Nutrient flows from harvested banana pseudostems

Abstract

Nutrient flows from senescent banana cv. Nfuuka pseudostems on a red sandy clay loam soil (Mollic Kandhapludalf) were studied. Of the initial N and P in standing senescent pseudostems, 61 and 55%, respectively, was translocated to attached growing pseudostems 6 weeks after harvest. The proportions of initial K, S, Fe, Zn, Cu and B contents translocated in this way were lower than this, and translocation of Ca, Mg and Mn was negligible. By 6 and 9 weeks after harvest, over 50 and 70%, respectively, of the initial N, K and Mg was released from the mulch of cut and shredded pseudostems. Other nutrients were released more slowly from the mulch.