Climate and soil
- Humid tropic plant. Temperature range of 10°C to 40°C with an average of 23°C.
- Can be grown Upto 1500 masl.
- Wind velocity more than 80 m/hr. will damage the crop heavily.
- Average Rainfall : 100 mm/ month is good.
- The optimum temperature for growth and development of banana plant is 25-27°c.
- Below 180c, the growth is arrested and late fruiting. In cooler climate the duration is extended, sucker production is affected and bunches are small.
- Low temperature i.e., less than 10°C is unsuitable since, they lead to a condition called choke or impeded inflorescence and bunch development. Thus, chilling injury occurs at temperature below 12° C.
- Banana can’t tolerate frost. Stagnation of water is injurious and may cause diseases like Panama wilt.
- Banana can be grown in wide range of soil, provided with good drainage system and adequate fertility moisture.
- Soil favorable for cultivation of banana requires pH 6-7.5.
- Banana is voracious feeder and requires a well-drained soil with plentiful organic matter.
- Therefore, the soil should be well drained and deep (At least 1m depth).It grows successfully in loamy soils, well drained clay soils.
- Saline soils with salinity percentage exceeding 0.05 are unsuitable.