In order to find out agro techniques for enhancing the productivity of banana, studies involving drip irrigation, fertigation, mulching and intercropping were conducted with different planting geometry in South Gujarat. The soils of experimental sites are clay in texture, slightly alkaline, normal with respect to salinity, low in organic carbon, medium in available P and high in available K content. The results of first two studies indicated that increase in banana yield due to either black plastic mulch (BPM) or sugarcane trash mulch @ 5 t/ha (STM) was more pronounced in narrow spacing (1.5 x 1.5 m) than wider spacing. The magnitude of increase in yield with STM was slightly higher as compared to BPM. The extent of water saving with drip + BPM or STM was almost similar and it was also true for WUE. Inspite of almost identical advantages of BMP and STM, farmers have showed interest in BPM due to induction of early maturity by 35 to 40 days with BPM. These enable the farmers to fetch higher prices of banana.
Similarly, BPM has more weed control efficiency than STM. The results of fertigation study showed 40 per cent saving in fertilizer without any reduction in banana yield. For increasing the net profit per unit of input use, an inter cropping with bottle gourd in banana under drip irrigation was tried. Apart from increase in yield and water saving, the WUE was almost doubled with inter cropping as compared to sole crop of banana. In view of advantages of different technologies, a package demonstrations comprising drip irrigation, fertigation, mulching, desuckering, bunch covering etc., were arranged on the farmers' fields and the response is highly encouraging.