Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
in a square arrangement, on a riser at about 70-80 cm above the soil level.
This system of ers many advantages, the main being the use of less-powerful
pumping equipment than required for the large cannons, which would cover
about a hectare, previously used. The micro-sprinklers, being below the
canopy, do not splash water from one leaf to another and thus prevent the
spread of fungal diseases like Sigatoka. In recent years, drip irrigation has
shown promise, though vandalism from labourers or neighbours who cut the
hoses and steal them is a problem for small producers. Drip irrigation works
very well in well-managed plantations with fi eld security.
Pruning and bunch propping
Other than removal of the male infl orescence, no other vegetative pruning
is normally practised. Withered styles and perianths persisting at the end
of the fruit are usually removed at the packing station after harvest, but are
sometimes removed by hand 8-12 days after the bunch emerges, to reduce
fruit scarring and disease (cigar-end rot). Early removal of one or more hands
from the distal end of the bunch is practised to increase fruit size by reducing
inter-fi nger and
hand competition. This hand removal is done by the exporting
companies for dessert bananas and plantains to achieve better calipers (fruit
diameter - size) in the remaining fruit.
Bunches falling from the plant or the whole plant falling over can lead to
considerable bunch damage and can lead to rejection of the af ected fruit for
export. Lodging is due to poor corm anchorage, poor planting material or very
large bunches. The problem is reduced if single or double poles are wedged
against the throat of the plant under the curvature of the bunch peduncle or
twine guys are extended from this same point in the opposite direction of the
fruit bunch and tied to lower positions on nearby plants.
Sucker management and leaf removal
Sucker management is an essential step to remove unwanted suckers
developing from the base of the parent corm and to select a suitable sucker
to produce the ratoon crop. The strategy is to remove suckers that receive
nutrients from the parent plant and which would extend its cycle and reduce
its yield if they remained (Fig. 8.5). This operation is vital in the subtropics.
Desuckering is done by hand by cutting and gouging every 4-8 weeks,
and parai n-oil injection so that suckers do not use too many of the resources
available to the parent (Fig. 8.5). Selection of ratoon suckers is critical to
maintaining yield, production and appropriate plant spacing. A sucker on the
most open side is usually selected as the daughter plant and left as the follower,
taking into consideration fi eld spacing. The plants 'walk' since the ratoon
