Effect of dripvis-à-vissurface irrigation on fruit yield, nutrient uptake, water use efficiency and quality of banana in Gangetic plain of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted on a silty clay soil in the Gangetic plain of West Bengal for two consecutive years (2008–09 to 2009–10) to assess the drip vis-à-vis surface irrigation under varying levels of NPK fertilizers on fruit yield, nutrient uptake, water use efficiency and quality of banana. The treatments consisted of three drip irrigation levels at 50, 60 and 70% of cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) and three fertigation levels at 50, 60 and 80% of recommended dose of NPK fertilizers including surface irrigation at IW/CPE 1.0 laid out in an augmented factorial complete block design with three replications. The results of the study showed that fruit yield, yield components and quality parameters of banana increased with increasing levels of drip irrigation and fertigation. Maximum fruit yield (46.59 t/ha), yield components and quality attributes was observed in drip irrigation at 60% of CPE with 80% of recommended dose of NPK fertilizers applied through drip system. However, leaf nutrient uptake was relatively higher in drip irrigation at 70% of CPE with 80% of recommended dose of NPK fertilizers. Maximum crop water use efficiency (0.40 t/ha-cm) was registered in drip irrigation at 60% of CPE with water savings of 39.7% over surface irrigation. Thus, application of drip irrigation at 60% of CPE with 80% of recommended dose of NPK fertilizers through drip-fertigation was found to be the best option in obtaining of higher fruit yields, yield components and quality of produce. Alternatively, surface irrigation at IW/CPE 1.0 could also be advocated with almost same efficiency if the initial investment for laying the drip irrigation system is an impediment for the banana growers of the region.