ABSTRACT
Banana is the second most important fruit crop in world trade; the USA imported 2.46 million metric tons in 1981. But even that statement fails to convey the true significance of the crop. For countless people in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Central America, and Africa, locally produced bananas (including plantains) are staple foods. Banana is grown in environments as distinctly different as the semi-arid, subtropical area along the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the humid equatorial tropics. The humid equatorial tropics are favored by nearly ideal temperature regimes and uniform rainfall distribution. Banana production is directly related to bunch weight and stand density. Production is inversely related to the length of time required for plants to produce fruit. The yield potential of bananas, when nutrient needs are fully met, vary greatly from area to area depending on weather conditions and planting density.
