IJAER

International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research™

ISSN 2455-6939

Title:
NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY AS INFLUENCED BY IRRIGATION AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN BANANA UNDER PRECISION FARMING

Authors:
G. J. SHIMI, K. R. SHEELA

Abstract:
An investigation was carried out for two consecutive seasons from February 2012 to November 2013 in the Instructional Farm of College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala to study the effect of irrigation and nutrient management through fertigation and foliar nutrition on nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in banana under precision farming. The experiment was carried out in split plot design with six main plots and three sub plots, replicated thrice. Irrigation and nutrient management practices adopted in main plots included basin and drip irrigation with soil application of full dose of nutrients and drip fertigation using different water soluble fertilizers at 60 per cent of recommended dose. Foliar nutrition in sub plotsincluded 19-19-19 foliar spray, Sulphate of Potash (SOP) bunch spray and water spray. The study revealed that irrigation and nutrient management through fertigation and foliar nutrition had significant influence on NUE in both the years. Fertigation of 60 per cent N and K as urea and Muriate of Potash (MOP) and soil application of full P as rock phosphate was found to be effective in enhancing N and K use efficiency while P use efficiency was improved by fertigation of 60 per cent RDN as combination of 10-10-10, urea and SOP. Moreover, two bunch sprayings of SOP @ 2 per cent after complete bunch emergence and three weeks after first application significantly improved NUE. Foliar spray with 19-19-19 fertilizer @ 0.50 per cent at 2, 4 and 6 MAP was observed to be beneficial in improving the P use efficiency. It was also noticed that the treatment combination of 60 per cent RDN supplied as 10-10-10, urea and SOP along with SOP bunch spray enhanced NUE of all major nutrients in both the years.

download full text