Integrated Nutrient Management in Banana cv. Grand Naine

Banana is the major staple food crop for millions of people in Central, East and West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Banana is a cheap source of energy like vitamins A, C, B6 and other minerals with traces of fat. Banana is often a sole source of income for the rural populations. Application of inorganic fertilizers though increases the yield substantially, could not sustain the fertility status of the soil and have caused several undesirable consequences in the fragile soil eco-system, leading to gradual decline in productivity. Organic matters acts as a source and sink for plant nutrients, as well as provides energy substrate for soil microorganisms. In today’s cultivation many commercial organic manures are being used one such commercial organic manure used in the study is Wellgro. Wellgro organic manures are a product of Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) & are developed for soil & foliar application. These products are made from non-timber forest produce and rich source of nutrients and organic carbon. Hence, the present research work was undertaken to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on growth and yield of banana.