Growth and leaf mineral composition of banana suckers as influenced by foliar application of different concentrations of n19p19k19 fertilizer

Abstract EN

-The effect of foliar applications of various concentrations of N19P19K19 on growth characteristics and some of nutrient elements contents of leaves of banana suckers grown under nursery conditions was investigated.

The concentrations used were, namely, 0, 20, 40 and 80 gm/L, denoted as N19P19K19-0, N19P19K19-20, N19P19K19-40 and N19P19K19-80, respectively.

Banana suckers were sprayed five times at monthly intervals during the experimental period of six months.

The growth parameters in terms of height and diameter (girth) of pseudostem, number of leaves, leaf area and fresh and dry weights of leaves, corms, pseudostems and roots of banana suckers were recorded.

Leaf sample were analyzed for determination of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu contents.

The results demonstrated that all concentrations of N19 P19K19 caused greater increases in the above-mentioned growth parameters and in either fresh or dry weights of different parts of banana suckers than control.

The highest values of all these parameters were associated with N19 P19 K19-20 or N19P19K19-40 treatment.

Leaf -N contents of banana suckers sprayed with various concentrations of N19 P19K19 were significantly higher than control.

No significant differences were noted in leaf - K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Fe contents among treatments.

Significantly higher leaf-P content was associated with N19 P19K19-80 treatment than the other treatments.

Leaf - Zn and Cu contents were significantly higher in banana suckers receiving N19P19K19-20 compared with the other treatments.

Generally, all concentrations of N19 P19K19 resulted in higher contents of all nutrient elements compared with control and the highest contents of these elements were found in banana suckers sprayed with N19 P19 K19-20 or N19P19K19-40.