first crop’s harvest, this sucker will be ready for the next ratoon crop.
Propping
The word ‘prop’ literally means support. Therefore, propping involves providing support to the banana plant. Propping is done to protect banana plants from wind damage, especially when the bunch emerges. Tall varieties with heavy bunches particularly need this support. Commonly used props include bamboo or casuarina poles, which last 3-4 years. Support for the banana plant can also be provided using coir or polythene wire and the support is given to protect the bunch from any damage caused by the wind. Therefore, those plants, where there is a chance of damage by wind, need propping.
Mattocking
The process of cutting the pseudostem after harvesting the bunch, leaving a stump about 0.6 meters high, is known as mattocking. This practice facilitates the transfer of nutrients from the mother plant to the developing ratoon. The food material stored in the remaining stump continues to nourish the daughter sucker until the stump withers and dries up.
Deflowering
Deflowering is the process of removing male flowers at the bud stage to prevent competition with the developing fingers. As the flowers mature, they become twisted, blackened, and desiccated, with only the styles remaining erect and hard, which can detract from the fruit’s appearance. This practice allows the banana plant to conserve energy, promoting the growth of a larger bunch rather than an elongated stalk.
Wrapping of the bunches
Bunch covering is commonly practiced in Cavendish bananas to achieve an attractive colour. This method protects the peduncle from intense sun heat, hot winds, and dust, keeping the fruit free from insects, pests, and pathogens. Covering bunches with gunny cloth or perforated polythene bags prevents sunburn and increases yield by 15-20%. Additionally, covering the peduncle with a flag can prevent main stalk rot.
Removal of withered styles and Perianth
Removing withered styles, dead leaves helps reduce disease spread, prevents senescent leaves from overshadowing suckers and reducing light, and avoids fruit scarring. It is essential to maintain at least six to eight healthy leaves on the plant during flowering to ensure maximum bunch development. Excessive leaf removal or damage can decrease bunch weight and shorten the green life of the harvested bananas.
Mulching
Mulching helps conserve soil moisture, increase the number of feeder roots, and improve nutrient and water use efficiency. It also suppresses weed growth, enhancing banana yield by 30-40%.
Earthing up
Earthing up is crucial as it supports the plant’s base and promotes the development of a better root system. This practice should be performed during the rainy season to prevent waterlogging and ensure proper drainage for the plant.
Denavelling
Denavelling, the practice of removing the male bud once the female phase has concluded, is an important agricultural technique. This process prevents the movement of photosynthates into an unnecessary sink, which would otherwise divert valuable resources away from the developing fruit. By eliminating the male bud, the plant can redirect its energy and nutrients towards enhancing fruit growth and development, resulting in better yield and quality of the harvested bananas.
Bunch Thinning
To ensure uniform bunch development, one to two small bottom hands should be removed from the bunch. It is recommended to retain only 7 to 8 hands on the bunch.
Peduncle Wrapping
The peduncle, which connects the banana bunch to the plant, plays a crucial role in transporting nutrients, water, and energy from the plant to the developing fruit. In hot weather, strong sunlight can harm the peduncle, creating openings for fungi or bacteria to invade.
If the peduncle is damaged, it can disrupt the flow of nutrients and water to the bunch, causing the bananas to ripen improperly or fall off prematurely. To prevent this during hot summer days, it’s recommended to protect the banana bunch’s peduncle by wrapping it with a large leaf from the banana plant or other available materials.
Wind Break
To prevent damage from strong, hot winds, a windbreak like bamboo can be planted along the field border in an East-West orientation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, effective management practices are vital for the successful cultivation of banana trees, ensuring they remain healthy and productive. With these measures in place, banana cultivation can be optimized to yield robust trees and high-quality fruits, meeting both market demands and ensuring sustainable farming practices.