Foliar Nutrient Analyses in Bananas Grown in the Highlands of East Africa

Abstract

Abstract Data gathered from 45 farms in the Kagera Region of Tanzania were used to estimate critical nutrient levels (CNL) of foliar tissue and norms of the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) for bananas ( Musa spp.) grown in the highlands of East Africa. CNL values are proposed as 3.1 % N, 1.13 % Ca, 0.48 % Mg, 18.4 ppm Zn and 10.0 ppm B. Optimum ranges for cation ratios were estimated as 0.54—0.67 for K/(K + Ca + Mg), 0.22—0.32 for Ca/(K + Ca + Mg) and 0.09—0.15 for Mg/(K + Ca + Mg). Productivity of bananas and foliar levels of P, K, S, Fe, Mn and Cu were too weakly related to estimate CNLs for these nutrients. A set of DRIS norms for East African Highland bananas is presented.