Nutrient uptake and dry matter composition in the plant crop and first ratoon of the Grand Nain banana grown on an Ultisol

Abstract

Properly managed Grand Nain bananas grown on a red-acid Corozal clay (Aquic Tropudults) took up an average of 276, 23, 711, 152 and 54 kg/ha/crop of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively, from planting throughout the first ratoon harvest. N, K and Ca uptakes steadily increased as the plants matured. P and Mg uptakes remained low. On the other hand, the N, P, K and Mg levels progressively decreased with age in all plant tissues, but the Ca level increased or remained constant. Dry matter composition also increased as the plants advanced in age, averaging, 27,447 kg/ha/crop at the time of harvest. At bunch harvest, about 5 2% of the total dry matter produced was removed from the field along with 123, 13, 263, 13 and 16 kg/ha of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively. On the basis of the data obtained, a rational fertilization program is proposed for high yielding and good quality banana production on Ultisols. For optimum yields, the fertilizer applied must contain about 392, 64, 970 and 85 kg/ha of N, P₂O₅, K₂O and MgO, respectively, in the plant crop and 266 kg/ha of N, 47 kg/ha of P₂O₅, 629 kg/ha of K₂O and 58 kg/ha of MgO in the ratoon crop. These quantities are approximately equivalent to the nutrients in 3,250 and 2,200 kg/ha, respectively, of a 12-2-30-3 fertilizer.