Effect of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers on the nutrient concentration in leaves at different growth stages of banana cv Poovan.

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp) and plantain are known for their antiquity and are interwoven with Indian heritage and culture and it  is one of the most important fruits grown  and consumed worldwide.   A field experiment was laid out in randamised block design  with ten treatments and three replications consisting recommend dose of fertilizers (RDF)  and RDF combined  with   organic   manures( Farm yard manure, Vermicompost and  Neem cake) and bioferlizers (VAM, azospirillum, PSB,  T. harizianum) at different combinations  to know their nutrient concentration  in banana leaves and soil at different growth periods viz., vegetative stage, flowering stage and harvesting stage. Sample preparation was performed with closed vassal microwave digestion. The major and micronutrients were analysed using the ICP-OES (Optima 2000). E-Merck multi-elemental standard used as a reference standard and ultra pure 2% HNO₃ was applied as an internal standard.  T₈  treatment(50 per cent  RDF through inorganic fertilizers  ,organic manures with bio ferlizers) recorded significantly highest leaf  nitrogen and potassium  (3.24  amd 0.44%) during vegetative stage, flowering (3.58%) and  harvesting stages(2.68 %) than untreated plants  T₁(2.02,2.12 and 1.51%). Highest  Leaf phosphorus (0.42,0.43 and 0.38 %), sodium(0.40, 0.44 and 0.32)  magnesium(1.61.1.81, and 0.81 %). Significantly lowest concentration was found in untreated plants. The highest micro nutrients were noted in T₈ followed by _  T₁₀ treatment in all the stages.