Results of gross analyses of single banana plants, fields of plants and bunches of bananas are described, and problems of the determination of fertiliser requirements in the field are discussed. Time and frequency of NPK fertiliser application and the placement of such fertilisers are discussed, together with results of soil and leaf analysis, and deficiency symptoms. Fertiliser practices in banana-producing countries are reviewed.
IntroductionThe banana has for a long time constituted an important part of the diet of people living in south-east Asia, the south Pacific and Africa but it is only about 100 years ago that the fruit entered into world commerce on any appreciable scale. It soon became popular on the American market and, as the demand grew, large areas of land in central and the northern part of South America were cleared and developed for banana cultivation. It was soon found that the plant was a 'gross feeder' and much of the attraction to the large banana companies of the 'Banana Republics' which arose was their huge areas of virgin soil of unsurpassed richness. The commercial banana industry thus grew up, and is still to a great extent maintained, on highly fertile lands (needing little or no fertiliser) developed for banana cultivation by twentieth century methods. Consequently there has been no urgency for the greater part of the industry to subsidise investigations on banana nutrition: investigations have been much more concerned with research into the diseases like Panama and Sigafoka which were soon found to beset banana fields.However some countries, like Jamaica, soon found that where bananas were grown, soil fertility began to decline and, since the area available was limited, investigations into the use of fertilisers and the gradual adoption of manurial practices began. Other countries also found it profitable to develop banana industries utilising fertilisers from the outset and thus there is now a wide range of nutritional methods and recommendations. Systematic research on the subject commenced in the 1930s but it has not been until the last 10 to 12 years that any substantial volume of reliable information has emerged, mainly from countries with relatively poor soils like Jamaica, the Ivory Coast and the French West Indies. The Windward Islands have also found it necessary in the last few years to set up a research organisation to deal largely with the nutritional problems posed by low fertility soils.In this paper, it is proposed to deal firstly with some of the main conclusions from nutritional research work and then to survey fertiliser practices (or lack of them) in various parts of the world. plant (sometimes a young sucker) which is not very rich in nutrients. The plant develops from a bud on the corm and the first crop (plant crop) is taken after about 9-12 months on the average. The plant crop produces perhaps 100-150 tons per acre of organic matter, of which the bunches might constitute 8-14 tons in good conditions. At about 5-8 months, depending on climate, variety and marke...
