INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION ON THE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF BANANA FRUIT IN BRASÍLIA

Resumo

The present work aimed to evaluate quantitative and qualitative aspects of the initial productivity of the ‘BRS Tropical’ banana under different levels of potassium fertilization and irrigation volumes. The tests were arranged in four randomized blocks, which were consisted of a 5x5 factorial design, in slit-plot design. These plots were formed by fve different applied volumes of water in liters per pit (1090 – 2177 – 4300 – 6540 – 8720), which were equivalent to the amount of irrigation of water of 121 mm, 242 mm, 478 mm, 727 mm and 969 mm regarding the range of 9 m2 for each pit. The subplots were formed by fve levels of potassium in Kg.ha-1 (0 – 167 – 334 – 500 – 667). Both volumes of irrigation and levels of potassium were provided during the years of 2013 and 2014. The variables analyzed were for productivity, number of bunches per ha, number of hands per bunches, number of bananas per bunch, number of bananas per hand, average fruit weight, average length and diameter of the banana, the ratio between diameter and length and average pulp consistency. The doses of 500 Kg.ha-1 of K2O and 6,540 liters of water per pit provided the highest productivity (11,752 Kg.ha-1). The volumes of water were only statistically signifcant to the mass of fruit, as well as its length and diameter. The potassium application required caution, because excessive doses of potassium are harmful to productivity and quality of the fruit.