How to Cultivate Banana
There are various types of fruits grown in Bangladesh. The soil and weather of this country is very suitable for cultivation of fruits. We shall learn about the cultivation of banana and pineapple.
Cultivation of Banana
Banana grows more or less in all the districts of Bangladesh. But banana is extensively cultivated in Narsindi, Munsighanj, Bogra, Jessore, Barisal, Rangpur and Mymensingh districts. Banana is cultivated in about 40 thousand hectare of land from which more than six lac tons banana is produced. Banana is rich in vitamins and minerals. The calorie content in banana is also higher compared to other crops. Banana is cultivated almost all over the country in Bangladesh. Banana is consumed as curry at green stage and as fruit at ripened stage. There is a great demand of banana as a diet of patient.
Variety of Banana: The varieties of banana which are commercially cultivated in Bangladesh are Amritsagar, sabri, champa, mehersagar, kabri etc. But three improved varieties named BARI banana- 01, BARI banana-2 and BARI banana-3 have been released. Among these, the variety BARI banana-2 is used as green banana.
Production Technology of Banana: Production technologies of banana include soil and land preparation, time of planting and seedling planting, methods of fertilizer application, intercultural operations etc.
Soil and Land Preparation:
1. Ashwin-Kartik 2. Magh-Falgun 3. Chaitra-Baishakh
Selection of Banana Seedlings: banana seedlings are called suckers.
Two types of suckers are found. Such as:
Water Sucker: Water sucker is weak. The base and tip of this sucker is similar in width. This seedling is not suitable for banana cultivation. Besides these two types of seedlings, it is possible to propagate banana from the whole rhizome or from its small portion. But it requires more time to bear fruits. The rhizomes both from fruit bearing and non- bearing plants can be used as seedlings.
Planting of Seedlings:
Cultural Operations
Irrigation and drainage:
1. The suckers that are grown in the plant base up to flowering should be cut.
2. It is better to keep one sucker per plant after flowering.
Propping: After appearing bunch in banana plant, the plant can be broken by air flow. In that case, tying banana plant with the bamboo stick or branch of plant can protect the bunch from breakage.
Management of Insects and Mites: The banana plant may be attacked by fruit and leaf beetle, rhizome weevil, thrips. This insect can be controlled by spraying Diazinon 60 EC mixing with water.
Disease Management: Mainly three diseases infest the banana plant during cultivation. These are- 1. Panama disease 2. Cigatoga disease 3. Bunchy top disease.
A. Panama Disease: It is a fungal disease. Due to the infestation of this disease, leaves become yellow. The leaf is broken at the petiole base thereby become lodge and sometimes the stem is cracked. The infested plant gradually dies or does not bear flower and fruit. As a preventive measure, disease free seedlings should be planted, the infested plant should be uprooted and disease resistant variety should be planted. Beside, applying a fungicide named Tilt- 250 EC at recommended dose on the infested plant effective result may be got.
B. Cigatoga: It is a fungal disease. Due the infestation of this disease, round or oval deep brown spots are found on the leaves. If infestation is extensive, the leaf becomes blighted and the whole leaf looks like burnt. Consequently the fruits become smaller and yield is reduced. As a control measure, the leaves of the infested plants should be cut and burnt.
C. Bunchy Top: It is a viral disease. This disease is dispersed by aphid. By controlling aphids applying Malathion or other recommended insecticides, banana plant can be escaped from this disease.
Crop Harvesting:
Banana grows more or less in all the districts of Bangladesh. But banana is extensively cultivated in Narsindi, Munsighanj, Bogra, Jessore, Barisal, Rangpur and Mymensingh districts. Banana is cultivated in about 40 thousand hectare of land from which more than six lac tons banana is produced. Banana is rich in vitamins and minerals. The calorie content in banana is also higher compared to other crops. Banana is cultivated almost all over the country in Bangladesh. Banana is consumed as curry at green stage and as fruit at ripened stage. There is a great demand of banana as a diet of patient.
Variety of Banana: The varieties of banana which are commercially cultivated in Bangladesh are Amritsagar, sabri, champa, mehersagar, kabri etc. But three improved varieties named BARI banana- 01, BARI banana-2 and BARI banana-3 have been released. Among these, the variety BARI banana-2 is used as green banana.
Production Technology of Banana: Production technologies of banana include soil and land preparation, time of planting and seedling planting, methods of fertilizer application, intercultural operations etc.
Soil and Land Preparation:
- Fertile loamy soil is suitable for banana cultivation.
- The land should receive sufficient sun light and have drainage facilities.
- The land should be deeply ploughed and thereafter pits measuring 50 cm� 50 cm� 50 cm should be made maintaining 2 m distance between pits..About one month before planting of seedlings, pits should be made and filled with soil along with cow dung, TSP fertilizers.
1. Ashwin-Kartik 2. Magh-Falgun 3. Chaitra-Baishakh
Selection of Banana Seedlings: banana seedlings are called suckers.
Two types of suckers are found. Such as:
- Sword sucker.
- Water sucker.
Water Sucker: Water sucker is weak. The base and tip of this sucker is similar in width. This seedling is not suitable for banana cultivation. Besides these two types of seedlings, it is possible to propagate banana from the whole rhizome or from its small portion. But it requires more time to bear fruits. The rhizomes both from fruit bearing and non- bearing plants can be used as seedlings.
Planting of Seedlings:
- At first sword suckers should be selected for planting seedlings.
- For dwarf variety, 35- 45 cm and for tall variety, 50- 60 cm sword suckers are used.
- Thereafter, the seedling should be planted in the specific pit which is filled with cow dung and TSP. Care should be taken not the stem be inserted in to the soil.
| Name of fertilizers | Amount per plant | Time of application |
| Urea | 500- 650 gm. | One month before planting of seedlings, should be mixed with soil and be filled up the pit. One month before planting, 50% TSP should be mixed with soil and be filled up the pit. Two months after planting, 50% MP and 50% TSP should be spread around the base of the plant and thereafter be mixed with soil. When the plant age becomes two months, 25% urea should be spread around the plant base and mixed with soil along with MP and TSP. After another two months, 50% MP and 50% urea should be applied around the plant base and be mixed. The rest 25% urea should be spread around the plant base at flowering and mixed with soil. |
| TSP | 250- 400 gm. | |
| MP | 250- 300 gm. | |
| Cow dung/ Compost | 15- 20 kg |
Cultural Operations
Irrigation and drainage:
- Measures are to be taken to irrigate banana field if there is no soil moisture. It is necessary to irrigate at 15- 20 days interval during dry season.
- The necessary drainage channel should be made to drain out excess water in rainy season. Because the banana plants cannot tolerate submergence.
1. The suckers that are grown in the plant base up to flowering should be cut.
2. It is better to keep one sucker per plant after flowering.
Propping: After appearing bunch in banana plant, the plant can be broken by air flow. In that case, tying banana plant with the bamboo stick or branch of plant can protect the bunch from breakage.
Management of Insects and Mites: The banana plant may be attacked by fruit and leaf beetle, rhizome weevil, thrips. This insect can be controlled by spraying Diazinon 60 EC mixing with water.
Disease Management: Mainly three diseases infest the banana plant during cultivation. These are- 1. Panama disease 2. Cigatoga disease 3. Bunchy top disease.
A. Panama Disease: It is a fungal disease. Due to the infestation of this disease, leaves become yellow. The leaf is broken at the petiole base thereby become lodge and sometimes the stem is cracked. The infested plant gradually dies or does not bear flower and fruit. As a preventive measure, disease free seedlings should be planted, the infested plant should be uprooted and disease resistant variety should be planted. Beside, applying a fungicide named Tilt- 250 EC at recommended dose on the infested plant effective result may be got.
B. Cigatoga: It is a fungal disease. Due the infestation of this disease, round or oval deep brown spots are found on the leaves. If infestation is extensive, the leaf becomes blighted and the whole leaf looks like burnt. Consequently the fruits become smaller and yield is reduced. As a control measure, the leaves of the infested plants should be cut and burnt.
C. Bunchy Top: It is a viral disease. This disease is dispersed by aphid. By controlling aphids applying Malathion or other recommended insecticides, banana plant can be escaped from this disease.
Crop Harvesting:
- After 1-15 months of planting seedlings, all varieties of banana becomes suitable for harvesting.
- The bunch of banana is cut with a sharp hashua.
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