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Response of fertilizer application methods for banana nutrition and yield in tropical sandy soils
Respuesta de métodos de aplicación de fertilizantes en la nutrición y productividad del banano en suelos arenosos tropicales
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v79.121468Keywords:
Nutrient use efficiency, Bulk density, Banana nutrition, Fertilizer placement, Leaf analysis, Sandy soils (en)Eficiencia en el uso de nutrientes, Densidad aparente, Nutrición del banano, Colocación de fertilizantes, Análisis foliar, Suelos arenosos (es)
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Low fertilization efficiency in sandy soils is a critical challenge for banana productivity. This study assessed the impact of four fertilizer application methods on key edaphic and plant performance indicators in banana (Musa acuminata AAA cv. Williams) crops grown in sandy soils of the Colombian Caribbean. A complete production cycle study across three commercial plantations used a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Treatments were: T1 (soil drench), T2 (soil fertilization + pseudostem microinjection), T3 (soil + foliar fertilization), and T4 (conventional soil fertilization, used as the commercial control). Measured variables included soil properties (pH, EC, OM, texture, bulk density, macro and micronutrients) and plant metrics (plant height, number of functional leaves, number of bunches per PU, bunch weight, total cumulative weight, pseudostem diameter, macro and micronutrients), selected for their direct relevance to nutrient retention and crop performance in high-leaching environments. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P<0.05) showed that T3 consistently produced the best agronomic outcomes. It achieved the highest fresh bunch weight (23.0±1.7 kg), total yield (1122.9±85.4 kg), and foliar nutrient concentrations. This treatment also significantly improved key soil fertility indicators (total N, exchangeable K, Ca, Zn), without adverse effects on soil pH or salinity. Daughter plants exhibited lower nutritional status than mother plants, suggesting reduced uptake efficiency in early growth. The combined soil + foliar approach optimizes nutrient availability, enhances banana productivity, and provides a robust, efficient management strategy for sustainable crop production in leaching environments.
La baja eficiencia de la fertilización en suelos arenosos es un desafío crítico para la productividad del banano. Este estudio evaluó el efecto de cuatro métodos de aplicación de fertilizantes en indicadores edáficos y vegetativos claves del rendimiento en cultivos de banano (Musa acuminata AAA cv. Williams) cultivados en suelos arenosos del Caribe colombiano. Se llevó a cabo un estudio en un ciclo de producción en tres plantaciones comerciales, utilizando un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cinco repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron: T1 (drench), T2 (edáfico + microinyección), T3 (edáfico + foliar), y T4 (convencional, solo edáfico). Las variables medidas incluyeron propiedades del suelo (N, K, Ca, Zn, pH, CE, densidad aparente) y métricas de la planta (peso del racimo, manos por racimo, diámetro del pseudotallo, N, K, Zn y Cu foliares), seleccionadas por su relevancia directa en la retención de nutrientes y el rendimiento de los cultivos en entornos de alta lixiviación. El análisis de varianza y prueba de Tukey (P<0,05) mostraron que T3 (edáfico + foliar) produjo de manera consistente los mejores resultados agronómicos. Alcanzó el mayor peso promedio de racimo, (23,0±1,7 kg), rendimiento total 1122,9±85,4 kg y concentración foliar de nutrientes. Este tratamiento también mejoró significativamente indicadores clave de fertilidad del suelo (N total, K, Ca y Zn intercambiables), sin efectos adversos sobre el pH o la salinidad del suelo. Las plantas hijas mostraron un estado nutricional inferior al de las plantas madre, lo que sugiere una menor eficiencia de absorción en las primeras etapas de crecimiento. El enfoque combinado de fertilizante edáfico + fertilizante foliar optimiza la disponibilidad de nutrientes, mejora la productividad del banano y proporciona una estrategia de gestión sólida y eficiente para la producción sostenible del cultivo en entornos de lixiviación.
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