Accumulation of dry matter and macronutrient in cultivars of irrigated banana tree

ABSTRACT - The knowledge about the quantity of dry matter and nutrients accumulated and exported by banana is important for the development of fertilizer recommendations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of dry matter and macronutrients by six cultivars of irrigated banana crop. Plants of Grande Naine, Pacovan, Pacovan-Apodi, Prata-Ana, Terrinha and Gross Michel cultivars were sampled in a commercial plantation in the municipality of Limoeiro do Norte, state of Ceara, Brazil. At harvest, four plants of each cultivar were selected for sampling. The “mother-plant” was divided into rhizome, pseudo stem, petiole, leaf blade, stalk and fruits. In the dry matter of these parts, the contents of macronutrients were determined. The cultivars Pacovan, Prata Ana and Pacovan-Apodi, in general, extracted from the soil the largest amounts of macronutrients and these cultivars accumulated higher quantities of dry matter. The potassium and nitrogen were the most accumulated and exported macronutrients by the six cultivars of ir-rigated banana followed by sulphur, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.