NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM NUTRIENTS REQUIREMENTS (FERTIGATION) OF ZIV CV. BANANA ON GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY IN SANDY SOIL

摘要

The present work was done in a private farm at El-Khatatba region during three successive
seasons of 2016/2017 (first ratoon), 2017/2018 (second ratoon) and 2018/2019 (third ratoon) of Ziv banana
plants (Musa cavendishii L.) grown on sandy soil to study NK nutrients requirements (fertigation) on vegetative
growth, yield fruit quality, NK-efficiency and economic return. Nitrogen and Potassium were applied at
different rates and their combinations, Nitrogen (600g, 750 and 900 g actual N/plant/year) and potassium (750,
1000 and 1250 g actual K2O/plant/year). They were used 240 unequal doses around the year and were add as
solution by fertigation. Results revealed growth parameters of plant i.e. pseudostem height, circumference,
number of green leaves and assimilation area at bunch shooting stage significantly increased by increasing the
rate of NK fertilizer. The rate of 900g actual N and 1250g actual K2 O gave the highest values for the above
characters compared with other treatments. Growth cycle of plants tended to decrease as fertilizers was increase.
Increase the rate of fertilizers shortened the growth cycle duration of Ziv banana. The highest yield, bunch
weight, finger weight and fruit characteristics were achieved from Ziv banana plants fertilized with 900g actual
N with 1250g actual K2O/plant/year. NK utilization efficiency was affected with the rate of fertilizers. The
better value of NUE (42 &48 & 44.4Kg. fruit/g actual N) was obtained from plants fertilizer with 750 g actual
N+1250 g actual K2 O while highest value of KUE was (40.8 & 48 & 45.6) with the rate900 g actual N+750 g
actual K2 O under tested seasons. The economic return of Ziv banana plants gradually increase by increasing NK
fertilizers. Plants were fertilized with the 900 g. N + 1250g. K2O/plant/year gave the highest income compared
with other treatment. While the lowest rate of NK fertilizer (600 g N+ 750 g K2O plant/year) gave the cheap
income.