Estimation of nitrogen uptake dynamics in banana with two simple indicators of biomass

Ruille Marie, Dorey Elodie, Dorel Marc. 2023. Estimation of nitrogen uptake dynamics in banana with two simple indicators of biomass. Fruits, 78 (3) : 1-10.

https://doi.org/10.17660/th2023/009

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Résumé : Introduction – Banana cropping systems in the French West Indies are tending towards low nitrogen (N) input cropping systems. This implies efficient N management by monitoring N uptake in the plant to ensure that N resources are sufficient to match with crop N requirements. Biomass drives N uptake in plant, so biomass can be considered as an indicator of N uptake. But determining biomass in banana is tedious and disruptive to the cropping system. Materials and methods – The ability of five relationships to estimate banana biomass at vegetative and reproductive stages was investigated by using only two indicators: basal girth and fruit diameter. Then, these relationships were used to estimate the N uptake of banana plants at different phenological stages during two successive crop cycles. Results and discussion – Basal girth proved a good indicator for i) estimating banana biomass at the vegetative stage (RRMSE=0.29) and ii) fruit number (RRMSE=0.09). The increase in biomass at the reproductive stage resulted from the bunch development, whose biomass was explained by the fruit number and the fruit weight (R²=0.86). Fruit weight is accurately predicted with fruit diameter (RRMSE=0.13). Regression analysis confirmed the allometric relationship between banana biomass and nitrogen content. These relationships allowed a good prediction of nitrogen uptake during two crop cycles (RRMSE=0.14). Conclusion – Use of only two easily measured, non-destructive and inexpensive indicators could be key elements in the management of N fertilization in banana plantations. The relationships developed in this study could be derived and coupled with crop simulation models to investigate consequences of new N fertilization practices on N bioavailability in banana cropping systems.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : Musa, fertilisation, banane, rendement des cultures, cycle de l'azote, biomasse, engrais azoté, azote, physiologie végétale, système de culture, allométrie, plante de couverture