Studies on the impact of planting density and nutrient management on growth and yield of banana cv. Ney Poovan under coconut plantation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2017 - 2018 to evaluate the impact of planting density and nutrient management on growth and yield of banana cv. Ney Poovan under coconut with nine treatments replicated thrice by using factorial randomized block design. Coconut being widely spaced owing to its morphological features provides ample opportunities for cropping in the interspaces. Active root zone of coconut is confined to 25 per cent of the available land area and the remaining area could be profitably exploited for raising subsidiary crops. A high efficiency in the use of available soil moisture and nutrients can be achieved by growing intercrops outside 2 m radius around the base of the palms (Maheswarappa et al., 2000). The present results revealed that among the different treatments, F6 P1 (100 per cent of the RDF + Azospirillum @ 100 g + Phosphobacteria @ 100 g + AM fungi @ 100 g plant-1 in single row planting) recorded best values in term of morphological characters and yield attributes. Hence, the application of 100 per cent RDF along with biofertilizers @ 100 g plant-1 in single row planting of banana cv. ney poovan under coconut is best when compared to other treatment and control.