This study was undertaken during the two successive seasons of 2013 (first Ratoon plants) and 2014
(second Ratoon plants) to increase growth, productivity and improving fruit quality of banana cv. Grande Naine
grown under sandy soil conditions at El-Khatatba region, using different levels of feldspar and bio-fertilization
in combination. The obtained results showed that all vegetative growth parameters of Grande Naine banana
plants i.e., pseudostem high and circumference, green leaves number, leaf area and assimilation area were
greatly affected by the studied feldspar and bio-fertilizers treatments in both seasons. However, the tallest and
thickest pseudostem were scored by the treatment of 8Kg feldspar +10 ml potassin ” two doses” (T9) in the two
seasons. Moreover, the highest number of green leaves /plant was recorded by 8Kg feldspar +10 ml potassin ”
two doses” (T9) followed by control treatment ”recommended dose” (T1) in the first and second seasons.
Whereas, the highest leaf area and assimilation area were registered by T1 plants, followed in descending order
by 8Kg feldspar +10 ml potassin at ” one dose” T5 and at two doses T9 treatments in both seasons. The highest
leaf N, P and K contents were recorded by T9 plants, in the first and second seasons. The highest bunch weight,
yield, bunch height and the bunch circumference were recorded by T9-fertilized plants, followed by T5-
fertilizered plants. T5-fertilized plants showed to be the most effective treatment for producing the highest
number of hands /bunch. Furthermore, the heaviest hand, the highest number of fingers/hand and the heaviest
finger were registered by T9-fertilized plants. Moreover, T9-treated plants is being the most effective treatment
for improving the studied fruit physical parameters of banana cv. Grande Naine i.e., finger length, finger
diameter, pulp weight, peel weight and pulp/peel ratio. Additionally, the highest values of total soluble solids,
total sugar and TSS/acidity were scored by T9-fertilized plants, whereas the lowest values of total acidity were
registered by T9 and T5 treatments. |
