Response of Banana Suckers to Foliar Application of Different Fertilizers

Abstract

A study was carried out in 1992 to investigate the effect of foliar application of different fertilizers on growth and nutrient elements content of leaves of banana suckers grown under nursery conditions. Four foliar fertilizers, namely Foliar-X (10-7-8), Wuxal (10-10-7), Bayfoan (11-8-6) and Nitrofoska (10-2-6) were used. The suckers were sprayed ten times throughout the experimental period of five months at a concentration of 2.5 ml/L. Data on the following growth parameters were recorded: pseudostems height and girth (diameter), number of leaves and fresh and dry weights of leaves, pseudostems corms and roots. Leaf nutrients content was determined at the termination of the experiment.

All foliar fertilizers resulted in significantly higher values of pseudostem height and girth, number of leaves and fresh and dry weights of different parts of banana suckers than the control. There were no significant differences in all growth parameters between Foliar-X and Wuxal and also between Bayfolan and Nitrofoska. The highest values were given by banana suckers sprayed with Foliar-X and the lowest by those sprayed with Nitrofoska.

All foliar fertilizers resulted in significantly higher leaf- N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu contents than the control. These nutrient elements tended to vary depending on the type of the fertilizer used. Generally, the highest leaf-N, K, Ca Mg, Mn, Fe and Zn contens were found in Foliar-X-sprayed suckers followed by Wuxal-, Bayfolan- and then Nitrofoska- sprayed suckers. The highest leaf-Cu content was detected in the Wuxal- sprayed suckers.