Effects of Silicon and Yeast Extract on Growth, Flowering and Yield of Banana (Musa cavendishii L.)

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out during the two growing seasons of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 on 1st and 2nd ratoons of Williams banana plants irrigated with saline water and received potassium silicate and/or yeast extract. Growth, flowering as well as yield and fruit quality were evaluated. The data indicated that both materials were very effective in increasing salt tolerance, all growth parameters studied, earliness flowering and maturity, bunch weight and improving fruit quality compared with the control. Yeast extract showed additive effects to the potassium silicate in this respect. Thus, it could be recommended that supplementations of K2SiO3 to the saline irrigation water accompanied with spraying yeast extract four times, 4 weeks intervals, from the middle of April induced salt tolerance and productivity of Williams banana plants, irrigated with pumped saline water. Potassium silicate at 3% combined with yeast at 20 g/l gave the best results with regard growth, flowering as well as yield and fruit quality.