A field experiment was carried out in Pindorama (Sao Paulo State, Brazil) with the objective of investigating the effects of N and K application through fertirrigation and conventional fertilization on banana plants during two crop cycles. Plant growth, nutrition status and fruit production were evaluated. The fertilization caused a reduction in the productive cycle. Fertilizers applied by fertirrigation or conventional fertilization changed the N and K leaf content. The fruit production varied in function of the treatment in the two cultivated cycles. Fruit production (t ha¹ year¹) obtained with application of 80% of N and K doses by fertirrigation was comparable to fruit production with 100% of fertilizer rate applied by conventional fertlization.
banana; foliar analysis; potassium chloride; Ammoniun nitrate; Musa spp
