Effect of foliar application of different nutrients on qualitative properties and shelf life of banana Cv. Grand Naine

The field study was carried out at the field of Banana Research Station, Nanded. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with thirteen treatment viz., T0 control, T1 KH2PO4 0.25% + 1% urea, T2 KH2PO4 0.5% + 1% urea, T3 KH2PO4 0.75% + 1% urea, T4 SOP 1.0% + 1% urea, T5 SOP 1.5% + 1% urea, T6 SOP 2.0 % + 1% urea, T7 KNO3 0.5%, T8 KNO3 1.0%, T9 KNO3 1.5%, T10 19:19:19 (1%), T11 19:19:19 (2%) and T12 19:19:19 (3%), with three replications. In the quality parameters, significantly the maximum weight of pulp (108.33 g), pulp to peel ratio (5.52), TSS (23.330B), reducing sugar (21.66 %) and total sugar (23.43%) was recorded in treatment T6 i.e. SOP 2.0 % + 1% urea. The lowest acidity (0.26%) was noted in treatment T0 i.e. control, the maximum shelf life (6.66 days) were observed in treatment T5 i.e. SOP 1.5% + 1% urea. Close analyses of the present investigation revealed that the foliar application of SOP 2.0% + 1% urea was found more effective increasing quality parameters and shelf life of banana cv. Grand Naine.