The effects of soil and foliar apphications of fertilizer materials on growth, yield and yield components of banana plants [Sudan]

Four experiments were conducted under nursery and orchard conditions to investigate the effects of soil and foliar applications of fertilizer materials on growth and yield of banana plant (Musa, AAA Group, Cavendish subgroup (Dwarf Cavendish)). In nursery experiment N Daraja I, soil applications of different rates of urea [Co (NH lower 2) lower2] and potassium sulphate [K lower 2 SO lwoer 4] were applied four times at regular intervals during the experimental period of six months. The results showed that N lower 4 K lower 4 treatment (20 gm Urea + 100 gm K lower 4 SO lower 4 ) resulted in greater increases in overall growth parameters of plant height, pseudostem girth, relative growth rate (R.G.R), leaf area index (L.A.I.), total fresh and dry weights and that of different plant tissues and higher leaf - N, K and Zn contents of (Lamina -3) leaf of banana sucker than the control. In nursey experiment N Daraja 2, different concentrations of Foliar-X were applied four times at a regular interval during the experimental period of six months. The results indicated that the concentration of 40 gm/L (T lower 4) resulted in greater increases in overall growth parameters of plant height, pseudostem girth, relative growth rate (R.G.R), leaf area index (L.A.I), total fresh and dry weights and that of plant tissues and higher leaf - N and Zn contents of (Lamina - 3) leaf of banana sucker than the control. In Orchard experiment N Daraja I, Soil applications of different rates of Urea @((Ca(NH lower 2)lower2@)) and potassium sulphate (K lower 2 SO lower $) were applied four times at a regular interval during the course of the experiment. The results indicated that N lower 4 K lower 4 treatment, which was the mixture of 200 gm Urea combined with 400 gm potassium sulphate, resulted in greater growth parameters of plant height, pseudostem girth, sucker production, higher leaf - N, K, Mg and Zn contents, greater values of yield and yield components and finger lengths of both plant crop and the first ratoon crop of bananas than the control. The treatment also tended to reduce the number od days from sucker emergence to shooting to harvesting of the first ratoon crop. In Orchard experiment N Daraja 2, different concentrations of Foliar-X were applied four times at a regular interval during the course of the experiment. The results showed that T lower4 (80 gm/L.) treatment resulted in significant increases in all growth parameters of plant height, pseudostem girth and leaf-N and Cu contents of both plant crop and the first ratoon crop of bananas. T lower4 treatment also resulted in increase in yield parameters and finger lengths of the plant crop and it tended to reduce the number of days from shooting to harvesting of the first ratoon crop. Generally, Foliar-X treatments showed no significant effect on finger curvature (R) of both plant crop and the first ratoon crop of bananas.