Yield and quality of banana irrigated with fractions of class A pan evaporation on an oxisol

There is a scarcity of information regarding the optimum water requirement for banana (Musa acuminata Colla, AAA group) grown with supplemental drip i rrigation on an Oxisol. A 3-yr study was conducted on a very-fine, kaolinit ic, Isohyperthermic Typic Hapludox to determine water requirement, yield, a nd fruit-quality traits of the plant crop (PC) and two ratoon crops (R2 and R3) of 'Grande Naine' and 'Johnson' banana subjected to five levels of irr igation. The irrigation treatments were based on Class A pan factors that r anged from 0.25 to 1.25 in increments of 0.25. Drip irrigation was supplied three times a week on alternate days. Results showed significant (P < 0.00 1) irrigation treatment and crop effects for all yield components, fruit le ngth and diameter, number of leaves at flowering and harvest, and number of hands per bunch. Cultivar and the treatment by cultivar interaction were n ot significant (P < 0.05). The highest marketable yield (70.7 Mg ha(-1)) wa s obtained from the R2 crop with water application according to a pan facto r of 1.25. Plant crop and R3 plants irrigated using the same pan factor yie lded 48 and 65 Mg ha(-1), respectively. Increasing the pan factors from 0.2 5 to 1.25 resulted in weight gains of the third-upper hand of 594 g in PC, 1284 g in R2, and 1429 g in R3. It was concluded that banana grown on an Ox isol should be drip irrigated with a pan factor of 1.0 or more three times a week.