Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most important tropical fruits. Ripe banana fruits are sugary and eaten raw; unripe fruits, called plantains, are cooked and provide a starchy food with nutritional value similar to potato. Bananas can be grown on a wide range of soils provided they are fertile and well-drained. The best soils are deep, well-drained loams with a high water holding capacity and humus content. Optimum pH is between 5 and 7. Soils which are rich in nitrogen content and have adequate phosphorus content and high level of potash are good for banana cultivation.
Nitrogen deficiency causes slow growth and paler leaves with reduced leaf area and rate of leaf production.
Leaf petioles short, thin and compressed, thin profuse roots and lesser number of suckers are produced due to lack of N.
The deficiency of P causes complete cessation of leaves elongation, leaf production is reduced, and marginal chlorosis and premature death are caused.
P deficiency causes a blue or dark green coloration of leaves.
Deficiency of potassium causes marked reduction in growth, interval profusely smaller, premature yellowing of plant.
Purplish brown patches appear at the base of the petioles.
Characterized narrow land of marginal chlorosis of leaves turning into necrotic fallow.
Splitting and curling of leaps edges.
Magnesium deficiency symptoms show green banding around the margin and next to the midrib.
Fruits do not ripen well and become tasteless.
Deficiency causes chlorosis and delaying of green colour in newly emerging leaves.
The heart leaf becomes white and leaf blades become very soft and tear easily.
Newly emerging leaves are malformed.
Plants show shunted growth.
Plants show overall droopy appearance with shortened intervals between petiole.
Size of leaves reduced.
Iron deficiency has been recorded in alkaline soils and is identified by interveinal chlorosis of young leaves.
Marginal chlorosis of young leaves, which later turn brown.
Fruits with raised spots which are dark brown on black in color.
Interveinal chlorosis of leaves with chlorotic stripes.
Leaves appear papery whole in colour.