Precision Approaches in Banana Cultivation for Sustainable Productivity

Banana cultivation is increasingly challenged by limited land availability, climate variability, and declining resource-use efficiency, necessitating the adoption of precision-based production strategies. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in high-density planting (HDP), precision nutrient and water management, improved planting material, and other hi-tech interventions for enhancing banana productivity and sustainability. Evidence from experimental and multi-location studies indicates that HDP systems with plant densities ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 plants ha⁻¹ can increase yield by 19–79% over conventional planting, depending on cultivar, spacing, and management practices. Precision fertigation under HDP has been reported to reduce fertilizer use by 25–50% while maintaining or improving bunch weight, fruit quality, and economic returns. In addition, optimized planting geometry and resource management improve light interception, water-use efficiency, and overall system resilience. These approaches improve resource-use efficiency by reducing fertilizer and water inputs by approximately 25–50%, while enhancing economic returns through yield gains of 20–70% compared with conventional banana cultivation systems. This review highlights that integrating precision approaches with cultivar-specific recommendations offers a viable pathway for achieving sustainable productivity in banana cultivation, particularly under Indian and South Asian production systems, while also identifying key research gaps for future refinement. Graphical Abstract