Effect of Nitrogen Sources, Rates, Some Biostimulants and Antioxidant on Growth and Productivity of Banana Plants

This study was conducted during two successive seasons (2008/2009 and 2009/2010) in a private banana orchard located at Aga district, Dakahlia Governorate to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen sources, i.e., ammonium sulphate ( 20.6 % N), ammonium nitrate ( 33.5 % N), calcium nitrate (15.5 %N) and urea(46.5 % N), nitrogen rate ( 560 or 280 g N/ plant), some biostimulants ( yeast and algae extract) and antioxidants ( vitamin C and salicylic acid ) on number of green leaves at harvest, yield and its components as well as fruit quality of banana cv. Grand Naine.Generally, the combination of 280 g N in the form of ammonium sulphate or urea provided with nitrobein (Nitr.) at 50 g/ plant and spraying with Vit.C at 500 ppm proved to be the best treatment for increasing number of green leaves at harvest, bunch weight, hand weight and finger weight as well as total carbohydrates in finger pulp. Moreover, the interaction between fertilization of plants with 280 g N in the form of ammonium sulphate supported with 50 g (Nitr.) /plant and spraying with Vit.C at 500 ppm recorded the minimum values of nitrate content in finger pulp