INFLUENCE OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH AS SOURCE OF SILICON ON LEAF NUTRIENT STATUS AND YIELD ATTRIBUTING CHARACTERS OF BANANA CV. GRAND NAINE

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted to know the response of Diatomaceous earth as a source of silicon on leaf
nutrient status and yield attributing characters of banana in farmer field under Kittur Rani Channamma College
of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Belgaum District, Karnataka state during 2013-14. The experiment was laid out in a
randomized block design with nine treatment replicated three times. The treatment comprised of application of
750, 500 and 250 kg/ha of Diatomaceous Earth in combination with half and full dose of RDF (200:100:300 g
NPK/plant/year). Leaf sample under different treatment were collected and utilized for analysis of nutrient status.
The highest macronutrient viz., Nitrogen (3.48 %), Phosphorous (0.37 %) and Potassium (4.23 %) and Micronutrients viz, Calcium (0.75 %), Magnesium (0.35%), Zinc (27.03 ppm), Copper (12.37 ppm) and Silicon (0.79 %)
were recorded in plants applied with RDF + 750 kg/ha of DE. Yield attributing characters like finger length
(20.03 cm), diameter of the fingers (3.85 cm), number of hands per bunch (11.13), number of fingers per bunch
(195.38) and bunch weight (26.67 kg) was also found in the plants applied with RDF + 750 kg/ha of DE which
resulted in more yield and quality of banana fruits.

Silicon

Leaf
Nutrient status