Dwarf : “Jahaji” (Dwarf Cavendish)
Medium tall: “Chenichampa” “Malbhog” “Bar Jahaji”
Tall : “Pura Kal” (Kach Kal) “Manohar” “Jati” “Bhimkal”

Time of planting: March – May

Soil: Well drained friable loamy soil with adequate organic matter is ideal.

Propagation : It is propagated by sword suckers. Select healthy sword suckers and uproot with corm. Trim all the roots without damaging the buds. Give a slanting cut to the pseudostem 30cm above the base of the sucker. Weight of such planting materials should be around 1.5 kg to 2.0 kg. 45-60 days old tissue culture hardened plants (Dwarf Cavendish) can also be used as planting materials.

Irrigation: 3 irrigations per month during dry periods.

Drip cum fertigation:
1. Drip irrigation at 75% EpR during November to March can be applied for banana cultivar ‘ Barjahaji’ with Benefit: Cost ratio 5.72

2. 75% recommended dose of N and K (82.5g N and 247.5g K) can be applied through drip.

Planting: Planting is generally done in pits. Double planting (2 plants/pit) with a spacing of 1.8 m x 1.8 m for Jahaji gives higher yield.
For High density Planting 3 suckers per pit at 2m x 3m (5001 plants/ha) spacing should be planted. Pits should be filled up with 18 kg FYM along with top soil. Planting should be done 30 cm apart in the pit.
Size of Pit : 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm and 1m3 for high density planting.
Spacing :
Dwarf cultivars: 1.8m x 1.8 m
Dwarf cultivars: 1.4 x 1.4 m (Without ratooning)
Medium tall cultivars: 2.1m x 2.1m
Tall cultivars : 2.4 m x 2.4m
High density planting: Jahaji : 1.0m x 1.2m x 2m (6250 plants/ha)
Bar Jahaji: 1.2m x 1.8m (4629 plants/ha)
Malbhog : 1m x 1.2m x 2m (6250 plants/ha)

1. 12 kg FYM/plant, 110 g N/plant, 33 g P2O5/plant and 330 g K2O/plant
2. For Integrated Nutrient Management of banana 12 kg FYM/plant, 55 g N/ plant, 33 g P2O5/plant, 330 g K2O/plant and 25g each of Azospirillium and Phosphate Soluble Bacteria (PSB) per plant should be applied.
3. For High Density Planting 18 kg FYM, 165 g N, 50 g P2O5, and 495 g K2O should be applied for 3 plants in each pit.
In case of Jahaji K2O may be increased upto 550 g/plant. In case of Barjahaji 200 g N/plant in three splits (3rd month, 5th month and shooting stage) should be applied.
FYM should be applied at the time of planting. The whole of P205, half on N and half of K2O should be applied in 3rd month of planting. The remaining N and K2O should be applied in 5th month of planting.
Soil application of different micronutrient mixture of B (6 g), Zn (9 g), Cu (6 g) and Mo (1 g) per plant for Borjahaji is beneficial. Micronutrient mixture of B, Zn, Cu & Mo at the same rate for Chenichampa and B & Zn mixture for Jahaji increase the production.

Intercultural:
Desuckering : Remove all the suckers till shooting and allow only one sword sucker at shooting to set as ratoon crop.

Weeding : Remove weeds as and when required. Diuron @ 3 kg/ha or Gramoxone @ 1.5 kg/ha should be applied to check weed growth.
Grow one crop of cowpea and incorporation in soil followed by hand weeding at 30 days interval upto shoot stage.

Bunch Covering : White polythene bunch covering is suitable measure to overcome low temperature effect.

In a banana plantation one main crop followed by 2 ratoons should be allowed. However, in Kachkal 5 ratoons can be taken.
For high density planting, after harvesting of the main crop, new plantation should be done in between the rows. Preparation of the pits for planting should be done before harvesting of the main crop.

Plant Protection:
1. Corm borer and Nematodes: Healthy corms free from nematodes should be selected as planting materials. In case of infected suckers, the infected portions should be scraped out with a sharp knife. In such corms, carbofuran (Furadan) granules should be applied @ 40 g per corm after dipping in mud slurry.
2. Pseudostem borer: Spray 0.1% malathion 50 EC (1 ml in 1 litre of water). Apply Carbofuran 3 g granules in soil @ 10 g per stool.
3. Leaf & Fruit scarring beetle: Spray 0.1% malathion 50 EC (1 ml in 1 litre of water) on the bunches immediately after emergence or application of 0.05% monocrotophos @ 30 ml/plant. Baggings of bunch with muslin cloth or blue polyethylene before fruit set and remove after 60 days of fruit setting.
4. Bunchy Top: To check the spread of the disease, the aphid vector should be controlled by spraying dimethoate or phosphamidon @ 1 ml/lit. (3 lit/ 25 plants) Uproot and bury the infected plants.
5. Panama disease or Banana wilt: Soil drenching with 1.0% Bordeaux mixture or 0.05% carbendazim (0.5g in 1 litre of water) is effective.
6. Sigatoka leaf spot: Spraying of Carbendazim at first appearance followed by 4 sprays at 30 days interval.

Harvesting : The fruit is harvested when the ridges on the surface of the skin change from angular to round, i.e. after the attainment of ¾ full stage. The dwarf bananas become ready for harvest within 11 to 14 months after planting, while tall varieties require about 14 to 16 months to harvesting.

Yield : The yield of banana depends on a number of factors such as variety, plant density, management practices etc. Tall varieties usually yield 15-20 t/ha. Dwarf varieties like Dwarf Cavendish yield 30-40 t/ha.
Benefit: Cost ratio : Main crop: 4.1; Ratoon crop: 6.5