View Full Version : Bananas for soaking excess water
be181495
08-16-2018, 09:19 AM
Hello:
I've a property in Panama, a portion of which collects a significant amount of water during the rainy season. I've been told to plant bananas. The area is approximately 5000 square feet. Any ideas on what type of banana tree works best and how many to plant? I'm in the Pedasi District, Los Santos.
Cheers,
Berns
Botanical_Bryce
08-16-2018, 09:35 AM
I have the same problem here. The only solution I have come up with making the soil not so compact and dense. I use lots of biochar and organic stuff like leaves and wood chips. In my worst areas around my home that would have standing water for days no longer holds any water and all I did was dig the holes deeper and then fill in the holes with charcoal. I could have used rocks but I think even rocks can be too dense and if I want to dig there in the future to plant I still can. With the cone pit biochar method I can even make charcoal in the holes.
I thought the bananas would have been a good idea but out of 50 varieties only Orinoco seems to stand up to the water but it does not help dry the ground at all. Most of the bananas suffered from the moist soil. If not for loosening the dense soil I almost think most would have simply rotted.
Botanical_Bryce
08-16-2018, 09:37 AM
I also hear zeolite helps loosen dense soil.
edwmax
08-16-2018, 01:02 PM
Mature bananas plants can transpire a lot of water about 6 L /per day. But they don't like standing in water. ... I'm sure high humidity and reduced sunlight (rainy season) will effect this. ... If the area has standing water I don't think Banana plants is the solution. ...But if, the ground is just soggy for a couple months then a hardy type like Orinoco could help along with some other type of drainage or ditches.
How wet is the area during the dry season? Will the Banana plant have enough water to survive during that period?
be181495
08-16-2018, 02:51 PM
First dry season for me will start this December. Thanks
Richard
08-16-2018, 07:50 PM
5,000 square feet is small: 1/8th acre, or a square 70.7 feet on edge.
You can raise the ground level 1 foot with 12 15-cu.yd. truckloads of dirt.
sputinc7
08-16-2018, 08:56 PM
I like Richard's idea, only use sandy dirt then plant bananas. :D
beam2050
08-17-2018, 06:19 AM
5,000 square feet is small: 1/8th acre, or a square 70.7 feet on edge.
You can raise the ground level 1 foot with 12 15-cu.ft. truckloads of dirt.
I apologize professor, but I think you meant 12 15-cu. yds. your standard dump truck carries that loaded a touch on the light size, [DOT].
and with compaction rates, depending on soil, better figure about 20 dump trucks. compacting of course with a medium sized excavator or backhoe. might get away with 15 to 17 loads with a skid-steer. this would be based on sand, no rocks or clumps.
HMelendez
08-17-2018, 09:06 AM
Welcome to the banana gang!........
:2723::bananarow::2723:
Richard
08-17-2018, 11:11 AM
... I think you meant 12 15-cu. yds. ....
Oh yes, thanks for catching that!
edwmax
08-17-2018, 12:23 PM
I apologize professor, but I think you meant 12 15-cu. yds. your standard dump truck carries that loaded a touch on the light size, [DOT].
and with compaction rates, depending on soil, better figure about 20 dump trucks. compacting of course with a medium sized excavator or backhoe. might get away with 15 to 17 loads with a skid-steer. this would be based on sand, no rocks or clumps.
And what would that cost?
Another problem is where will the water go to? In many places, you can't just redirect water to run off onto the neighbors property causing him problems.
Apparently be181495 (http://www.bananas.org/member-be181495.html) has a natural low area in a flood plain. His local Building Officials may not allow altering the existing ground elevations because of flooding problems that would be caused down stream.
Richard
08-17-2018, 01:07 PM
And what would that cost?
In Dollars or Balboas?
edwmax
08-17-2018, 01:55 PM
$$$$$
cincinnana
08-19-2018, 06:30 PM
Hello:
I've a property in Panama, a portion of which collects a significant amount of water during the rainy season. I've been told to plant bananas. The area is approximately 5000 square feet. Any ideas on what type of banana tree works best and how many to plant? I'm in the Pedasi District, Los Santos.
Cheers,
Berns
I would love know what the locals suggested.
Akula
08-19-2018, 09:28 PM
You might create a raised bed 1' to 2' above the rainy season high water mark in a 10' by 20' area. Plant some bananas and see what happens. A little banana island in the middle of the bog. Prepare the bed during the dry season.
Richard
08-19-2018, 10:25 PM
You might create a raised bed 1' to 2' above the rainy season high water mark in a 10' by 20' area. Plant some bananas and see what happens. A little banana island in the middle of the bog. Prepare the bed during the dry season.
Let's first find out what resources and finances he has.
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