Effect of Subsurface Drip Fertigation on Growth and Yield of Banana

Field experiment was carried out during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai. There were nine treatments replicated thrice in RBD using banana cv. G9 as test crop. The results indicated that the growth, yield attributes, fruit yield and quality characters were higher under the fertigation treatment with the application of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) in which 50 per cent of P and K was applied as basal and the remaining NPK as WSF through drip along with sulphozinc @25 kg / ha as soil application. However this was on par with application of 100 per cent RDF where in 50 per cent of P and K were applied as basal and the remaining NPK applied as WSF through drip. Surface irrigation with soil application of fertilizers accounted for lesser growth, yield attributes, fruit yield and quality characters when compared to drip irrigation with fertigation. Surface irrigation accounted for higher total water use of 2099 mm where as drip irrigation accounted for only 1665 mm resulting in a saving of 21 per cent. Higher water use efficiency, water productivity, net income and B:C ratio were recorded under drip fertigation of 100 per cent RDF wherein 50 percent of P and K applied as basal and the remaining NPK applied through drip along with soil application of 25 kg of sulphozinc / ha.