Dry matter and micronutrients accumulation by banana mother plant cv. prata (Musa AAB, subgroup prata) at different development stages

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted with banana plant cultivar Prata, in Cambissolic soil, at Espírito Santo State, Brazil, to study the curve of growth and boron, zinc, copper uptake, removed and returned to the soil. Three mother plants were selected at twelve different development stages. Samples of leaf, petiole, pseudostem, rhizome, stalk, bud flower and fruit were taken. Dry matter weight and percentage of micronutrients were measured, and the collected data were ajusted in a regression program. The following conclusions were drawn up: boron, zinc and copper uptake are influenced by dry matter production, except Cu in the petiole; the uptake ratio is 5 Zn: 2,5 B: 1 Cu; a high amount of B, Za and Cu can be returned to the soil with plant management; in a rational program for micronutrients fertilizer, it is necessary to take into account the amount of nutrients exported at the fruit harvest, especially boron.