Response to Fertilization of Strip-cultivated Plantains Growing on a Steep Latosol in the Humid Mountain Region of Puerto Rico

Abstract

The effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium fertilization on yields and foliar composition of strip-cultivated plantains growing on steep Cialitos clay, a typical latosol of the Humid Mountain Region of Puerto Rico, were determined. Yields of plantains were sharply increased by the application of either 200 pounds of nitrogen, 200 of phosphoric acid, 400 of potassium, or 100 pounds of magnesium per acre, when all other nutrients were present in abundance. Foliar composition of the plantains at 7 months presaged their yield response to the various nutrients. Approximate percentage leaf contents indicating a deficiency and a sufficiency, respectively, of the various nutrients when all other nutrients were provided in abundance were as follows: Nitrogen 3.5 and 4.0, phosphorus 0.15 and 0.21, potassium 2.3 and 3.3 percent, and magnesium 0.15 and 0.31.