Exploring the Influence of Growing Media and FertiGroe Nanofertilizer on Root Development in Cavendish Banana Plants (Musa acuminata Colla (AAA) 'Cavendish')

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of different growing media (soil, coconut coir dust, and a soil-coir dust mixture) and nanofertilizer application on root growth and nutrient uptake in Cavendish bananas (Musa acuminata AAA Cavendish). The research was conducted at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Philippines, using tissue-cultured banana plantlets. The plantlets were grown in various conditions and treated with either nanofertilizer (FertiGroe) or conventional fertilizer. The results showed that soil-grown plantlets had superior root growth, with a 28.9% increase in root number and a 54.3% increase in root length compared to coconut coir dust (CCD). However, CCD produced finer roots, with an 87.3% higher specific root length. Nanofertilizer did not significantly affect root parameters compared to conventional fertilizer. The optimal combination of soil and nanofertilizer resulted in roots that were 97.4% longer and 79% larger in diameter compared to CCD with conventional fertilizer. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing growing media and fertilizer techniques to enhance root development and .nutrient acquisition in Cavendish banana cultivation