Banana is a popular fruit in Bangladesh. Compared to other fruits, it is inexpensive and available year-round. To increase banana production, there are some scientific techniques, which are the main focus of discussion here.
Every 100 grams of edible ripe banana contains 62.7 grams of water, 0.9 grams of minerals, 0.4 grams of fiber, 7.0 grams of protein, 0.8 grams of fat, 25.0 grams of carbohydrates, 13.0 mg of calcium, 0.9 mg of iron, 0.1 mg of vitamin B-1, 0.05 mg of vitamin B-2, 24 mg of vitamin C, and 109 kilocalories of food energy.
Raw bananas are used for treating diarrhea, while ripe bananas help relieve constipation. The banana flower and root are used to treat diabetes, dysentery, ulcers, and stomach ailments.
Selection of Banana Varieties
According to experts, about 40-50 varieties of bananas are cultivated in Bangladesh. Based on their usage, the varieties are divided into two types: ripe bananas and green or cooking bananas.
Among the ripe varieties, the notable ones are Amritsagar, Sabri, BARI Kola-1, Champa, Kabri, and Mehersagar. The popular green banana varieties include Bherar Dog, Chowalpoush, Borobhagne, Behula, Mondira, Biyeer Bati, Kapasi, Kathali, Hathazari, and Anaji.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute has released three improved varieties of bananas named BARI Kola-1, BARI Kola-2, and BARI Kola-3.
Seedling Selection
For commercial cultivation, it is best to use tissue culture seedlings. However, if tissue culture plants are not available, sword suckers should be planted. Three to four-month-old healthy and disease-free sword suckers should be collected from healthy gardens. Typically, dwarf varieties require seedlings 35-45 cm in length, and tall varieties require 50-60 cm long seedlings weighing 1.5-2.0 kg.
There are two types of banana suckers: sword suckers and water suckers. Sword suckers have narrow leaves, thicker bases, and a round shape. Water suckers have broader leaves and are thinner and weaker in structure. Sword suckers are more suitable for cultivation.
Soil and Climate
Well-drained, fertile loamy or sandy loam soils with sufficient sunlight are ideal for banana cultivation. The most suitable temperature for plant growth and fruit production is between 15°C and 35°C.
The land should have adequate light and air circulation. Additionally, banana plants grow well in winter and in humid climates.
Planting Banana Seedlings
Seedlings can be planted in any month except for Bhadra (August-September). However, the best time for planting is from mid-Ashwin to mid-Agrahayan (October to December) and mid-Magh to mid-Chaitra (February to April). It is ideal to plant three-month-old healthy sword suckers.
Before planting, pits should be dug 50 cm in length, width, and depth. There should be a 2-meter distance between each pit and each plant. This allows planting 350-400 seedlings per bigha.
Fertilizer Management
At the final stage of land preparation, apply 3.5-4.0 tons of decomposed cow dung or compost per bigha. Fertilizers should be applied as per the recommended dosage below.
For medium fertile land, apply per plant:
- 10 kg of cow dung/compost
- 500 g of urea
- 400 g of TSP (Triple Super Phosphate)
- 600 g of MOP (Muriate of Potash)
- 200 g of gypsum
- 1.5 g of zinc oxide
- 2 g of boric acid
During pit preparation, apply all the cow dung, TSP, gypsum, zinc oxide, boric acid, and half of the MOP. Urea and the remaining half of MOP should be applied three times starting two months after planting, at two-month intervals, and once more after flowering. Fertilizers should be mixed into the soil around the plant without damaging the roots. If soil moisture is low, irrigation should follow fertilizer application.
For better results, foliar sprays of Librel Zinc, Librel Boron, and Alga-Gold on the leaves and fruits are beneficial. These nutrients can also be mixed with fertilizers or pesticides for spraying.
Cutting Suckers
No suckers should be allowed to grow at the plant’s base until the fruit bunch emerges. These should be cut flush with the ground every one to two months.
Irrigation and Drainage
Banana plants require a lot of water but cannot tolerate waterlogging. Proper drainage channels should be in place, and during dry seasons, irrigation should be provided through furrows two or three times as needed.
Intercropping
Crops like radishes, spinach, chili, chickpeas, lentils, beans, cabbage, red amaranth, and taro can be cultivated as intercrops in banana plantations. However, these crops require additional fertilizers.
Pests of Banana Plants
The main pests affecting bananas are beetles, weevils, thrips, and aphids. Beetles attack the fruits and leaves, causing black circular or elongated spots, which lead to smaller fruits and lower market value.
Weevils bore into the banana corm and feed on its soft tissues. Thrips and aphids usually attack the banana peel, leaving small, brown elongated spots.
Pest Control
To control weevils, apply Neofuran-5G at a rate of 3 kg per bigha mixed with other fertilizers three and a half to four months after planting.
To control beetles, spray 10 ml of Mortar-48 EC mixed in 10 liters of water every 10-15 days as soon as infestation occurs.
For controlling aphids, spray 20 ml of Starter 40 EC mixed with 10 liters of water. Additionally, using disease-free and disease-resistant varieties of suckers can help prevent such infestations.
Diseases and Their Control
Common diseases in bananas include Panama, Sigatoka, and Bunchy Top.
Panama Disease
This disease causes yellowing of leaves, breakage at the petiole, splitting of the stem, and eventually plant death or no fruiting. It is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum cubense.
Control Measures:
- Collect suckers from disease-free fields.
- Burn infected plants.
- Use disease-resistant varieties.
- Avoid planting crops that harbor the disease, like eggplant, tomato, and okra.
- Practice crop rotation every 2-3 years.
- Apply lime to increase soil pH.
- Apply fungicides like Furadan 5G at 5 g per plant (1.5 kg per acre).
Sigatoka Disease
This disease is caused by the fungus Cercospora musae. It causes dark brown circular or oval spots on the leaves, resulting in smaller fruits and significantly reduced yields.
Control Measures:
- Destroy infected leaves.
- Ensure proper drainage in the garden.
- Remove crops that harbor the disease (e.g., eggplant, tomato).
- Practice crop rotation.
- Avoid planting ratoon crops.
- Spray fungicides like Tilt at 0.2% concentration before the rainy season and twice afterward.
Harvesting Bananas
Bananas typically mature 10-13 months after planting, depending on the season. In commercial farming, bananas should be harvested when three-fourths of the fruit’s ridges are rounded. Additionally, when the flower at the tip of the bunch dries out, it indicates the fruit is mature.
After the banana blossom emerges, the fruit usually matures in 2-4 months. If banana bunches are placed on hard surfaces or directly on the ground after harvesting, they can develop black spots, which rot quickly when ripe.
By following the mentioned guidelines, one can achieve yields of 12-15 tons per bigha, with a market value of around 50,000 Taka.
