Growth of micropropagated cavendish banana seedlings in different substrates and fertilizer sources - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v30i3.3545

Abstract

With the objective of evaluating the effect of different substrates combined with fertilizers in the growth of micropropagated seedlings of Cavendish banana (Musa spp. AAA), an experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme, with four repetitions. The substrates used were: S1 – subsoil land + carbonized rice hull + Rendmax Floreira^®; S2 - subsoil land + carbonized rice hull + Organifol^®; S3 - subsoil land + carbonized rice hull + Organifol^® 9% SiO; S4 - Technes Vivatto^®; S5 - thick sand + carbonized rice hull + Rendmax Floreira^®. The fertilizer sources were: SA – without fertilizer; LL – slow-release fertilizer - Osmocote^® 3M 14-14-14 (5.0 kg m^-3) mixed in the substrate; and LN – normal-release fertilizer, 14-14-14 (7.5 g seedling^-1) applied in covering. The height, collar diameter, leaf number, leaf area and dry matter were determined. Based on the differences of growth, substrates S1, S2, S3 and S4 can be used with fertilizer 14-14-14, with slow (5.0 kg m^-3) or normal (7.5 g seedling^-1) release of nutrients.