Search

Banana crops require large amounts of fertilizers to maintain nutrients levels and achieve satisfactory yields. The use of biological fertilizers combined with organic waste is an efficient and sustainable option for agricultural production. Therefore, this study evaluated the use of a biological fertilizer combined with sewage sludge to make nutrients available in banana crops. We conducted a field experiment in a randomized block design, with four blocks and five repetitions per block in a subdivided plot scheme. The experiment lasted two years. We performed the soil and plant chemical analysis and we also assessed the plant biometric data. The lowest dose of biological fertilizer combined with sewage sludge increased P content in the soil in the first and second collections, but decreased in the third collection. The highest nutrient levels in the soil and plant were attained when biological fertilizer was applied with sewage sludge; however, high Ca content caused an imbalance of exchangeable bases in the soil solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Agronomy is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)