ENHANCING BANANA (Musa spp.) GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY BY BIO-FERTILIZERS IN SANDY SOIL

Abstract

This investigation was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2016 and 2017 at the private orchard of the modern agriculture company (PICO), El Behera governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria (NFB) and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) and different rates of N and P as mineral fertilizers (i.e. 50% and 75% of recommended dose), compared to the standard recommended mineral fertilization on the growth, yield, fruit quality and leaf mineral contents of Williams banana plants. Results showed that T8 (50% bio N + 50% bio. P + 50% mineral N and P) and T7 (100% bio N + 50% bio. P + 50% mineral N and P) enhanced plant growth i.e. pseudostem length and perimeter also, it increased bunch weight and yield and improved most physical parameters (i.e. finger no./hand, finger length, finger weight, pulp weight, pulp weight and pulp ratio) and chemical characters (T.S.S, total sugar % and reducing sugar %), leaf mineral content (N, P, and K) and chlorophyll a and b were also significantly affected by treatments compared to the control during two season of study. The results suggest that, the utilized biofertilizers can partially substitute the amount of mineral fertilizers, leading to cleaner environment.