Leaf nutrient and chlorophyll content in banana (Musa AAA) under the influence of Azotobacter and Azospirillum inoculation

摘要

Leaf nutrient concentration and chlorophyll content of banana (Musa AAA) cv. Giant Governor were estimated following the fractioning of nitrogenous fertilizer and inoculation with Azotobacter and Azospirillum either once (sucker) or twice (sucker +soil inoculation) or in combination with 60 and 100% nitrogen. Leaf nitrogen content was highest (2.83%) in Azospirillum-inoculated suckers receiving 100% nitrogen, but there was no significant difference in suckers inoculated with either Azotobacter alone or in combination with Azospirillum once or twice, irrespective of applied nitrogen concentration. Leaf nitrogen concentration was highest at the vegetative stage and declined gradually thereafter during shooting and harvesting. The combined inoculation of Azotobacter twice resulted in the highest leaf phosphorus content. A gradual reduction in potassium content was recorded from the vegetative stage to shooting and shooting to harvest. Suckers inoculated with Azotobacter and receiving a full concentration of nitrogen had the highest leaf potassium content (3.74%), followed by Azospirillum-inoculated suckers (3.69%) at the vegetative stage.