BIOMASS ACCUMULATION AND NUTRITION IN MICROPROPAGATED PLANTS OF THE BANANA ‘PRATA CATARINA’ UNDER BIOFERTILISERS

ABSTRACT Banana farming is an activity of great economic and social importance, and is carried out in most tropical countries. The aim of this work was to evaluate the biomass accumulation and levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in micropropagated plants of the banana “Prata Catarina” during the acclimatization phase, under different types and doses of biofertilisers. The experimental design included randomised blocks in a 2 × 5 + (2) factorial scheme, with two types of liquid biofertilisers (bovine biofertiliser with anaerobic and aerobic fermentation) and five biofertiliser doses (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 L plant-1 week-1), as well as two additional treatments (control and recommended mineral fertilisation). The following variables were analysed: dry weight of the leaves and roots, and mineral element content (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) in different parts of the plant (leaf and root). During 90 days of acclimatization, the nutritional contribution of bovine biofertiliser with anaerobic fermentation was greater in comparison with the biofertiliser with aerobic fermentation and the control, but lower in comparison with mineral fertilisation. The 1000-mL dose of the biofertiliser with anaerobic fermentation promoted greater dry weight accumulation in the leaves and roots of the banana “Prata Catarina”. The biofertiliser with anaerobic fermentation promoted higher levels of N, K, and Ca in the leaves, whereas the biofertiliser with aerobic fermentation promoted higher levels of P in the leaves and roots. RESUMO A bananicultura destaca-se como uma atividade de grande importância econômica e social, sendo explorada na maioria dos países tropicais. O presente trabalho propôs avaliar o acúmulo de biomassa e os teores de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P), potássio (K), cálcio (Ca) e magnésio (Mg) em mudas micropropagadas de bananeira cv. Prata Catarina, durante a fase de aclimatização sob diferentes tipos doses e de biofertilizantes. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados em arranjo fatorial 2 × 5 + (2), referentes a dois tipos de biofertilizantes líquidos (bovino de fermentação anaeróbia e aeróbia) e cinco doses de biofertilizantes (0,25; 0,50; 0,75; 1,00 e 1,25 L planta-1 semana-1), com dois tratamentos adicionais (controle e adubação mineral recomendada). Foram analisadas as seguintes variáveis: massa seca das folhas, das raízes e teores de elementos minerais (N, P, K, Ca e Mg) nas diferentes parte