Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

ImportanceNitrogen is an essential plant nutrient required for all growth processes.

Nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant (Fig.), that is responsible for photosynthesis.

Nitrogen helps plants with rapid growth, better quality of leaf and increased fruit production.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Role of Nitrogen

Nitrogen is present in all living cells and is an essential component of amino acids, chlorophyll, DNA and enzymes.

Nitrogen stimulates root development and is the chief promoter of growth.

A healthy robust vegetative frame is an essential pre-requisite for high yields and nitrogen is mainly responsible for such a vegetative frame.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Role of Nitrogen

Nitrogen induces the vegetative growth of pseudo stem.

Nitrogen promotes leaf growth giving them desired color.

Banana plants with low Nitrogen availability produce only seven leaves against 17 leaves produced by banana plants supplied with adequate Nitrogen.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Role of Nitrogen

It was observed that greater the number of healthy and large leaves produced during the first 4-6 months, larger will be the size of fruit bunch.

Nitrogen influences the longitudinal growth of petioles.

Nitrogen increases the bunch grade, and sucker production..

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen deficiency symptoms

Nitrogen deficiency causes slow growth and paler leaves with reduced leaf area and rate of leaf production.

If Nitrogen is deficient in banana, the leaves take 23 days for unfolding against 10 days for the leaves of banana supplied with Nitrogen.

Nitrogen is perhaps the most important limiting factor for growth and development of banana.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen deficiency symptoms

Yellowing of leaves and stunted plants are typical symptoms of Nitrogen deficiency.

Yellowing of leaves

Stunted plant growth

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen deficiency symptoms

The older leaves show signs of chlorosis (severe yellowing of leave margins).

Severe yellowing of leaf margins

The development of pink color on the underside of midribs and leaf petioles are initial stages of nitrogen deficiency.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen deficiency symptoms

Thin and profuse roots, and lesser number of suckers are produced due to lack of Nitrogen.

Phosphorus uptake is higher due to N deficiency.

Leaf petioles are short, thin and compressed.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen recommendation

Higher leaf area is considered as the prime importance for obtaining higher yield.

An early application of nitrogen induce vigorous leaf growth and result in higher leaf area index during the early phase of growth.

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen recommendation

Soil test based fertilizers application in banana

Primary Nutrients

Total Nutrient requirement (per

plant)

Total fertilizer required (spacing 1.8

X 1. 5 m;1452 plants/ac)

Nitrogen (N) 200 g/plant 625.0 kg/acPhosphorus (P)

60 g/plant 545.0 kg/ac

Potassium (K) 250 g/plant. 602.0 kg/ac

Source:

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana

Nitrogen recommendation

Tissue analysis based fertilizers application in banana

Primary Nutrients At emergence

After 2

months

After4

months

At sucker

set

After 2

months

After 4

months

Nitrogen (N) 80 g 80g 80g 96g 48g 48g

Phosphorus (P) 40 Nil Nil 40 Nil Nil

Potassium (K) 170 170 170 170 170 170

Source:

Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen in Banana