This study had the objective of evaluating the vegetative cultivars behavior of banana orchard under levels of irrigation. The irrigation levels indicated the control 40, 80 and 120% of the evaporation-transpiration potential of the culture based on evaporation in a classe- A tank. The experiment was lead in the period of January 24, 2004 through January 23, 2006, with the cultivars of: false FHIA 18, Grand Naine, Prata and Thap Maeo. The four cultivars presented significant answers to the irrigation levels, however false FHIA 18 had the biggest number of variables influenced by the irrigation levels. The use of the irrigation levels influenced the behavior of the cultivars in a differentiated manner. The effect of levels inside the cultivars, four months after the plantation, affected only the height of plants in the Prata cultivars. By eight months, every cultivars and variables were affected. At the time of harvest, the levels of irrigation had affected all the four cultivars. During the second cycle, a feedback to the irrigation levels was not observed in the four and eight months of the first follower; the effect occurred to the cultivars and the feedback to the irrigation in the number of viable leaves by four months of the cultivars Grand Naine, and in the height of plants and in the diameter by eight months. The growth and the vegetative development of the false FHIA 18, Grand Naine, Prata and Thap Maeo cultivars in the conditions of the open pasture are positively influenced with the use of the irrigation. The total cycle of the four cultivars decreases with the use of the irrigation.
Musa sp.; banana orchard; growth; development; irrigation
