AGRICULTURAL INOCULANTS CORPORATION

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CULTURAL PRACTICE FOR BANANA (Musa acuminata)

A. Area to be Planted

1. The soil must be loose, well-drained and preferably of sandy-loam type and a pH
of 6 to 6.5.

2. It must be free of nematodes, if any, apply Furadan or similar insecticide

following the manufacturer’s instructions.

3. It must be rich in organic matter (5 to 10 % of the soil up to a depth of about 45

cm).

B. Land Preparation and Planting

1. Initially, the land must be plowed and harrowed to a fine tilth so as to eliminate
weeds and other unwanted vegetation.

2. Holes 30 cm in diameter and 30 cm deep are then made at an average planting

distance of 2m x 3m.

3. Drainage canals are constructed every 10 rows and sloping towards the lowest
section of the land to prevent water logging especially during the monsoon
months.

4. Replace holes with organic fertilizer at the rate of 2 to 3 kg per hole before
planting.

5. Plant the suckers (1 to 1.5 meters in height) into the hole individually. Fill the
holes with the soil stamping in lightly to establish the new plants.
 AGRICULTURAL INOCULANTS CORPORATION
“MICROBES AT WORK”

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C. Care and Maintenance of the Plants

1. Thirty (30) days after transplanting (DAT) side dress each plant with 150 to 200
grams of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) at a distance of 30 cm from the base of
the plant.

2. Spray the leaves with foliar fertilizer using 0.67% solution (1 liter of the foliar
fertilizer mixed with 160 liters of water) at 60 DAT and at intervals of 25 to 30
days thereafter up to when the plants are 5 months old.

3. Side dress the plants with a mixture of 1 bag of urea (46-0-0) and 1 bag of
muriate of potash (0-0-60) at the rate of 150 to 200 grams of the mixture per plant
at the start of the 5th month.

Important: Irrigate the plantation as necessary.

D. Harvesting of the Fruits

1. Harvest the bunch when they are matured green and about 180 days after
transplanting.

2. Cavendish bananas are normally sold to the export market while off-sizes are
sold to the local market. Bananas for export are normally treated with crop
protection chemicals such as fungicides and this, if possible, must be
biodegradable.