Response of banana variety Nendran (Musa spp.) under different sourcesand levels of nutrients in open field precision farming conditions

Banana cultivation requires precise water and nutrient management due to its shallow root system and high nutrient demand. As there is no standard fertigation schedule for Nendran banana under open field precision farming conditions, a study on soil nutrient dynamics under varying nutrient levels in banana cultivation was conducted under open-field precision farming conditions for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018 at Agronomic Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University. The results demonstrated that through fertigation the fertilizer application could be reduced to75% of the recommended dose of fertilizers as per the package of practices of Kerala Agricultural University. Bothcommon and high priced water-soluble fertilizers performed similarly, indicating that cost-effective common fertilizerscan be used for fertigation. Although the effect of mulching was not significant in terms of yield, it was found to beeffective in controlling weeds. Economic analysis and the benefit-cost ratio revealed that cultivating Nendran banana with fertigation using common fertilizers in non-mulched conditions is profitable.