BANANA PRODUCTION CULTURAL PRACTICES
Introduction
Scientific name of banana is musa spp. widely cultivated bananas today descend from the two wild bananas Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana . Its nutritional value is high with a rare combination of energy value, tissue-building elements, proteins, vitamins and minerals. The fruit is variable in size, color and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe
LAND PREPARATION
The field is plowed and harrowed thrice. All stumps and bushes must be removed. Knee-deep holes with 45-cm diameters are dug and 3each hole is fertilized with 10 grams of complete fertilizer and a few of granular nematode. Soil analysis for lime and phosphate is essential before planting. Add kraal manure or compost if available.
PLANTING AND SPACING
Bananas can be planted using 3 methods: tissue culture plant and suckers. But the most common banana planting method is by using sword suckers in which suckers are set on field in vertical position, and then covered with surface soil. Compost material added to the soil enhances the recovery and growth of the new plants. The soil is stumped around each base and watered regularly. During dry months, irrigation, if possible, is advised. Planting is the best at the start of the rainy season. The planting spacing of banana depends on the variety but the common one is 3mx3m
CROP MANAGEMENT
Crop management in banana is very important in order to improve yield, crop management is such as:
Desuckering or pruning , the unnecessary suckers must be killed by cutting them off the mother plants. Only two suckers must be allowed per hill to reduce soil nutrients competition. Fertilization, for poor soils, fertilizers should contain NPK at a ratio of 3: 1: 6. The ratio is doubled when fertilizers are applied to young plants.
Weeding, weed Can be controlled by using herbicide through Spraying with Glyphosate (round up) before planting at the rate of 2 L / ha is done to keep the plantation clean, or by cultivating the weed
Removal of male floral bud (denavelling)
Removal of male bud helps fruit development and increase bunch weight. Male buds are removed with last 1-2 small hand with a clean cut keeping a single finger in the last hand.
Earthling up, Keep the soil loose by harrowing from time to time. Earthling up should be done 3-4 months after planting raising the soil level around the base of the plant by 10-12. It is better to prepare a raised bed and keep the drip line on bed 2-3 away from the plant.
Propping , Propping or supping the bearing plant can be done by suitable propping materials like a stick with “v” shape at one end.
Covering the bunches , covering the bunches with perforated 0.5mm thick white or blue polyethylene bags when all hands have emerged prevents blemishes, diseases, insect damage and also result in early maturity for the fruits. Spotless fruit have more export potential and fetch better market price
PEST AND DISEASES IN BANANA
BAANA PESTS
There are more than 27 insect pests that attack banana plants.However, there are only three pests known to cost significant damage over all types of banana.
The banana corm weevil, it causes the suckers to die of bore attack. To control this pest, spray the soil with Furadan.Sanitation and cutting of affected corms are also effective cultural controls, and is environment friendly.
Fruit-peel scarring beetle This pest damage the banana fruit surfaces .To control the pest spray the banana bunch with Decis to kill the pest.
BANANA DISEASES
There are three major diseases of banana are the, sigatoka, pitting or wilting and the Moko.
Sigatoka disease Is a leaf spot disease caused by Mycosphaerellamusicola. This causes the premature death of leaves. In severe cases, the size of bunches and fingers is reduced. The fruit is also ripens prematurely and develops abnormal flavor and smell. Plants are usually sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. Badly spotted leaves are removed to avoid contamination.
Wilting disease Is characterized by dry, reddish-brown or black, circular or oval, depressed spots. Sanitation is one way of preventing the disease which comes in season with the rainy days. All collapsed leaves should be removed.
Moko disease, It is transmitted from plat to plant by insects and infected tools. The impact of Moko disease to plants is similar to that of the sigatoka. Only, it does not emit unfavorable smell. Infected fruits also blacken inside.
Infection is prevented by disinfecting tools with formaldehyde . Alternative controls to pests and diseases are being introduced under Integrated Pest Management. Infected plants and weeds must be uprooted to keep the area free of host plats for six to 12 months splitting and rotting bananas on plant infected
HARVESTING MATURITY
Under optimum condition it takes 9months from planting to harvesting depending on climate, cultural practices and varieties. Blooming to harvesting take about 80-95days.Most bananas are harvested green, for home consumption bunch is left hanging until finger are full (rounded). The number of hands varies greatly with cultural practices.
The maximum is usually 14 and exceptionally 15-16 bunches with less than 7 hands are from areas of poor growth. In average areas of good growth there are 8-12 hands
YIELD
If the crop is well managed, an average yield of 90-100 metric tonnes per hectare in the main crop and similar yields in the ration crops can be achieved
Bananas cannot be stored for as long as they get ripe and theyrot after a short time. After harvesting they must be marketed quickly. They must also be protected from direct sun which hastens the ripening process. The optimum conditions for ripening banana are at temperatures of (20 – 21) 0 C and 90% relative humidity.
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