Identification of ‘Prata anã’ banana leaf to diagnose the level of phosphorus sufficiency

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the leaf and its part with greater sensitivity to detect P variation in the ‘Prata anã’ banana plant. The experiment was carried out in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, in a clayey Oxisol. A randomized complete block design was used, with six P doses (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g family-1 year-1 of P2O5) and four replications. In the plants beginning the emission of the bunch in the first, second and third cycle of the banana tree, the 3rd and the 7th leaves were collected from the apex, from where 10 cm of the center of the limbs were removed, eliminating the midrib, 10 cm of the petiole and 10 cm from the midrib and 10 cm from the 1 leaf limbs. The midrib of the third leaf showed greater sensitivity to detect the variation of the P content in the banana tree when the content of this nutrient varies in the soil, and can be indicated to be used in the diagnosis of P in the ‘Prata anã’ banana tree. The third leaf limb from the apex is not the part of the leaf indicated to perform the diagnosis of P in the banana ‘Prata anã’ as recommended in the literature.