Fertilization Scheme and Bunch trimming on Enhancing Productivity and Fruit Quality of Cardaba Banana Musa balbisiana (BBB)
Dara Maria A. Fabro1*, Glaisa R. Garcia, Lance Irvin F. Elleva , Felen A. Divina II, Roselyn F. Paelmo, Nelly S. Aggangan and Edna A. Aguilar
Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), 4031 College Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines; 2National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UPLB, 4031 College Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. *Corresponding author, dafabro1@up.edu.ph
Abstract
Banana is one of the top agricultural exports of the Philippines. With the rising demand, farmers need to improve and sustain farm productivity. Cultural management practices ensuring the production of marketable yield that meets the consumers’ requirement is a valuable information to improve productivity. This study sought to evaluate the effects of bunch trimming and fertilization scheme on productivity and fruit quality of Cardaba grown in Candelaria, Quezon. Bunch trimming involves two methods, removal of the male bract and the removal of the last hand consequently with the male bract. On the other hand, fertilization at recommended rate of 220-20-260 kg ha-1 NPK annually was compared with that of the farmer’s practice (FP). Results showed that fertilization at recommended rate with one hand trimmed produced larger (in terms of length and diameter) and high total soluble solids. Debelling had higher bunch yield due to higher finger count. Findings in this study can be used to tailor fertilization and bunch trimming to improve the quality of the bunch in accordance to preference of the market.
Keywords: Cardaba banana, debelling, fruit and bunch qualities, hand trimming.
Vol 44 (Special Issue)