System Intensification for Enhanced Productivity and Water use Efficiency in Banana [Musa (AAB) Nendran]

Background: The steady demand for banana due to its varied uses makes a high value crop. In Kerala, more than 70 per cent of cultivation is done on leased lands and hence obtaining maximum income from unit area assumes utmost importance. High density planting (HDP) could realize it, but had be standardised in agro climatic regions the state using specific cultivars management level. Methods: Field experiments were conducted at Agronomic Research Station, Chalakudy, Kerala assess water use efficiency productivity variety Nendran under HDP. experiment was laid out factorial RBD with irrigation methods crop geometry as factors. Irrigation included drip 50% pan evaporation compensation (PE) 75% PE alternate days (I1 I2) basin 100% (I3). Geometry treatments consisted single plants spacing 2 m x (G1), plants/hill 2.6 (G2) 3 3.0 (G3) resulting 2500, 2950 3330 plants/ha respectively. Result: / hill resulted increased yield by 21.6% over plant/pit. Drip produced comparable yields higher irrigation. HDP can recommended farmers Kerala.