Estimation of reserved macro-nutrient in fifty cultivars of post-harvest banana corms

Abstract

Banana corm (rhizome) act as a storage material for nourishing new side shoot by providing the reserved nutrients elements present inside it. However, amounts of nutrients reserved are not known due to less interest were shown to left over corm. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the essential macronutrients elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) on fifty post-harvest banana corms of different genotypes belonging to different genomic composition. The nitrogen content in the corms of the genotypes varied between 0.10% in Lacaton (AAA) and 1.31% in Onchini (ABB), The phosphorus content in the corms of the genotypes varied between 0.03% in Jahaji Clone-I (AAA), Co-I and Madhuranga bala (ABA) and 0.34% in Onchini (ABB). The potassium content in the corms of the genotypes varied between 0.80% in Kanthali Clone-V (AAB) and 6.80% in Basrai-14 (AAA). The calcium content in the corms of the genotypes varied between 0.63% in Kanthali Clone-V (AAB) and 6.48% in Basrai-14 (AAA). The magnesium content in the corms of the genotypes varied between 0.36% in Giant Governor and 2.38% in Sindhuri Harichal both in the genomic composition AAA and finally sulphur content varies with 0.05% in Champa-II (AAB) and 1.13% in FHIA3 (ABB). Macronutrients content in the corms varies with all the genotypes. This finding may state that some banana genotypes have sufficient nutrient for promoting profuse propagules from the mother corm.