Response of banana to drip irrigation, water amounts and fertilization regimes

Abstract

Abstract The price of water in Israel, its availability, and the other options for its use, made it necessary to examine the amount of water actually required by banana. (Musa cavendishii Lamb.) Water amounts were fixed according to the evaporation factor from a Class A pan. The factor changed throughout the irrigation season. At the peak of the season, the rate of water application corresponded to f=0. 8, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4. An additional treatment, with a constant factor of evaporation (f=1.0), was applied. Two fertilizer regimes were also tested: a fixed dose of fertilizer applied once a week, and a constant concentration of fertilizer injected into the irrigation water throughout the irrigation season. The water applied amounted to 8450–14470 m3/ha/year. The increased water amount led to an increase in sucker height, earlier flowering, more bunches, and a small increase in average bunch weight. Maximum effects were found in suckers irrigated at f=1.4, but any increase above f‐1.0 (10370 m3/ha) gave no s...