Effect of Bio-fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Banana cv. Grand Naine (Ratoon Crop) in West Central Zone of Odisha

A field experiment was conducted to access the effect of different biofertilizers on growth and yield of ratoon crop of tissue cultured banana cv. Grand Naine. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 5 treatments, each replicated four times. The experiment consisted the application of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and RDF was combined with organic manure and biofertilizers (Azospirillum, Azoctobactor, Phosphorus solubilising bacteria ) at different combinations to know their effect on growth and yield of ratoon banana viz : T1 (control), T2 (100% RDF, 300:100:300 g NPK/plant), T3 (100% RDF +75g biofertilizers: Azotobacter, Azospirillum & PSB 1kg each in 25 kg of vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1:1), T4 (100% RDF +100 g biofertilizer: Azotobacter, Azospirillum & PSB 1kg each in 25 kg of vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1:1) and T5 (100% RDF +125 g biofertilizer : Azotobacter, Azospirillum & PSB 1kg each in 25 kg of vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1:1). There was a positive response in plant growth in term of height and girth. Application of 100% RDF +125 g of biofertilizers in 3 split doses (T5) recorded better growth in tissue culture banana follow by T4 and T3 and the treatment recorded better physiological activity in term of ascorbic acid content and pulp: peel ratio. Yield attributing characters like bunch weight, number of hands per bunch and number of finger per bunch also maximum in T5 .