Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

I came across this on Google. It has pictures and descriptions of nutrient deficiencies in bananas, as well as fertilization recommendations. It's really good for reference.

http://www.haifa-group.com/files/guides/banana.pdf

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Thanks! That's going to come in handy. Actually it might already be useful b/c I think I might have some macronutrient problems (no big surprise being FL). I've relied heavily on composted manure so far as you can see at the base of the plant. The article really helps to identify the symptoms of each deficiency. That's one reason why I don't want to grow any rare cultivars yet... until I get some of the soil issues sorted.

This is a recent pic of my DC. You can see the yellow and necrotic stripe to midrib, although it is basically at the leaf tip. Reference page 18, fig. 13 of article.. "severe potassium deficiency". It surprises me a little bit b/c I also use some granular and liquid ferts regularly. The leaf just above that is showing signs of yellow around the edges as well. I thought maybe this was due to the seasonal change, but now I'm wondering. Thoughts?

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

It's difficult for me to tell. The leaves are all bunched up at the top. That could also be a symptom of a deficiency, or it could be a sign that the plant is almost ready to flower. That's a lot of bunching though, and it doesn't look like something I'd expect to see in a healthy plant. You'd know for sure if you have potassium deficiency if the end of the leaf turns brown and starts curling inward.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Very intresting..................I was reading about it.................

It was released here in Brazil last Year..............

CIFlorestas>>Notícia>>Haifa South America lança linha de fertilizantes na Feira Florestal Brasileira

I will try to find a place to buy it...................

I would like to try it...................

Thanks for this thread.....................

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

The photo above was last week... here is the same leaf today. I think I would classify that as curling. I did think that maybe it was going to bloom b/c of the bunching, but there hasn't been any sign of it and that plant has only been in the ground for about 8 months.



I have provided the plant with plenty of nutrient, actually I thought maybe I might be over fertilizing.. but I have laid off a bit as not to push the plant too hard during the cooler weather and possible frosts. If it is a deficiency the issue could be that the nutrients have not been available to the plant. The CEC of the soil might be the problem, even though I did amend it with a lot of organic matter.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Great Read Thank You !

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

I think it is over-fertilizing, and as a result your plant is being deprived of certain nutrients. This happened to me with my plants, and I ended up giving them calcium/boron deficinecy. That looks like it could be potassium deficiency though based on the curling. What I would do is give it some (not too much) fertilizer that's rich in potassium and see how it responds. Now I try to stay organic and lay off the chemical fertilizers, because it's easy to use too much of those and give your plants micronutrient deficiency.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

This might solve the problem in my chácara here in Lucianópolis. My housekeeper Antonio said to me that the soil here in my yard is not suitable to grow bananas, he was formerly banana farmer, 5 years ago he sold his banana plantation. There are No Go areas for bananas and areas to still grow bananas in my yard. Only where the soil is red, at the Antonio's vegetable garden and at the pond in the special garden for bananas there the bananas can be grown with success. I also have more success than my Japanese neighbour. The Japanese neighbour has grown bananas for 8 years, but no fruit yet and her bananas plants are of the poor growth. Recently I have even harvested bananas! But I want to grow more banana species, I am bananist like you. My soil is sand.

I want to translate it to Portuguese for Antonio, he does not speak English, but his kids speak English and his daughter is my guest daughter and does also speak German and lives in my house in Hamburg. I have one new printer with fax and scan options here, but still not acessed, his son will help me to acess it, then I will translate and print out for Antonio, he should read it!!! This will help to right fertilize the bananas in the sandy soil here!

In Israel there are also bananas growing, but there the soil is also sandy, desert sandy soil!

Best wishes
Joachim

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

I am previously an organic farmer... so to use chemical fertilizers has been kind of a last resort. My plan is to build up the soil and transition over to organic. Sometimes a soil can have a good amount of organic matter, but the pH can mess up the CEC.. that could be happening esp. b/c I planted near a concrete foundation. I need to do soil testing for sure. I'm kind of cautious right now to use any N in fertilizer in case we do get some frosts. I'll have to search around for the right thing to use. I am a fan of fish fertilizer, but I haven't been using that lately because it is kind of weak on N-P-K for summer growth when you don't have great soil. Liquid seaweed fert. is only 0-0-1.. do you think that would put a dent in the problem.. maybe more of a foliar spray?

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

I am no expert on banana nutrition, but to me this photo just shows normal scenesence of an older leaf, not nutrient deficiency. Guessing at nutrient deficiencies from a photo guide produced by a fertilizer company is not the best way to diagnose a deficiency. Have the leaf tissue analyzed by a reputable lab if you really want to know what is going on. Personally, I wouldn't be worried based on what I see in your photos.

But some of the folks who grow commercially should be able to give you better advice. Nick, Keith, anyone else?

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Thanks Mark. I thought it was normal up until I read the nutrient article and the K deficiency looked pretty close to my plant... being FL I wouldn't be surprised of any kind of nutrient deficiency that sprung up.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Warm weather deficiency

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

It could be a K deficiency, but if so, it's not extreme given that its only affecting the oldest leaf. But really, tissue analysis is the only way to tell for sure. And keep in mind that climate affects the ability of the plant to uptake and transport nutrients, so it could be as simple as Tony says. There might be plenty of nutrients, but cooler weather is making it harder for the plant to absorb them and move them through the tissues.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Also I should point out that the first picture in the Calcium Deficiency section is actually Black Sigatoka. Apparently that's exacerbated by calcium deficiency.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Seasonal change seems like a good reason b/c this is only happening in the past couple of weeks.. shorter days and some night temps near 40 degrees. Makes sense and two of the pups look a little bit exhausted as well. One thing about this particular plant is that with the angle of the sun lower in the sky.. this banana is actually much more shaded than in summer when it's in full, blazing sun. A lot of possibilities I guess. That was the point of growing this plant, to see how it does for one year. Thanks for the input on it. I might do some kelp as a foliar spray to see if it helps.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

It's worth a try. I found that kelp extract actually made my boron deficiency problems worse because it is primarily a growth stimulator, which is great, unless your plant can't get some of the nutrients it needs into the new tissues fast enough.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Uh oh... that doesn't sound good. Can't win, huh? It might be worth trying though since this is basically just a test subject.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

Absolutely. Experimentation is the way forward.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

That actually does look like potassium. Mobile nutrient with yellowing and necrosis of the apical margin. Bananas use an enormous amount of potassium. Potassium is readily leached from sandy soils. If you are using 9-2-12 or 6-2-12 you almost need 1lbs per mat per month. If you were using something like black cow manure, you would need 100lbs per mat per year. I've got some sandy areas on my newer land and it seems like I am constantly putting out fertilizer.

Re: Article on banana fertilization and nutrient deficiencies
 

I've used a lot of cow manure just on that one plant. It has gotten a regular liquid feed of 20-20-20.. I do usually dilute it a little bit more than directed b/c that's pretty strong. I will also put some granular fert. on it... not being real specific about what I'm doing, but I side dress the plant regularly. A lot of times it's organic fertilizer so it's kind of weak. I just got some super potash today 0-0-60. It won't be immediately available to the plant and I'm a little bit cautious about using something that strong.. so I'll have to go light with it at first. I'm going to do some fish emulsion as a foliar spray in the mean time to hopefully boost the plant for now. Not much K in that though.