Irrigation management strategy for Prata-type banana

Estratégias de manejo de irrigação para bananeira tipo Prata

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to analyze different irrigation strategies in two cultivars of the banana crop. The study was conducted in four production cycles of ‘Prata-Anã’ and ‘BRS Platina’ bananas. The applied irrigation depths (ID) were obtained by the model ID = K x LA x ETo, where K is an empirical transpiration constant of 0.20; 0.35; 0.50 and 0.65 for the strategies 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively; LA is the leaf area of mother and daughter plants of ‘Prata-Anã’ and ETo is the reference evapotranspiration. The strategy 5 was obtained according to the crop evapotranspiration, ETc = ETo x Kc, where Kc is the crop coefficient. Drip irrigation system was used, with two laterals per plant row and emitters with flow rate of 8 L h^-1, spaced at 0.50 m. It was found that ‘Prata-Anã’ is more efficient than ‘BRS Platina’ in terms of water use and the model for irrigation management, ID = 0.35 x LA x ETo, is recommended to optimize water use by ‘Prata-Anã’ and ‘BRS Platina’ bananas, with increase in water use efficiency and maintenance of yield. The same model, with K coefficient equal to 0.50, makes it possible to obtain yield and water use efficiency equal to those obtained with irrigation management based on the ETc.

Key words:
Musa spp.; crop evapotranspiration; leaf area