Response of banana "Williams" yield and fruit quality to irrigation at Nubaria area [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A 2-yr study was conducted in a private fann in the newly reclaimed calcareous soils of Nubaria area during the 200212003 and 200312004 seasons, to determine yield, yield components, fruit quality, applied irrigation water, water utilization efficiency and crop response factor of banana crop (var. "Williams") subjected to four levels of irrigation. Irrigation treatments were based upon Class A pan factors ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 in increments of 0.2. Surface drip irrigation system was used in this experiment. A randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with five replicates was used. ResuKs showed that irrigation treatments had a significant effect on banana yield, yield components and fruit quality parameters. Banana yields were 31.9, 28.47, 20.36, and 14.47 Vted corresponding to pan factors of 1.2, 1.0,0.8, and 0.6, respectively. This indicates that banana yields were highly linearly related to the applied irrigation water. ResuKs revealed also that, increasing the pan factor from 0.6 to 1.2 resuKed in a sigrilicant increase in finger's weight, length, and diameter. Results showed that banana fruit TSS (%) and starch (%) decreased with increasing amounts of applied water, while total acidity, pulp (%), and total sugar (%) increased with increasing Class A pan factor. Average applied irrigation water varied from 7522 to 3761 m³/fed/yr for the respective pan factors. An average water utilization efficiency value of 4.24 kg/m appied water was obtained from the h irrigation treatment (irrigation with amount of water equals 120%10 ETp). A banana yield response factor (Ky) of 1.08 was obtained indicating a lower impact of deficit irrigation practices on banana yield. It may be concluded from this investigation that. to obtain an optimum yield, banana crop grown under calcareous soils and drip irrigation conditions at Nubaria area should be irrigated with a pan factor of not less than 1.2.

Summary in Arabic.

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