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To increase productivity in unit area, it is advisable to go for high

density planting systems.

Besides higher yield, high density planting also helps to reduce

labour cost for matt management and increase the efficiency of

utilization of inputs such as fertilizers and water.

Experiments conducted by TNAU in cv. Nendran and Robusta with

increased population per hectare has indicated that very high yields

can be achieved

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The population is increased by adjusting the row to row spacing and

planting more than one sucker / hill.

Accordingly, the following spacing is recommended. For cv.

Nendran, adopt a spacing of 2 x 3 m with 3 suckers per pit (5000

plants/ha) with 25% extra NPK fertilizers per pit. In the case of

Robusta, adopt a spacing of 1.8 x 3.6 m with 3 suckers per pit (4600

plants/ha) with 300:90:450 g of NPK per pit

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Weed control

During early stages, complete control of weeds could be obtained by

raising cowpea in the interspaces.

In gardens where this is not possible, pre-emergence application of

diuron 1.5 kg/ha or oxyfluorfen 0.2 kg/ha is effective.

Weeds emerging later could be controlled by the application of

paraquat 0.4 kg/ha or glyphosate 0.4 kg/ha. If hand weeding is

resorted to, give 4-5 surface diggings depending on weed growth.

Avoid deep digging.

Do not disturb soil after plants start producing bunches. If green

manure crop is grown, weeding operations can be reduced to 1-2

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Garden land Mammutti or by spade, digging may be given at bi-monthly intervals and

periodically earthing up should be done. The side suckers should be removed at monthly intervals. The dry and

diseased leaves are to be removed and burnt to control the spread of leaf spot diseases.

Male flowers may be removed a week after opening of last hand in Robusta banana to avoid “Cigar end rot”.

Floral remnants may be removed a week after opening of the last hand. The plants at flowering may be propped. The peduncle should be

covered with flag leaf to prevent main stalk end rot. The bunches may be also covered with banana leaves to avoid

sunscald.

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Trenches should be formed in between alternate rows and cross

trenches at every 5th row.

The trenches should be periodically deepened and the soil is spread

over the bed.

Surface diggings may be given at bi-monthly intervals and

desuckering at monthly intervals.

The male flower buds can be cut a week after opening of last hand.

The plants should be given propping at or prior to flowering.

It is also advisable to cover the peduncle with flag leaf and the bunch

with leaves to avoid sunscald.

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For ratoon crops in respect of Poovan, Monthan and Rasthali, the

flower is allowed at flowering of the mother plant by choosing one

vigorously growing sucker and removing the others.

Perennial banana

Surface digging should be done with mammutti once in two months.

One deep digging should be provided with mammutti during January

– February. Other operations should be practiced as in garden lands.

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In the sloppy terrains, the soil is loosened by 3-4 forkings in January,

April, July and October.

The outer sheaths are periodically removed to prevent the lifting of

the corm and to keep the corm inside the soil and ward off borer

attack.

It is advisable to maintain two bearing plants and two followers per

clump along the contour.

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During the development stages,

the surface of the fingers may

get bruised or damaged due to

their exposure.

Use of transparent polythene

sleeves provided with 2-4%

ventilation to cover the bunches

can be helpful to avoid such

damages. .

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Besides, reducing the

blemishes, it improves bunch

appeal, advances the maturity

by 7-10 days in banana

The right stage of bunch

covering is when the last hand

has opened and the male bud

has to be removed at that time.

The top end of the sleeves

should alone be tied with the

peduncle leaving the bottom

open for better aeration.

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The male bud along with the

removal of withered styles 8-

11 days after bunch

emergence along with the

removal of withered styles is

recommended to favour fruit

development. This is called

denavelling

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It refers to the removal of

unwanted suckers.

They are to be periodically

removed otherwise they

compete with the mother plant

for nutrients, resulting in lower

bunch weight vis a vis yield.

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The pseudostem requires the

support from propping with

bamboo or casuarina poles at

the time of bunch emergence.

The pole is fixed and tied

around on, one side of the plant

or two poles are tied at the tip in

such a way, they form ‘x’

shaped and are kept against

the pseudostem to bear the

weight of the bunches.

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Smoke treatment is the commonest method to induce ripening in

Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Smoking is done with straw, leaves and cow dung in a closed

chamber with bunches arranged in a heap for 18-24 hours in

summer and 48 hours in winter.

After taking the bunches from the chambers, they are placed in a

well ventilated room for development of colour. Bunches take 3 days

for ripening in this method.

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