Studies on the effect of high density planting and fertigation on vegetative growth, yield and quality of banana (Musa acuminata L.) cv. Grand Naine of Main crop

The investigation was carried by planting tissue culture banana plants of cultivar Grand Naine. The highest pseudostem height (234.51 & 233.51cm) at shooting stage was recorded in S2 (2 x 1.25 x 1.25 m) and F1 (100 % RDF) and their interaction compared to other treatments. However, the highest pseudostem girth (66.99 & 65.64 cm), number of suckers (8.33 & 7.33), number of leaves (32.59 & 34.36), green leaves per plant (14.02 & 14.11) and leaf area (12.68 & 12.11 cm2) at shooting stage was noticed in S1 (wider spacing) and F1 (100 % RDF) respectively and their interactions.The leaf area index (LAI) was recorded highest (3.91) in S1 (1.8 x 1.8 m) compared to S2 (HDP). The least number of days taken for shooting to harvest (96.25 & 96.13) was recorded in S1 and F1. The lowest (319.56 & 326.30 days) crop duration was registered in S1 and F1 and highest (343.87 & 333.70 days) was noticed in S2 and F2( 75% RDF). The longest crop duration was observed in high density planting and 75 per cent RDF and least in S1 and F1. The yield differed significantly due to planting densities and fertigation levels, recording highest (92.79 & 89.87 t/ha) in S2 and F1. In interaction between spacing and fertigation, the highest (103.81 t/ha) yield was noticed in S2xF1 compared to other interactions. The titrable acidity and shelf life was significantly influenced by fertigation and plant densities. The highest was registered in F3 (0.57 per cent) and S2 (0.59 per cent). The shelf life of the fruits was highest (8.92 days) in F1 (100 per cent RDF) and S1 (9.21 days).