Effects of biochar and efficient microorganisms on the phenological stages of banana

Abstract

In Ecuador, banana cultivation is a fundamental pillar in both the agricultural and economic spheres, being one of the most exported products over time and generating employment opportunities for Ecuadorian families. In the province of El Oro the banana industry has contributed tho the country’s economy; however, there have been problems related to the cultivation processes due to the exessive use of chemical products and inadequate agricultural practices that contribute to soil erosión and the loss of the microflora and microfauna that are an essential part of the processes of mineralisation of organic matter. The research was evaluated the phenological phases of the banana cultivar Williams, using organic and chemical fertilizer. The experimental desing was completely randomised with three treatments and ten replications: T1(Complete fertilizer 40 g/plant); T2(Biochar 25 g/plant + Efficient Microorganism 4 ml + Purified water 1143 ml); T3(Complete fertilizer 40 g/plant encapsulated with Biochar with a ratio of (1:10) + Efficient Microorganism 4 ml + Purified water 1143 ml). The parameters evaluated were: plant height, total number of leaves up to the presence of the Fn leaf, leaf emisión, stem and chlorophyll levels. The results obtained showed that the application of T2(Biochar 25 g/plant + Efficient Microorganism 4 ml + Purified water 1143 ml), had a significant impact on the phenological phases, consolidating itself as the most effective treatment in banana cultivation.