Abstract
The study has assessed the economic viability of drip-fertigation system techniques in banana cultivation in West Bengal. The study was carried out in augmented factorial complete block design during 2008–10. The main factor was irrigation at 3 levels (I1= 50% CPE, I2= 60% CPE and I3= 70% CPE) and sub-factor was fertilizer at 3 levels (F1=50% RDF, F2=60% RDF and F3=80% RDF). It has been found that the variations in fertilizer and irrigation levels provide different yields of banana. The highest yield was obtained for both plant (49.2 t/ha) and ratoon (44.1 t/ha) crops of banana with combined application of irrigation at 60 per cent CPE and 80 per cent RDF. The water-use efficiency has been found higher under drip fertigation and was highest under 60 per cent CPE and 80 per cent RDF, resulting in a considerable saving of water (41.7% in plant crop and 40.4% in ratoon crop). The drip fertigation has been found economically-viable because of higher gross returns, net returns and return per rupee investment as compared to conventional method of irrigation. The high initial investment cost for the system is one of the major constraints, but considering the benefits in terms of water-saving, increased crop productivity and higher returns, the study has suggested its wider dissemination.
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