Organic farming practices for double-sucker planted banana K.R. Sheela, R. Pushpakumari, G.J. Shimi and V.L. Geethakumari Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram-695522, India E-mail: kumarsheela58@gmail.com ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, during December 2009 to September 2012 to standardize organic farming practices for double-sucker planted tissue-culture raised banana var. Nendran. Treatments included three nutrient levels, (M1-133, M2-100 and M3-75% of recommended dose for tissue culture banana as *organic), two times of application viz., T1- in two splits- (basal and 2MAP), and T2 in three splits (basal, 2 and 4 MAP) along with the Control (integrated nutrient management for double-sucker planted banana, i.e., FYM + 250:150:400g NPK pit-1). The experiment was laid out in Factorial RBD with three replications. Results of the study indicated that though 33% of additional nutrients were required for double-sucker planting along with INM, 100% of the dose was sufficient under organic farming for realizing a reasonable yield. Pooled analysis of gross income and net income revealed that organic production practices are also profitable in double-sucker planted banana. Key words: Double-sucker, organic farming, banana, yield Short communication J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):233-236, 2015 Banana is widely cultivated in India under varying agro-climatic regions and different systems of production. Nendran (Musa AAB) is the most popular commercial cultivar in Kerala owing to its adaptability to various environments, its yield stability, excellent fruit quality attributes and for fetching a sustained income. The fruit has multiple uses ranging from that as a valued food for infants and invalids, to culinary and table purposes, besides a diverse range of processed products. High productivity, disease-free nature and uniform harvest in tissue-culture raised plants has enhanced its acceptability among farmers. High-density planting is considered a viable proposition for improving productivity of tissue-culture raised plants. Planting two suckers per pit, with wider spacing, enhances total yield and economic returns. Double-sucker planting is one of the approaches for reducing cost of cultivation and for increasing productivity without affecting quality of the fruit. An imbalanced and unscientific use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has aggravated environment degradation, making it imperative to focus on ecologically sound, viable and sustainable crop production practices. Long-term field experiments in various crops have brought to light the negative impact of continuous use of chemicals on soil health (Yadav, 2003). Sustainable crop husbandry approaches like organic farming are very important in crops like banana where farmers use a high quantity of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals for yield improvement. Banana is grown extensively in the erstwhile paddy fields of Kerala. In this context, an experiment was undertaken to standardize organic farming practices for double-sucker planted tissue-culture raised banana variety Nendran. The experiment was conducted during December 2009 to September 2012 at the organic farm attached to Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala. The treatments included three nutrient levels (M1- 133, M2-100 and M3-75% of recommended dose for tissue culture raised banana as *organic), two times application, viz., T1- two splits- (basal and 2MAP) and T2 - three splits (basal, 2 and 4 MAP), along with the Control (integrated nutrient management for double-sucker planted banana (FYM + 250:150:400g NPK pit-1). The experiment was laid out in Factorial RBD, with three replications. General practices like use of uniform tissue-culture raised plants, basal application of neem cake @ 1kg pit-1, in situ green manuring with cowpea, and application of FYM @ 20kg pit-1 at planting along with 20g Azospirillum, were followed irrespective of the treatment. As this is an experiment in organic farming pest and 234 disease management was done organically. Prophylatic application of neem oil-garlic mixture (5%) to the pseudostem and leaf axil during third and fourth month was made to manage pseudostem borer. Organic treatments were applied through a common organic source: 50% as farm yard manure + 25% as poultry manure + 25% as vermicompost. Additional K requirement was met using ash as the source of K. For double-sucker planting, pits were dug at 3m x 2m spacing, and two suckers were planted in each pit with a distance of 15-20cm between suckers in a pit. Soil analysis of the experimental site revealed the soil to be moderately acidic, with pH 5.8, high in organic carbon, medium in N and P, and low in K. Observations were recorded on yield and yield attributes and economics were worked out. Based on results of the first year trial, 133% of the recommended nutrient-level was deleted and the treatments were modified Table 1. Yield attributes and yield in double-sucker planted organic banana as influenced by nutrient levels and time of application I Year Treatment No. of hands No. of fingers Bunch weight Yield (t ha-1) bunch-1 bunch-1 (kg plant-1) M1 (133% RD) 4.42 44.25 7.08 23.58 M2 (100% RD) 4.50 44.42 7.42 24.69 M3 (75% RD) 4.50 45.00 7.71 25.72 F 0.07 0.09 0.89 0.92 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS T1 (2 times) 4.33 44.50 7.14 23.77 T2 (3 times) 4.61 44.61 7.67 25.56 F 1.86 0.01 1.90 1.94 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS M1 T1 4.33 44.67 6.92 23.03 M 1T 2 4.50 43.83 7.25 24.14 M2 T1 4.33 43.83 7.08 23.59 M 2T 2 4.67 45.00 7.75 25.80 M 3T 1 4.33 45.00 7.42 24.70 M 3T 2 4.67 45.00 8.00 26.74 Treatment mean 4.47 44.56 7.40 24.67 F 0.07 0.14 0.07 0.07 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS INM (Control) 5.00 48.00 8.82 29.36 F (Treatment vs. Control) 3.84 2.91 7.78 7.61 CD (P=0.05) S NS. S S II Year III Year Treatment No. of No. of Bunch Yield No. of No. of Bunch Yield hands fingers weight (t ha-1) hands fingers weight (t ha-1) bunch-1 bunch-1 (kg plant-1) bunch-1 bunch-1 (kg plant-1) M1 (100% RD) 4.00 41.17 66.80 22.25 4.67 46.17 7.33 24.42 M2 (75% RD) 3.50 33.67 4.92 16.40 4.33 41.83 6.33 21.09 M3 (50% RD) 3.33 28.00 4.63 15.40 4.00 34.67 4.97 16.54 CD (P=0.05) 0.555 3.802 0.445 1.481 NS 4.077 0.464 1.544 T1 (2 times) 3.56 34.00 5.30 17.65 4.33 40.11 6.32 21.05 T2 (3 times) 3.67 34.56 5.52 18.39 4.33 39.67 6.10 20.31 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS M1 T1 4.00 41.33 6.97 23.20 4.67 47.33 7.47 24.86 M 1T 2 4.00 41.00 6.40 21.31 4.67 45.00 7.20 23.98 M2 T1 3.33 32.67 4.60 15.32 4.33 41.67 6.33 21.09 M 2T 2 3.67 34.67 5.25 17.48 4.33 42.00 6.33 21.09 M 3T 1 3.33 28.00 4.33 14.43 4.00 31.33 5.17 17.21 M 3T 2 3.33 28.00 4.92 16.37 4.00 32.00 4.77 15.88 INM (Control) 4.33 46.00 9.00 29.97 5.00 51.33 10.37 20.68 CD (P=0.05) NS NS 0.629 2.095 NS NS NS NS F (Treatment vs. Control) 6.89 38.68 264.38 264.94 5.76 32.08 326.79 326.76 CD (P=0.05) S S S S S S S S Sheela et al J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):233-236, 2015 235 as 100%, 75% and 50% of the recommended dose for the second and third years of study. First year (2009) yield data revealed no significant variation among treatments. Soil analysis made after the first crop indicated high organic carbon (1.9-2.3%), high available N (288-301kg ha-1) and medium P (18-22kg ha-1) and K content (170-190kg ha -1); pH also showed improvement, increasing from 5.8 to 6.2. Organic nutrition @ 133% of the recommended dose enhanced the pH to 6.2. Based on these results, nutrient levels were modified as 100%, 75% and 50% of the recommended dose, and, the experiment was continued in the second (2010) and third year (2011). Results of this two-year study (Table 1) revealed that nutrient level had a significant influence on number of fingers bunch-1, bunch weight plant-1, and total bunch yield. 100% of the recommended dose was significantly superior to the other two levels tested. Application of manure in two or three splits had no influence on yield parameters and yield. Interaction between nutrient level and the number of times of application was found to be significant in the first year only (2010). A comparison of INM and organic practices showed that yield attributes and yield were significantly influenced in both the years, with INM registering the highest value. Most of the earlier studies on organic farming have showed such a decline in yield over INM during the initial years. Effect of treatments on marketable yield, worked out as 75% of the actual yield, followed the same trend as that in the yield. Pooled analysis of marketable yield indicated that 100% of the recommended dose, applied as the organic component, had a definite edge over the other two levels, while, time of application and interaction between nutrient levels and time of application, was observed to be insignificant. Pooled analysis (Table 2) of economic aspects like gross income and net income revealed that 100% of recommended dose as the organic component was more economical in double-sucker planted banana. The organic sources (farm yard manure, poultry manure and vermicompost) tested at 100% recommended dose can effectively supply nutrients required for the two banana plants in a pit, along with in situ green manuring. A slow release of nutrients from the organic sources, without any nutrient loss, can supply sufficiently to substitute chemical nutrients. Use of vermicompost as the organic source, along with incorporation of cowpea as the in situ green manure, Table 2. Marketable yield and economic returns in double-sucker planted organic banana as influenced by nutrient level and time of application Treatment Marketable Marketable Marketable Gross Net B:C B:C yield (t/ha) yield (t/ha) yield (t/ha) income (Rs) income (Rs) ratio ratio II Yr III Yr Pooled Mean Pooled mean Pooled Mean II Yr III Yr M1 (100%RD) 16.69 18.31 17.50 840080 469725 2.17 2.38 M2 (75%RD) 12.30 15.82 14.06 674880 321519 1.67 2.15 M3 (50%RD) 11.55 12.41 11.97 575000 262985 1.67 1.79 CD (0.05) 1.086 1.0693 0.593 28670 428670 0.152 0.147 T1 (2 times) 13.24 15.79 14.51 696667 350803 1.84 2.18 T2 (3 times) 13.79 15.23 14.51 696640 338307 1.83 2.03 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS 0.120 M1 T1 17.40 18.65 18.02 865040 502182 2.30 2.47 M1 T2 15.98 17.98 16.98 815120 437268 2.03 2.28 M2 T1 11.49 15.82 13.68 655440 309576 1.59 2.19 M2 T2 13.11 15.82 14.46 694320 333462 1.74 2.10 M3 T1 10.82 12.91 11.86 569520 240650 1.58 1.88 M3 T2 12.28 11.91 12.09 580480 244280 1.75 1.70 INM (Control) 22.48 25.96 24.22 968133 656591 2.89 3.33 CD (P=0.05) 0.887 NS 0.629 NS NS NS NS F (Treatment vs. Control) 6.89 38.68 264.38 264.94 5.76 32.08 326.79 CD (P=0.05) S S S S S S S Cost of cultivation in different treatments (Rs ha-1) Treatment Cost of cultivation Treatment Cost of cultivation Sale price of banana M 1T 1 3,54,858 M 1T 2 3,69,852 INM: Rs. 40kg -1 M 2T 1 3,39,864 M 2T 2 3,54,858 Organic: Rs. 48ha -1 M 3T 1 3,24,870 M 3T 2 3,32,200 INM 3,11,542 Organic farming practices for double-sucker planted banana J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):233-236, 2015 236 for enhancing yield in banana was reported earlier by Geetha and Nair (2000). Although economic returns in organically-grown banana may be less than that in INM, application of 100% recommended dose can yield a B:C ratio of >2 considering that the price of organic produce is accounted as 20% extra over the INM produce. Moreover, all the inputs were considered as purchased, for calculating the economics. An organic farmer can be expected to have adequate organic inputs generated in his farm which, in turn, can enhance profit. Profitability of organic farming in single-sucker planted Nendran banana has already been reported by Pushpakumari et al (2009). From our study, it is concluded that although 33% of additional nutrients are required for double-sucker planting with INM, 100% of the dose is sufficient under organic farming. Similar to that in INM, organic production practices are seen to be profitable in double-sucker planted banana in our study. REFERENCES Geetha, K. and Nair, R.R. 2000. Integrated plant nutrition systems (IPNS) for banana. Ann. Agril. Res., 21:499-503 Pushpakumari, R., Sheela, K.R., Nandakumar, C. and George, A. 2009. Standardization of organic farming practices for banana var. Nendran. National Seminar on ‘Organic Farming in Horticultural Crops’, CPCRI, 15-18 October, 2008, Kasargod, Kerala, India Yadav, J.S.P. 2003. Managing soil health for sustained high productivity. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 51:448-465 (MS Received 04 February 2014, Revised 19 June 2015, Accepted 02 July 2015) Sheela et al J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):233-236, 2015