GROWTH, LEAF NUTRIENT CONTENT AND YIELD OF BANANA CV. GRAND NAIN UNDER OPTIMIZED NUTRITION

Possible influences of suggested optimized nutrition on growth, leaf nutrient
contents and yield of banana cv. Grand Nain were studied using a field experiment at
Gharbia Govemorate, Egypt, in two successive seasons, 2001 and 2002.
Soil physical and chemical characteristics as well as nutrient status in plants
were determined. Growth aspects, yield and its components were also determined.
The results indicated occurrence of micronutrients deficiency as well as the
imbalance of nutrients in plants. The modified recommendations showed that plant
height, pseudostem girth and No. of leaves/plant positively affected, and the leaf
nutrient content, in general, increased over the control. The increase in the yield of.
banana cv. Grand Nain was associated with the increase in No. of fingers/hand, No.
of handslbranch and weight of handslbunch. It be concluded that optimized nutrition
may enhance growth, leaf nutrient content and can yield of banana.