Bananas are one of the most important food crops in most of the African countries. About 75% of the farmers grow the crop on 1.3million hectares in Africa. Most of this production is for local consumption. They are amongst the most important commercial subtropical fruits grown in South Africa and are planted for sale in local markets or self-consumption and only a fraction of all bananas are sold in the world markets. The production technologies used for small scale and commercial operations are so different that they are usually separated into two distinct economic activities. On the one hand, small scale production for consumption in the household or sale in local markets makes a limited use of external inputs and is labour intensive. …show more content…
The application method is simple fertilizer is applied fertiliser is applied alongside the sucker.
The application of adequate fertilizers increases production improves the grade of the fruit and reduces crop duration to maturity appreciably. Bananas have a high demand for nitrogen and potash and therefore, respond very well to nitrogen and potash application. Phosphorus is vital but it is required in smaller quantities.
Organic fertilizer
The use of organic nutrition to improve the soil health this is done also decrease the use of chemical fertilizers. The bunch stalks are used (figure: 10), stalks are returned to the fields and left to decompose to produce humus and other stable forms of organic matter.
According to the cultivation of banana text book the K level can be as high as 4.5% and smaller quantities of compost are used than with manures. Figure 10: banana stalks used as organic fertilizer
Table no: 5 shows fertilizer recommendation for new fields
Fertilizer/product name: UREA
Fertilizer type: granules
Application equipment: cups
Method: …show more content…
Extra care should be given to avoid scarring of fruits, the bunch should rest between the props leaving space on the sides so that when there is wind bunch cannot be scratched by the propping poles (figure 29:).
Reasons of Propping with double wooden props
• Cheap and easy to access
• Method is easy and not time consuming
• Better plant stability and fruit quality than single prop
• Method can be used for both short and tall cultivars
BUNCH CARE
Bunch trimming is the removal of some of the bunch parts including deflowering (removal of the dry flower ends), de-handing (removal of ½ bottom hands to allow the remaining fingers to increase in length and size), removing male bell.
Removing male bell
This is the most preformed bunch-trimming component done at the Roosmaryn Farm, male bell is removed immediately when the hermaphrodite (bisexual) flowers below the last hand have dried out and have started to fall