
Supplemental Drip Irrigation Increases Banana YieldsBy Tara Weaver January
26, 1998Using drip irrigation to supplement nature's shortcomings in subtropic and
humid tropic areas increases banana and plantain production and conserves water,
according to scientists at the
Tropical
Agriculture Research Station in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The station is part
of the USDA's Agricultural Research
Service. Drip irrigation applies small amounts of water frequently, versus overhead
or furrow irrigation that delivers large amounts of water at once. In tropical regions such as Puerto Rico, rainfall intensity decreases
considerably during June and July and from January through March. These drought
periods may reduce yield and fruit quality. ARS researchers have been conducting studies in different environments to
determine optimum water requirements of plantains and bananas grown with drip
irrigation. In the past, growers have had only limited information on optimum
water requirements and practical irrigation recommendations for these crops
grown under rainfed conditions or in semiarid areas. Preliminary results show that in the mountain region, banana growers who
supplement rainfall with drip irrigation on a 50-acre farm can increase yields
by almost 60 percent, which translates to $340,800 in gross sales. In semiarid
regions, growers can obtain a net income as high as $3,300 per acre for
drip-irrigated bananas. Water conservation is another advantage of drip irrigation. This technology
permits the efficient use of water and can help maximize the use of semiarid
lands for agricultural production. Since the initial studies were conducted in 1988, the researchers have
assembled irrigation guidelines for growers and extension agents in a packet, "Technical
Package for the Production of Plantain and Banana." Final results from
this study in the mountain region will be incorporated in a future revision of
the packet. Scientific contact: Ricardo Goenaga and Heber Irizarry, USDA-ARS,
Tropical
Agriculture Research Station, P.O. Box 70, Mayaguez, PR 00681, phone (787)
831-3435, fax (787)831-3386, [email protected]. Story contacts Ricardo J Goenaga U.S. Department of Agriculture | |