Production and nutritional diagnosis of banana fertigated with treated sanitary wastewater

Abstract

This work evaluated the effects of the application of secondary-treatment sanitary wastewater from the Sewage Treatment Plant in Janaúba - Minas Gerais, Brazil, on the production and nutritional diagnosis of ‘Prata-Anã’ banana. The doses of wastewater tested were equivalent to 70, 130, 170 and 200% of the 150 kg ha-1 limit for sodium disposal on the soil. For comparison, a control treatment was conducted without wastewater. During two crop cycles, fruit productivity, the productivity of first- and second-class bananas, the number of hands, the number of first- and second-class hands and fruit length and diameter were determined. Banana fertigated with treated sanitary wastewater has productivity and fruits similar to those managed with mineral fertilizers and clean water. Most levels of nutrients in the leaves of ‘Prata-Anã’ banana are unchanged by management with treated sanitary wastewater, except for Mg, Fe, and Zn. High leaf level of manganese in all treatments may unbalance plant nutrition, but more investigation about reference levels is necessary.