ROLE OF HIGH DENSITY PLANTING AND FERTIGATION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF BANANA (MUSA ACUMINATA L.) CV. GRAND NAINE OF RATOON CROP.

The growth parameters of ratoon crop significantly were influenced by plant densities and fertigation levels. The highest pseudostem height (211.88 & 222.30 cm) at shooting stage was recorded in F1 (100 % RDF) and S2 (2 x 1.25 x 1.25 m) compared to other treatments. The highest pseudostem girth (66.22 and 65.29 cm), number of suckers per plant (11.32 and 12.07), total number of leaves per plant (31.52 and 31.21), green leaves per plant (13.05 and 13.53) and leaf area (8.80 and 9.42 cm2) were registered in F1 (100 per cent RDF) and S1 (1.8 x 1.8 m) compared to other treatments at shooting stage of ratoon crop. The least (181.79 days) number of days taken for shooting was recorded in F1, but, plant densities did not differ significantly. The least (102.84 and 101.73) number of days taken from shooting to harvesting was registered in F1 and S1. The crop duration was lowest (284.63 and 291.56 days) in F1 and S1. However, the lower levels of fertigation and high density planting (4414 pl/ha) recorded longest crop duration. The highest bunch weight (27.49 and 26.50 kg) was recorded in F1 and S1 compared to high density planting and lower fertigation doses and the highest yield (81.64 and 89.74 t/ha) was recorded in F1 (100 per cent RDF) and S2 (2.0x2.5x1.25 m spacing). However, highest (6.55 & 6.50 %) reducing sugars and (11.89 & 12.24 %) total sugars was recorded in F1 and S1. The fertigation treatments did not influence TSS, titrable acidity (TA) and non-reducing sugars but in planting densities, highest TA (0.58 %) and non-reducing sugar (5.44 %) was noticed in S1. The shelf life of fruits was found significantly influenced by plant densities. In the investigation the longest shelf life (9.43 days) was recorded in S1.