Jayachandran, Nair C SArdhra, Ann PaulKAU2017-08-212017-08-212015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810029306The present investigations on “Foliar nutrition in banana (Musa AAB Nendran) for enhancement of growth, yield and quality” were conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2013-2015. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the efficiency of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and quality of banana cv. Nendran. The following eight treatments were imposed as foliar sprays: K2SO4 (3.0%), NRC Banana formulation, IIHR formulation and a mixture of nutrients such as ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.2% + CuSO4 0.1% + H3BO3 0.1% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.01%, ZnSO4 1.0 % + FeSO4 0.3% + CuSO4 0.2% + H3BO3 0.2% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.03%, ZnSO4 1.5 % + FeSO4 0.5% + CuSO4 0.3% + H3BO3 0.3% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.05% , 19:19:19 Fertilizer mixture (2.0 per cent) and a control (water spray on foliage) each at 2, 4 and 6 months after planting. The experiment was conducted as randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The results of investigation revealed that treatment T2 (3.0% K2SO4) resulted in maximum height (423.08 cm) and girth (51.67 cm) of plants at bunch emergence. Highest bunch weight (9.23 kg) was recorded in T2. Other yield characters such as weight of second hand (2.07 kg), fruit length (25.75 cm), fruit weight (270.82 g) and pulp weight (195.11 g) were also found to be the highest in T2. Quality attributes such as TSS (31.50 per cent), acidity (0.32 per cent), TSS/acid ratio (102.64) and sugar/acid ratio (61.96) were also the highest in T2. Score for organoleptic qualities such as sweetness, flavour, texture, firmness, colour and over all acceptability were higher in this treatment. The same treatment resulted in higher leaf nitrogen (2.62 per cent) and potassium (3.76 per cent) content. T2 resulted in high net profit (Rs.522661 ha-1) and B/C ratio (2.05). Treatment T6 (ZnSO4 1.0 % + FeSO4 0.3% + CuSO4 0.2% + H3BO3 0.2% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.03%) resulted in more number of leaves (10.49 numbers) at bunch emergence. The treatment resulted in a bunch weight of 7.30 kg and fruit girth of 16.10 cm. In qualitative characters, T6 recorded maximum reducing sugar (16.90 per cent) and total sugar content (19.42 per cent). TSS content (30.67 per cent) which was statistically on par with T2. Organoleptic qualities were also statistically on par with T2. Leaf nutrients such as Phosphorus, Boron, Molybdenum, Iron and Zinc were also high in this treatment. It also resulted in high net profit (Rs.274241 ha-1) and B/C ratio (1.50). Regarding characters such as height of plant at bunch emergence and fruit length, T5 (ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.2% + CuSO4 0.1% + H3BO3 0.1% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.01%) was on par with T2. However, quality characters like TSS, acidity, TSS/acid ratio, total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars and sugar/acid ratio were lower in T5 compared to T2. Organoleptic qualities were statistically on par with T2. The treatment T5 exhibited high leaf nutrient content (Nitrogen, Boron, Copper and Iron). Nitrogen content in leaf recorded in T5 was on par with T2 and Iron content was on par with T6. This treatment resulted in a net profit of Rs.247535 ha-1 and B/C ratio of 1.48. Treatment T4 (IIHR formulation) resulted in more number of fruits per bunch (39.16). Weight of second hand (1.66 kg) was also higher but differed significantly from T2, T6 and T5. High values were observed for leaf nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potassium and Zinc in this treatment. Nitrogen (2.59 per cent) and Potassium content (3.57 per cent) in leaf recorded in T4 was on par with T2. It also resulted in a net profit of Rs.245075 ha-1 and B/C ratio 1.49. The studies indicate that treatment T2 (3.0% K2SO4 as foliar application 2, 4 and 6 months after planting) can be recommended for farmers since it resulted in highest B/C ratio, yield as well as qualitative characters. However, treatments T6 (ZnSO4 1.0 % + FeSO4 0.3% + CuSO4 0.2% + H3BO3 0.2% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.03%), T5 (ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.2% + CuSO4 0.1% + H3BO3 0.1% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.01%) and T4 (IIHR formulation-0.5% urea, 0.5% K2SO4, 0.2% ZnSO4 and 0.1% H3BO3) as foliar application 2, 4 and 6 months after planting can also be recommended for enhancing growth, yield and fruit quality in Nendran banana. Since the constitution of these treatments vary, suitable ones are to be chosen based on the deficiency of the particular nutrient.ennullThesis