Effect of fertilization on abaca production (Musa textiles Bungalanon) Efecto de la fertilización en la producción de abacá (Musa textiles Bungalanón)

Abstract

In this research, the effect of fertilization on abaca cultivation of the Bungalanón variety, 45 months old, in Santo Domingo of the Tsáchilas, was evaluated; two edaphic fertilizers were applied: a chemical one (fertibanano: 16-3-30-3) and an organic one (pollinase: 3-2-4-1); combining with two complementary fertilizations: one to the soil in drench using an organic rooting agent (humic acids: 60% P) and another to the foliage using a chemical foliar fertilizer (bayfolan: 9-9-7). A complete randomized block design was used with a 2x3 factorial arrangement, with four repetitions, consisting of six treatments, resulting in 24 experimental units of 35 m². Obtaining the following results, the application of chemical soil fertilizer (fertibanano) achieved the greatest monthly increase in plant height with 0.78 cm; number of chives 2.01 and pseudostem diameter 1.42 cm; and in the production variables with a fresh weight of pseudostem of 34.50 kg, of fiber of 0.86 kg.pseudostem-1 and with a fiber yield of 1.03 t.ha-1.year-1. And the best complementary fertilization was obtained with the foliar application of bayfolan, increasing 0.53 cm per month in plant height, 0.14 leaves per plant, 1.45 cm in diameter per pseudostem, 0.92 kg of fiber per pseudostem and 0.99 t.ha-1.year-1 performance of abaca fiber.