Stimulation of the growth of young plants of the bananeira production unit with pseudocaule residue

• Grant number: 17/27204-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Domingues Lima
• Grantee: Natália de Souza Bravo
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Registro. Registro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The pseudostem is an abundant residue after harvesting the banana bunch that can be a source of water, nutrients and organic substances (hormones, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyphenols or natural antioxidants, and other low molecular weight metabolites that can be absorbed by the roots). In other banana-producing countries, it has been used to increase the growth of a successor plant in the banana production unit, a technique widely used in Ecuador, known as a condón. Preliminary observations indicated the technique promotes surface rooting. The present study has as objective to evaluate the effect of the residue of the pseudocaule disposed on the soil surface, on the growth of young plants in greenhouse under contrasting environmental conditions.Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of the pseudocaule residue on the growth of young plants in greenhouse under contrasting environmental conditions. For this, a randomized block experiment in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (two seasons and presence or absence of the residue) will be carried out, with 4 replicates of 3 experimental plots of two pots each. Times will be late May and early November. A portion of about 40 cm of the pseudocaule of a freshly harvested plant will be sectioned in 10 cm portions and placed under the substrate containing the seedling. Periodically the height, pseudocaule diameter and leaf emission will be evaluated. Once the leachate is released by the residue, the length, root diameter and leaf area will be determined, as well as the mass of the root and shoot dry matter, as well as their nutrient contents. The nutritional composition of the residue will be evaluated before and after its application. It is hoped to know if the stimulus generated to the growth of young plants by the leachate in cold times is able to increase the growth of successor plants in the productive unit.