Banana waste products

mrbungalow · 03-22-2007, 02:58 AM

I can't help but iamgine there must be a whole lot of waste from banana-production. Stems, leaves, unuasble fruit, etc.

Is there any value in these plant-parts? I am thinking if the starch or sugar content is relatively high, it can be used in making bio-ethanol, paper, or organic fert? Anyone know more?

Erlend

MediaHound · 03-22-2007, 08:59 AM

Yep, a lot more than with rice, coffee, or wheat, ratio-wise.
I'm sure the big growers probably do something useful with it.
Good point, though... now you got me wondering.

the flying dutchman · 03-22-2007, 11:06 AM

I have read somewhere that the growers leave the leaves on the ground.
Probably this is food for the the new pups after fruiting.
It will also prevent the ground for drying out.

Ron

MediaHound · 03-22-2007, 01:48 PM

I usually do the same with my leaves, keeps the sun out and the moisture in. It puts nutrients back on the ground, too.
Also, when I'm walking around out there with no tools like pruners or a machete, I'll occasionally strip the downed leaves by hand and just leave a hanging stick, if that makes sense (I pull the blade off the midrib and toss it on the ground).

MediaHound · 03-22-2007, 01:55 PM

Some other good / similar threads on it
Uses for leaves/fiber
Compost tumblers
Mulching what are you all using ?
Amending soil...
Fertilizing?
Waht do you use to mulch your banana mats with?

bigdog · 03-23-2007, 12:57 AM

When I chop the leaves off in the Fall, I leaves them on the garden surface. I raked them off before I tilled this Spring, and will use them as mulch this year! Lots of Nitrogen going back into the soil.

jeffreyp · 03-25-2007, 12:19 AM

I have a mound of banana leaves, stems, flowers, and misc plant debris that's often the size of a VW beetle. Right now it's has composted quite a bit, so it's about a half height vw beetle

Once the summer comes along with all the heavy rain and heat it will break down very nicely. The sabas have already thrown roots deep into the compost.

mrbungalow · 03-25-2007, 05:06 AM

Well... I guess banana waste makes first grade mulch and compost. But considering the amount of banana-waste worldwide, isn't there something else we should be utilizing this product for than mulch? It seems kind of like "using tenderloin for meatballs"...The swedes are at it making methanol from trees, couldn't something similar be done with spent banana-plants?

jeffreyp · 03-25-2007, 01:25 PM

It is very possible to do that vis cellulosic ethanol production...

http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/en...ic_Ethanol.htm

the flying dutchman · 03-27-2007, 02:52 PM

An article about the republic Congo says,

The people use the leaves, stems and non-eaten bananas as food
for chickens, rabbits and pigs.
The manure from the animals is used to feed the bananas.

Ron

mrbungalow · 03-27-2007, 04:37 PM

Thanks for the links Jeff and Ron. Both are interesting.

JoeReal · 03-27-2007, 04:56 PM

Using cellulosic biomass for ethanol production requires a lot more massive capital investments consumes more water and produces more wastewater than using gasifier technologies for converting cellulose to fuels.

Cost of production per unit gallon of fuel is three times much more with enthanolic fermentation of cellulosic biomass compared to gasifier.

Main problem with banana stalks is that it contains a lot of water, also a very costly process to remove water if you use them as suitable feedstocks to gasifiers.

The best usage I think is feed for hogs and other animals, or simply for biogas production.

jewelbaby1224 · 06-11-2007, 11:42 AM

On Kuaii, a guy at the Farmer's market made awesome baskets, hats, mats, flowers from fresh green banana leaves. I know that the Fujians make many things from them.

Any one know how to do it?? My basket is 18 yrs old and still in use and looks great.

Lagniappe · 06-11-2007, 11:58 AM

I have a lot of photo albums ,journals ,and frames from Indonesia made with banana leaves / sheaths .

03-22-2007, 02:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
mrbungalow Freezing member mrbungalow's Photo Gallery Location: Bergen, Norway Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Erlend Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 591 BananaBucks : 7,784 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 83 Times in 49 Posts Welcomes: 3	Banana waste products I can't help but iamgine there must be a whole lot of waste from banana-production. Stems, leaves, unuasble fruit, etc. Is there any value in these plant-parts? I am thinking if the starch or sugar content is relatively high, it can be used in making bio-ethanol, paper, or organic fert? Anyone know more? Erlend __________________

03-22-2007, 08:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10b Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,062 BananaBucks : 57,486 Feedback: 58 / 100% Thanks: 975 Thanked 1,141 Times in 402 Posts Welcomes: 266	Re: Banana waste products Yep, a lot more than with rice, coffee, or wheat, ratio-wise. I'm sure the big growers probably do something useful with it. Good point, though... now you got me wondering.

03-22-2007, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
the flying dutchman Fried Banana the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 906 BananaBucks : 3,823 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 20 Thanked 55 Times in 49 Posts Welcomes: 10	Re: Banana waste products I have read somewhere that the growers leave the leaves on the ground. Probably this is food for the the new pups after fruiting. It will also prevent the ground for drying out. Ron __________________

03-22-2007, 01:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10b Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,062 BananaBucks : 57,486 Feedback: 58 / 100% Thanks: 975 Thanked 1,141 Times in 402 Posts Welcomes: 266	Re: Banana waste products I usually do the same with my leaves, keeps the sun out and the moisture in. It puts nutrients back on the ground, too. Also, when I'm walking around out there with no tools like pruners or a machete, I'll occasionally strip the downed leaves by hand and just leave a hanging stick, if that makes sense (I pull the blade off the midrib and toss it on the ground).

03-22-2007, 01:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10b Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,062 BananaBucks : 57,486 Feedback: 58 / 100% Thanks: 975 Thanked 1,141 Times in 402 Posts Welcomes: 266	Re: Banana waste products Some other good / similar threads on it Uses for leaves/fiber Compost tumblers Mulching what are you all using ? Amending soil... Fertilizing? Waht do you use to mulch your banana mats with?

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03-23-2007, 12:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
bigdog Title-less bigdog's Photo Gallery Location: Knoxville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,465 BananaBucks : 5,152 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 76 Thanked 373 Times in 155 Posts Welcomes: 84	Re: Banana waste products When I chop the leaves off in the Fall, I leaves them on the garden surface. I raked them off before I tilled this Spring, and will use them as mulch this year! Lots of Nitrogen going back into the soil.

03-25-2007, 12:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
jeffreyp Zone 10, South Florida jeffreyp's Photo Gallery Location: Boynton Beach Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 284 BananaBucks : 1,775 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Banana waste products I have a mound of banana leaves, stems, flowers, and misc plant debris that's often the size of a VW beetle. Right now it's has composted quite a bit, so it's about a half height vw beetle Once the summer comes along with all the heavy rain and heat it will break down very nicely. The sabas have already thrown roots deep into the compost. __________________ www.worldwideplants.com

03-25-2007, 05:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
mrbungalow Freezing member mrbungalow's Photo Gallery Location: Bergen, Norway Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Erlend Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 591 BananaBucks : 7,784 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 83 Times in 49 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: Banana waste products Well... I guess banana waste makes first grade mulch and compost. But considering the amount of banana-waste worldwide, isn't there something else we should be utilizing this product for than mulch? It seems kind of like "using tenderloin for meatballs"...The swedes are at it making methanol from trees, couldn't something similar be done with spent banana-plants? __________________

03-25-2007, 01:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
jeffreyp Zone 10, South Florida jeffreyp's Photo Gallery Location: Boynton Beach Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 284 BananaBucks : 1,775 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Banana waste products It is very possible to do that vis cellulosic ethanol production... http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/en...ic_Ethanol.htm __________________ www.worldwideplants.com

03-27-2007, 02:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
the flying dutchman Fried Banana the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 906 BananaBucks : 3,823 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 20 Thanked 55 Times in 49 Posts Welcomes: 10	Re: Banana waste products An article about the republic Congo says, The people use the leaves, stems and non-eaten bananas as food for chickens, rabbits and pigs. The manure from the animals is used to feed the bananas. Ron __________________

03-27-2007, 04:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
mrbungalow Freezing member mrbungalow's Photo Gallery Location: Bergen, Norway Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Erlend Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 591 BananaBucks : 7,784 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 83 Times in 49 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: Banana waste products Thanks for the links Jeff and Ron. Both are interesting. __________________

03-27-2007, 04:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
JoeReal Senior Member JoeReal's Photo Gallery Location: Davis, California USDA zone 9 Find me on the map! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 905 BananaBucks : 16,853 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 19 Thanked 124 Times in 85 Posts Welcomes: 2	Re: Banana waste products Using cellulosic biomass for ethanol production requires a lot more massive capital investments consumes more water and produces more wastewater than using gasifier technologies for converting cellulose to fuels. Cost of production per unit gallon of fuel is three times much more with enthanolic fermentation of cellulosic biomass compared to gasifier. Main problem with banana stalks is that it contains a lot of water, also a very costly process to remove water if you use them as suitable feedstocks to gasifiers. The best usage I think is feed for hogs and other animals, or simply for biogas production.

06-11-2007, 11:42 AM	#13 (permalink)
jewelbaby1224 Junior Grower jewelbaby1224's Photo Gallery Location: Conroe, Texas zone 9a Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Karen Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 1,249 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 26 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 11	Re: Banana waste products On Kuaii, a guy at the Farmer's market made awesome baskets, hats, mats, flowers from fresh green banana leaves. I know that the Fujians make many things from them. Any one know how to do it?? My basket is 18 yrs old and still in use and looks great. __________________ WHEREVER YOU GO, BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE....

06-11-2007, 11:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
Lagniappe Banana Padawan Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Location: North La Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Pete Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 805 BananaBucks : 8,062 Feedback: 20 / 100% Thanks: 185 Thanked 154 Times in 92 Posts Welcomes: 235	Re: Banana waste products I have a lot of photo albums ,journals ,and frames from Indonesia made with banana leaves / sheaths . __________________ I'm not tipsy ! I'm just not very articulate and maybe a lil tipsy .

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