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Agronomic consequences of vegetative groundcovers and reduced nitrogen applications for banana production systems

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Pattison, A. B., East, D. J., Ferro, K. and Dickinson, G. R. (2018) Agronomic consequences of vegetative groundcovers and reduced nitrogen applications for banana production systems. Acta Horticulturae, 1196 . pp. 155-162. ISSN 0567-7572

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Article Link: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1196.18

Abstract

Banana production in the north Queensland region of Australia represents 90% of the total production in Australia. However, in this region banana plantations are constrained by the need to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as the Great Barrier Reef, climatic impacts such as cyclones, high labour costs and soil-borne diseases. To overcome the constraints and improve the resilience of banana production systems, innovations are required, particularly regarding the management of the soil. Field experiments were established comparing vegetative groundcover, primarily pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi), to bare soil, and three nitrogen application treatments: 350 kg N ha-1 crop-1, 180 kg N ha-1 crop-1 applied as urea and 180 kg N ha-1 crop-1 applied as urea treated with 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (Entec), a nitrification inhibitor. The agronomic aspects of banana production systems were determined by measurements of plant height, leaf emergence, bunch generation intervals and bunch characteristics. Additionally, measurements of leaf chlorophyll and nutrients were used to determine if management was restricting nutrient uptake. The first banana crop had reduced vegetative growth and an increased generation interval with the vegetative groundcover treatment compared to bare soil. Similarly, reduced N application reduced vegetative production of bananas and the Entec N treatment reduced bunch weight. However, fertiliser use efficiency was doubled in the lower N treatments relative to application of 350 kg N ha-1 crop-1. In the second crop, a reduction in the vegetative growth of bananas was again observed with lower N treatments, no significant differences in bunch weight was recorded. For banana producers to adopt agro-ecological production practices, penalties in vegetative plant growth need to be overcome, or benefits other than production need to be revealed, such as increased disease suppression.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Horticulture and Forestry Science
Additional Information:X International Symposium on Banana: ISHS - ProMusa Symposium on Agroecological Approaches to Promote Innovative Banana Production Systems
Keywords:Arachis pintoi, crop management, nitrogen management, nutrient use efficiency, soil functions
Subjects:Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Methods and systems of culture. Cropping systems
Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Fertilisers
Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture > Culture of individual fruits or types of fruit > Bananas
Live Archive:16 Aug 2018 06:27
Last Modified:09 Jul 2023 23:48

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