Nutritional Deficiencies/Disorders of Banana

Nitrogen

Leaves of all ages become pale green. Mid ribs, petioles and leaf sheaths turn reddish pink and rosette in appearance. Plantations with poor root growth exhibit such symptoms. Bunch weight and fruit quality is affected.

Control: Application of urea (300g/plant) followed by irrigation is recommended.

Phosphorus

Plants show stunted growth with poor root development. Old leaves show saw tooth marginal chlorosis, curling of leaves, breaking of petioles and bluish green colour of younger leaves.

Control: Application of DAP (50g/plant) followed by irrigation is recommended.

Potassium

The deficiency symptoms include orange yellow colour of old leaves, scorching along the margins, reduction in total leaf area, curving of midribs etc. Choking of leaves delay flower initiation leading to reduction in yield and quality.

Control: Spraying Potassium Sulphate (1%) solution on the leaves is recommended.

Boron

Deficiency symptoms include reduced leaf area, curling of leaves, lamina deformation, appearance of white stripes perpendicular to the veins on the lamina of young leaves, thickening of secondary veins and inhibition of root and flower formation.

Control: Application of Borax salt (25 g/plant) in the soil around the root zone of the plant is recommended

Magnesium

Yellow discolouration is observed in the mid blade and midrib portion, however, the margins of the leaf remain green. Purple mottling of the petioles, marginal necrosis and separation of leaf sheaths from the pseudostem is also seen.

Control: Application of Magnesium Sulphate (25g/plant) followed by irrigation is recommended.

Sulphur

The defi ciency symptoms include yellow or white appearance of young leaves, necrotic patches on the leaf margins, thickening of veins, stunted growth and small or choked bunches.

Control: Application of complex fertilizer (20:20:0:15) @ 20 g/plant followed by irrigation is recommended.

Iron

The younger leaves turn yellow or white.

Control: Spraying Iron Sulphate (0.5%) along with Urea (1%) on the leaves is recommended.

Copper

Both young and old leaves show symptoms of chlorosis and curve towards the base, which gives an umbrella like appearance to the plant.

Control: Spraying Copper Sulphate (0.5%) on the leaves is recommended.

Zinc

Symptoms appear mostly in limed soils or soils with high pH. Young leaves become smaller in size and more lanceolate in shape. In the furling leaf high amount of anthocyanin pigmentation appear on its underside. The unfurled leaf has alternating chlorotic and green bands. Fruit is light green, twisted, short and thin.

Control: Spraying Zinc Sulphate (0.5%) on the leaves is recommended.

Manganese

Narrow green edge appears at the leaf margins of second or third youngest leaf, which further spreads along the main veins towards the midrib. However, the interveinal areas remain green giving comb tooth appearance.

Control: Spraying Manganese Sulphate (0.5%) on the leaves is recommended.

Calcium

The defi ciency symptoms include deformation or absence of leaf lamina (spike leaf), marginal leaf necrosis and thickening of veins

Control : Application of lime (50g/plant) followed by irrigation is recommended.

IPM for Banana

To know the IPM practices for Banana, click here.

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage