Response of banana nutrition and yield to fertilizer application methods in tropical sandy soils

Low fertilization efficiency in sandy soils is a critical challenge for banana productivity. This study assessed the impact of four fertilizer application methods on key edaphic and plant performance indicators in banana (Musa acuminata AAA cv. Williams) crops grown in sandy soils of the Colombian Caribbean. A complete production cycle study across three commercial plantations used a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Treatments were: T1 (soil drench), T2 (soil fertilization + pseudostem microinjection), T3 (soil + foliar fertilization), and T4 (conventional soil fertilization, used as the commercial control). Measured variables included soil properties (pH, EC, OM, texture, bulk density, macro and micronutrients) and plant metrics (plant height, number of functional leaves, number of bunches per PU, bunch weight, total cumulative weight, pseudostem diameter, macro and micronutrients), selected for their direct relevance to nutrient retention and crop performance in high-leaching environments. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P<0.05) showed that T3 consistently produced the best agronomic outcomes. It achieved the highest fresh bunch weight (23.0±1.7 kg), total yield (1122.9±85.4 kg), and foliar nutrient concentrations. This treatment also significantly improved key soil fertility indicators (total N, exchangeable K, Ca, Zn), without adverse effects on soil pH or salinity. Daughter plants exhibited lower nutritional status than mother plants, suggesting reduced uptake efficiency in early growth. The combined soil + foliar approach optimizes nutrient availability, enhances banana productivity, and provides a robust, efficient management strategy for sustainable crop production in leaching environments.