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nutrition –
matching nutrition requirements
to growth demands
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Subtropical banana nutrition –
matching nutrition requirements to
growth demands
Matt Weinert Melinda Simpson
Development officer – Bananas Development officer – Blueberries
NSW Department of Primary industries NSW Department of Primary industries
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First published September 2016 the material or that Hort Innovation provides to you by any other
ISBN 978-1-74256-984-0 means
Job: 13882; 13841
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Cover photo: Leeane Cheal-Gentle publication.
2 Introduction
3 What is phenology?
3 Leaf emergence rate
4 Flowering and bunch development
4 Root extension
5 Combined phenology
6 Healthy soils
7 Healthy roots
8 Soil pH
9 Chemical elements
9 Essential elements
10 Nutrient limitation and sufficiency
10 Nutrient interaction
11 Where are the different chemical elements in banana plants?
Figure 1. Monthly leaf emergence rate for subtropical bananas over a 12-month period. Drawn from Robinson and Galán Saύco
(2010).
Figure 2. Approximate number of days from flowering to harvest for subtropical bananas over a 12-month period. Time period is
for bunches emerging during the indicated month. Drawn from Robinson and Galán Saύco (2010).
Figure 3. Root extension in mm/day of major roots in subtropical bananas over a 12-month period. Drawn from Robinson and
Galán Saύco (2010).
What is phenology
Figure 4. Combined phenological events for subtropical bananas over a 12-month period plotted against average monthly
temperature for Coffs Harbour. Axis scales for the growth curves are as for figures 1 to 3. Drawn from Robinson and Galán Saύco (2010).
Figure 5. Healthy white roots from planting tissue culture plants into nematode-free healthy soils. (Image courtesy of the
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Healthy soils
Figure 6. Roots attacked by nematodes from a planting of infested bits and suckers or planting tissue culture plants into soil
infested with nematodes. Damage shows as sunken black lesions on the thick primary roots. (Image courtesy of the International
Plant Nutrition Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Bananas can tolerate some soil acidity, however a pH Soil acidification occurs naturally, but is accelerated
below 5.0 means that elements such as aluminium by acid produced in the soil by most nitrogen
and manganese become very soluble in the soil and fertilisers. Nitrate fertilisers, while expensive, can
their toxicity can reduce plant growth. Aluminium increase pH to a depth of 60 cm. The effect of liming
is particularly toxic to plant roots. Low soil pH also products is limited to the surface 20 cm. Careful
means that nutrients such as calcium become less fertiliser management, liming and increasing organic
available in the soil. matter content in the soil will help to slow down the
acidification process.
Table 1. Elements essential for plant growth, the form occurring in the soil and taken up by the
plant, and their relative mobility in the soil.
Element type Element (symbol) Form taken up by the plant Mobility in the soil
Macronutrients Nitrogen (N) (NH4) Ammonium form
+
Somewhat immobile
(NO3)− Nitrate form Mobile
Phosphorus (P) (H2PO4) −, (HPO4)−2 , PO −3 Immobile
Potassium (K) K+ Somewhat mobile
Calcium (Ca) Ca ++
Somewhat mobile
Magnesium (Mg) Mg +2
Somewhat mobile
Micronutrients Sulfur (S) (SO4) −2
Mobile
Chlorine (Cl) Cl− Mobile
Iron (Fe) Fe+2
Immobile
Boron (B) (BO3) −
Mobile
Manganese (Mn) Mn+2 Immobile
Zinc (Zn) Zn +2
Immobile
Molybdenum (Mo) (MoO4) −
Mobile
The ability of a soil to hold and release cations is A cation exchange capacity below 5 cmol (+)/kg limits
called the cation exchange capacity or CEC. The banana production while a range of 10–25 cmol (+)/kg
amount of negative charge a soil has will influence is optimal. Soil acidity affects cation exchange capacity,
the CEC. Negatively charged particles and anions making cations such as aluminium and manganese
attract, adsorb and hold the positively charged more available. These are toxic and can reduce root
cations in the soil. The CEC is the measure of how and shoot growth.
many negatively-charged sites are available in a soil.
This is critical to the supply of nutrients to plants as Soils with a high cation exchange capacity (CEC)
it influences the ability of the soil to hold onto the can hold greater amounts of important cations
important plant cations: calcium, magnesium and including calcium, magnesium and potassium.
potassium, preventing them from washing through the
soil (leaching) or from the plantation (erosion).
The law of limiting factors is the concept that a crop Nutrient interaction
requires an adequate supply of all elements (nutrients)
It is important to consider the interactions between
at the correct time for optimum growth. If more than
elements when deciding how much fertiliser to apply.
one element is in short supply, growth is determined
The balance between elements in the soil and the plant
by the one that is in the lowest supply. The barrel in
demonstrate the effects that elements have on overall
Figure 8 illustrates this concept. The water level in
nutrient availability. Some elements interfere with the
the barrel represents the potential crop yield and, in
availability or uptake of another, called antagonism,
this case, is limited by the most limiting nutrient i.e.
while other elements can stimulate the uptake or
nitrogen. If nitrogen is added, the next most limiting
increase the availability of another. It is important to
factor is potassium. Multiple deficiencies can occur if
understand these relationships so fertiliser applications
several nutrients are in short supply. All elements need
can provide a balanced nutrition program.
to be applied in the sufficient amounts at the correct
time for optimum production.
The sufficiency level concept follows on from the law
of limiting factors. It states that there are definable
levels of individual elements in the soil below which Nutrient antagonism is where one element
plants will respond to added fertilisers and above interferes with the uptake or availability of other
which they probably will not respond. Once an elements. Understanding nutrient antagonism
element is present in sufficient quantity, plant growth is important to understand when developing
will be maximal across a range of concentrations fertiliser programs.
before growth decreases when levels become toxic. »» Excess phosphorus applications will reduce
These two concepts combined illustrate fertilising the availability of iron, calcium, potassium,
to the plant’s needs, the right fertiliser in the right copper and zinc.
amount and at the right time and place. This is »» High nitrogen fertilisation can reduce the
fertilising according to phenology. availability of potassium, boron and copper.
In rain-fed banana production, water is often the »» Increased levels of soil potassium can increase
limiting production factor, as nutrients cannot be potassium and phosphorus uptake, but reduce
taken up without available soil moisture, making the uptake of calcium, magnesium and zinc.
it difficult to fully achieve fertilising to phenology.
However, ensuring adequate amounts of nutrients are
present in the soil, or fertilising when rain does fall,
can help overcome this limitation.
P
Ca Mg
N
S
K S B Zn
Mn
N K
Ca K
Mg B Zn
Figure 9. Elements with the greatest concentration in the different parts of a banana are listed next to the respective part.
Drawn from Lahav and Turner (1989).
Chemical elements
All ages
Midrib curving (weeping, dropping) Cu
Whole leaf yellow-white Fe
Figure 10. Nitrogen deficiency – poor growth and yellowing in the older leaves. In subtropical regions, this can also be confused
with potassium deficiency. (Image courtesy of the International Plant Nutrition Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Figure 12. Buckling and poor stem strength can be caused by excess nitrogen.
Figure 15. Potassium deficiency – general yellowing and death of older leaves. See also nitrogen deficiency,
Figure 10 (Image courtesy of Qld DAF.)
Figure 16. Potassium deficiency – in plantations protected from the wind, mild potassium deficiency shows as
curling and yellowing at the leaf tip. (Image courtesy of the International Plant Nutrition Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Figure 17. Calcium deficiency – overgrown secondary veins causing leaf blade to curl. (Image courtesy of the International Plant
Nutrition Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Figure 20. Magnesium deficiency – leaf margins and midrib stay green and the leaf blade between them yellows. (Image courtesy
of Qld DAF.)
Figure 23. Boron deficiency – severe bunch deformation. (Image courtesy of the International Plant Nutrition Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Figure 24. Calcium deficiency – external pinching of fruit tip and internal brown, hard core in Ladyfinger fruit is linked to calcium
and boron deficiency. (Image courtesy of Qld DAF.)
Figure 25. Sulphur deficiency – a light yellow colouring in a young leaf. (Image courtesy of the International Plant Nutrition
Institute, Georgia, USA.)
Leaf and soil analysis kits are available from your local Collect a minimum of 20 soil cores at 0–15 cm depth
rural supplies store or the laboratory to which you from different locations of the site being tested
intend to send your samples to for testing. and thoroughly mix in a bucket. Avoid collecting
Leaf sampling should be undertaken before bunch leaf or organic matter from the soil surface. Fill the
emergence and from the same growth stage each container supplied in the kit with a subsample from
time. From medium sized suckers, sample the third- the bucket to ensure the sample is representative of
last, fully-emerged leaf that can be easily reached the block being tested. Banana roots are mainly in
from the ground. Half-way along this leaf take strips the top 40 cm of the soil and soil samples generally
of leaf blade 20 cm wide from each side to the midrib sample the 0–15 cm. Periodically sampling soil from
(Figure 30). Take samples from a minimum of 10 plants 15–40 cm will allow soil conditions in the whole
per block; this should be approximately 100 g of leaf banana root zone, particularly pH, to be monitored.
tissue. Samples should be taken from each block and A guide for soil sampling can be found at the NSW DPI
variety separately and can be taken at any time of the website and is listed in the online resources section at
year and sent to the laboratory as soon as possible. the end of this book.
Avoid sampling leaves if you have recently used foliar
fertilisers, as the fertilisers on the leaf surface will Nutrient standards
affect the results. Similarly, manganese levels in leaf Leaf and soil nutrient standards (see tables 6 and 7 )
analyses should be ignored if mancozeb fungicides provide a guide for growers to monitor and optimise
have been used. fertiliser application. Recording and maintaining
Separate soil samples should be submitted from each records of leaf levels, crop yield and the types and
soil type and from paddocks that have been managed amount of fertiliser you added over several years will
differently, as these factors can affect fertiliser needs. tell you if the amounts of fertiliser you added are too
Take samples at least six weeks after fertilising. little, enough or too much.
Table 6. Nutrient standards for leaf samples for Cavendish and Ladyfinger bananas. Taken from Plant
analysis and interpretation manual 2nd ed., 1997 and the Subtropical banana grower’s handbook, 2004
Table 7. Table 6: Optimum standards for soil samples taken from the Subtropical banana grower’s
handbook, 2004.
Nutrient Optimum
pH (1:5 water tested) 5.0–6.5
Potassium 0.4–0.5 cmol(+)/kg
Phosphorus (Colwell) 50–75 mg/kg, higher in soils with high phosphorus adsorption
Calcium 4.0–10.0 cmol(+)/kg
Magnesium 1.0–3.0 cmol(+)/kg
Conductivity <0.15 dS/m
Figure 31. Monthly nutrition calendar showing suggested application rates as a percent of yearly total plotted against average
monthly leaf emergence rates.
Online resources
General information on soil and fertiliser management
DPI soil management (http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils)