Productivity of ‘Saba’ Banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) as influenced by Different Levels of NPK Fertilizer under Jasaan Soil Series

Abstract

‘Saba’ (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) is the second most grown banana in the Philippines. With the banana’s increasing demand and wider market both locally and abroad, growers need to advance and sustain farm efficiency. Among the various factors in production, plant nutrition is one of the key components for higher productivity. Hence, a field study was conducted in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines to evaluate the effects of NPK fertilizer on the banana’s productivity under the Jasaan Soil Series – a major soil dominating Claveria. In addition to T1 (no NPK), there were four varying levels of NPK fertilizer applied as treatments, namely T2 (N90-P30-K120), T3 (N135-P60-K180), T4 (N180-P120-K360) and T5 (N270-P180-K540). The results showed that T3 produced a significant difference in base girth in the 11th month and one-third girth in the 7th month, while T5 recorded the most number of suckers in the 12th, 13th and 14th months from planting. The highest level of NPK (T5) influenced the total bunch weight with 28.87 kg and yield (10.98 t/ha), while T3 obtained a significant difference in the diameter of the finger (16.04 cm). T1 showed the highest return on investment (2.03%); however, the highest level of NPK prevailed with the highest yield among all the other treatments on the main crop. Related studies are suggested to verify the sustainability of NPK fertilizer on the succeeding ratoons.