Abstract
Tissue culture (TC) banana plantlets at the in vitro stage are delicate and devoid of microbes and nutrients that are essential for establishment and subsequent growth. Some microbes are known for function best under certain soil threshold levels of macro and micronutrients and have been associated with growth and performance of TC banana. A green house and field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of combining two commercial biological products [Rhizatech and ECO-T (mycorrhiza and Trichoderma based products, respectively)] with various sources of nitrogen and phosphorous including Mavuno, Minjingu phosphate rock, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), manure and diammonium phosphate (DAP) on growth and performance of TC banana in Vertisol and Rhodic Ferralsol soil conditions. Tissue culture plants were initially inoculated with Rhizatech and ECO-T at the acclimatization stage and subsequently at the beginning of the potting stage and field establishment. Addition of nutrient sources was also done at the same stages of plant growth by mixing with the soil substrates prior to planting. The performance of plants was significantly (at p ≤ 0.05) affected by the combinations of nutrient sources depending on the soil type and stage of plant development. The growth of plants in the Vertisol increased with Trichoderma combined with either organic manure, DAP or combined with a macro and micro nutrient source (Mavuno) as compared to the sole application of Trichoderma. Performance of plants treated with combination of mycorrhiza and either Mavuno and minjigu rock phosphate was consistently higher in the Rhodic Ferralsol than either mycorrhiza alone or fertilizer alone. This indicates that TC plants could highly benefit from combined application of microbiological products and inorganic and organic fertilizers. However, a prior knowledge of the product’s microbial formulation and prevailing soil conditions is essential for optimizing the potential benefits of integrating microbe-based product with inorganic and organic fertilizers.
Highlights
Tissue culture banana plantlets offer an excellent means for providing pest- and disease-free planting material to farmers [1] [2]
This study focused on evaluating the potential of integrating microbiological products with inorganic and organic fertilizers on growth and performance of tissue cultured banana in Vertisol and Rhodic Ferralsol soil conditions under nursery and field conditions
Significant (p ≤ 0.001) differences between treatments were observed on all plant growth parameters evaluated in both soils (Table 4 and Table 5)
Summary
Tissue culture banana plantlets offer an excellent means for providing pest- and disease-free planting material to farmers [1] [2]. The increased use of chemical fertilizer is undesirable because its production is an energetically costly process and considerable pollution is caused through both the production and use of mineral N-fertilizers. This is exacerbated by the relatively low efficiency of their uptake by the plants due to non-extensive root system and may delete soil organic matter in the long term [6]-[8]. Inoculant biofertilizers are more environmentally sound and their introduction in agricultural production systems could be one of the means to mitigate the onset of global warming as well as the reduction in fertilizer input costs, prevent depletion of organic matter and increase crop yields [9]-[11]
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