Chemical and organic fertilization in plantain cultivation

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Dear readers, in the area south of the lake, the production of bananas is of the utmost importance from the economic point of view and the food, because it is one of the main economic activities, and is also part of the daily diet of the population, in this same sense, in some populations, is the main agricultural activity; also in Venezuela, it is considered as an area of high domestic consumption given that it meets the nutritional requirements necessary for a good human food

In that sense, as mentioned in previous articles, fertilization is an agronomic practice that allows supplementing the nutritional deficiencies of the soil to satisfy the metabolic needs of crops. To fertilize the cultivation of banana in the southern area of lake Maracaibo is generally used Urea, which is a nitrogen fertilizer granular, but the producers are seeking a cheaper alternative, to maintain a balance in the cost-benefit ratio in the use of fertilizers and that can provide productive responses to short -, medium-and long-term, in addition, that make better use of the soil resource and its nutrients without distorting it.

Among the ecological alternatives that arise in our geographical area for banana fertilization, there are products that are based on efficient microorganisms and the banana leachate that we talked about in previous articles and that is emerging as a great alternative. For this reason, at the National University South Lake UNESUR, we have carried out research based on the fertilization green banana from the hand of researchers and students as Hernandez, Urdaneta and Molina (2021), where it has been raised to evaluate the effect of ecological fertilizers on the production of the crop banana; as, the use of ecological fertilizers either leaching of stalk of plantain or of native microorganisms that promise to be alternatives which are indispensable for the improvement and increase of the production of the category mentioned above.

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Next, the description of an experimental test is made where the effect of a chemical fertilizer (Urea) and organic fertilizers Native microorganisms and worm leachate on some agro-productive characteristics of the banana crop was evaluated.

Let's start by pointing out that the experimental test was carried out in the “Buenos Aires” production unit, located in the Francisco Javier Pulgar municipality of the Zulia state, the study lasted 10 months, the area used for planting the banana was 931 m2 where a total of 144 plants were established, the experimental design applied was a random block, where 4 blocks with 4 experimental units were delimited and a different treatment was applied in each experimental unit. In the following figure you can see how the distribution was made.

Design made by @amestyj with own and public domain images taken from Publicdomainvectors

The treatments applied were the following:

  • Treatment 0: Chemical control (100 Kg/ha of urea).
  • Treatment 1: 19 liters of water and 0.1 liter of plantain rachis leachate.
  • Treatment 2: 19 liters of water and 0.1 liters of leachate of microorganisms.
  • Treatment 3: 19 liters of water and 0.1 liters of the mixture of the two leachates (0.05 liters of banana rachis leachate and 0.05 liters of native microorganism leachate).
On the other hand, among the variables evaluated for plant growth and fruit quality are the following:

  • The height of the plant (AP): the distance between the base of the plant and the curvature that occurs when the banana cluster is emitted was measured with a tape measure.

  • The perimeter of the pseudothalli (PST): the circumference of the evaluated pseudothalli was measured with a measuring tape at a height of one meter.

  • The Length of the middle finger of the second hand (LDCSM) - was determined by averaging the measurement of the outer and inner curvature of the finger with a tape measure from one end to the other.
  • Diameter of the central finger of the second hand (DDCSM): the measurement was carried out by means of a digital vernier on the central part of the finger.

The application of the fertilizers was carried out directly to the soil, in a circular way at the base of the pseudotall of the plant, with a frequency of every 30 days until the end of the test and the following results were obtained:

  • As for the growth parameter, the height of the plant showed the best results the experimental treatments with organic fertilizers, in addition, were statistically equal among them, however, there was statistical significance of these with respect to the chemical fertilizer whose plants obtained the lowest average value.

  • Secondly, regarding the (PST) perimeter of the pseudo-stem, the best results in terms of organic fertilizers were reflected in the plants subjected to the application of T1 (LRP).

  • On the other hand, regarding the physical quality of the fruits, the best results could be observed with the application of the T1 treatment (LRP), although statistically there was no significant difference between the ecological fertilization treatments.

Finally, it can be inferred that these results could be influenced by the acceptable values presented by the organic product of rachis leachate in terms of minerals, normal electrical conductivity, presence of microorganisms involved in the decomposition of matter, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria, phototropic, lactic acid and pathogens were not detected for all organic fertilizers, the best pH value is the banana rachis leachate with 7.61. In a similar way, Chamba expresses it in the year (2002), who mentions “the benefits that organic amendments bring to crops for their productive efficiency are extensive”, in addition, he indicates that “liquid fertilizers with neutral pH diluted with water, makes it extremely reliable to be used with delicate plants”.

Final considerations
Dear readers, the use of banana rachis leachate as an ecological fertilizer in banana production is recommended, since it guarantees the nutritional requirements of crops and does not harm the productive agrosystem. Despite this, new research on organic fertilizers in other dosages and on other crops can be continued.

Bibliographic references
  • Arévalo and Castellano, 2009. Fertilizers and amendments manual. Integrated Pest Management Program in Central America “PROMIPAC". Swiss Cooperation in Central America, Republic of Honduras.

  • Boatman, A. 2010. Soil fertilization response in the growth and yield of the first generation banana crop (Musa AAB) in the San Carlos area, Costa Rica. Final graduation work submitted to the School of Agronomy as a partial requirement to opt for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Agronomy, Technological Institute of Costa Rica, San Carlos-Costa Rica.

  • Chamba, F. (2002). Effect of organic fertilization on the yield of Manabi creole corn (Zea mays L.) at the binational technical training center - Zapotepamba. Degree thesis. Engineering in agricultural administration and production. National University of Loja. Ecuador.

  • Guerrero, G. 2000. The soil, fertilizers and fertilization of crops. Ediciones Mundi-Press. Madrid. Spain.

  • Hirzel, J. and Salazar, F. 2011. "Use of organic amendments as a source of fertilization in crops”. Soil, water and vegetation conservation techniques in degraded territories. 30 p.

  • IPADE. 2009. Technical guide of organic fertilizers. (1st ed.). Masaya-Nicaragua. 56 p.

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11 comments
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I didn't know that this was so complex! All of this organization for plantain trees
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Greetings dear @gwajnber, all this methodology is the one used to measure some agronomic and productive variables of the banana from the experimental point of view, therefore, the pseudotallo, and the fruits were measured to observe in detail the growth and quality of the harvest.

But the banana, from the technical point of view, also deserves some handling such as defoliation, fertilization, disease control among others.

So long, have a great weekend.

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Thank you for the support dear friends

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Wow. All these for the growth of banana trees?😂 interesting.

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Hello dear @silviafx, thank you for your valuable comment, when experimental trials are carried out in the agricultural area to test some products or techniques, some specific methods must be implemented that allow some agroproductive variables to be measured efficiently, in this way it is corroborated if the technique or the applied products is efficient.

It is very different from the management tasks that are used in the cultivation, see you later, have an excellent week.

Postscript: if you are interested in banana cultivation, in our blog you can find a thematic series related to the management of banana cultivation.

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