Efecto de la aplicación de dos fertilizantes edáficos y tres fertilizantes foliares sobre la producción y rentabilidad del cultivo de banano (Musa AAA.) en el cantón Baba

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp. AAA) cultivation is important in many countries, and its nutrition is essential for optimal production and profitability. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of different soil and foliar fertilizers on the production and profitability of banana cultivation in the Baba canton. Several variables were evaluated, such as the height of the plant, the diameter of the pseudostem, the number of leaves and the weight of the bunch. The results showed that the different fertilizers and bionutrients applied had a positive impact on the banana crop of cv 'Galil 12' Gran dwarf superior (Musa spp. AAA, Cavendish subgroup). In particular, the combination of Fertcampo+Pronter Plus and Fertcampo+Bionutriente increased bunch weight and the number of hands per bunch, while the combination of Fertcampo+Bionutriente, Multifert+Natura Energy and Fertcampo+Natura Energy increased rachis weight. In addition, the interaction between edaphic and foliar fertilizers significantly affected the bunch weight and the rachis weight of the 'Galil 12' Gran enano superior cultivar, which suggests the importance of adequate fertilization to achieve a better yield. All the treatments tested, including the commercial control of the company Inversiones Dalton Valarezo, were profitable because the benefitcost ratio was greater than unity. However, the highest level of profitability was achieved with the use of Multifert + Fronter Plus and Multifert + Natura Energy Plus. In conclusion, this study shows that the proper use of soil and foliar fertilizers can significantly improve the production and profitability of banana cultivation, which may have important implications for the banana industry and for the reduction of environmental problems