Tropical and subtropical fruits (2+1)

Cultural practices

Important cultural practices

Desuckering

• Desuckering is done by cutting the pseudostem of sucker at the ground level followed by application of kerosene/2-4, D @ 0.5 per cent also the growth of suckers can be inhibited by damaging the cut end to prevent further growth.
• As banana produces number of suckers, if allowed, they compete for moisture nutrition with mother plant; one or two healthy sword suckers may be allowed to grow for ratoon crop.
Earthing up

• To prevent uprooting of plant by wind soil is mounded around the pseudostem during rainy season.
Propping

• Providing support to the plant when it is at bunching stage.
• If dwarf variety and closed spacing no propping is required but for all tall varieties, it is required by using bamboo poles or any other supports.
Denaveling

• Removal of male buds after the last set of fruit. It increases the bunch weight/fruit weight and quality of fruits also.
Thrashing

• A process of removal of old, dry, diseased and senescent leaves this could reduce the disease and facilitate better light, temperature and air.
• However, if leaves are pruned before bunch initiation, flowering is delayed and cycle time increased.
• A minimum of 12 leaves are required to be retained for maximum yields
Bunch covering

• Bagging of bunch with perforated polythene cover or dried leaves to protect against cold sun scorching, attack of thrips and other scrapping insects, during bunch maturity stage, the bags may be coated with pesticides.