| Abstract: |
The present study was conducted in two successive seasons (2003/2004 and 2004/2005) on the first and second ratoons of Grand Nain banana plants grown in sand clay loam soil under flood irrigation condition in a private banana orchard located at Aga district, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The plants received recommended dose (RD) of mineral N only/or between its different rates (100, 75 and 50 % N of RD) and N in the form of compost, chicken manure, biogein and nitrobein biofertilizers. In comparison with 100 % mineral N (control), all used treatments increased bunch and fruit weight, fruit total sugars (%), number of green leaves at flowering and at harvesting, pseudostem length, and chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll, except treatment (50 % N+25% N in the form of compost plus biogein) reduced fruits weight , total sugars (%) and pseudostem length. On the other hand, both treatments (50% mineral N + biogein biofertilizer) and (50% mineral N+ nitrobein biofertilizer) significantly increased bunch weight, bunch length and bunch or stem circumference, hand weight, pulp weight, TSS,TSS/acid ratio, leaf fresh and dry weight and leaf thickness, meanwhile, significantly decreased the period from emergency of flowers to harvest, fruit starch, nitrate and leaf zinc contents. The results clarified that both treatments gained best plant growth, productivity and fruit quality under this conditions, and minimize the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizer to half of recommended dose.
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