Potential of ratoon cropping of banana cv. amritsagar

Abstract

Abstract : An investigation into the potential of ratoon cropping of banana cv. Amritsagar was carried out at the Central Research Station of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur during 1987-1990. The treatments consisted of (1) main crop, (2) first ratoon and (3) second ratoon crops. Uniform sword suckers were planted with 2 x 2 m spacing on December 6, 1987 for the main crop and in the subsequent first and second ratoon cropping only one uniform sucker per pit was allowed to grow under similar management practices as in the main crop. Banana plants of second ratoon crop were significantly taller (2.15 m) than both main crop and first ratoon crop. Second ratoon crop produced heaviest bunch (10.14 kg) followed by first ratoon (8.17) and the main crop (6.56). Total crop period was, however, recorded maximum in the first ratoon (365 days) followed by second ratoon (342 days) and main crop (301 days).