Diagnosis of factors responsible for the uprooting of banana plant in Santa Catarina orchardsAbstract:
In Santa Catarina state (SC), the banana plant is cultivated by family farmers, in small properties and in orchards that were implanted predominantly in areas of slopes. Uprooting of plants compromises the management and productivity of banana plantations in SC by reducing the stand and the harvest of bunches. This study aimed to evaluate the main factors responsible for the uprooting of banana plants grown in commercial orchards in SC. Twenty-four commercial orchards were sampled, with or without uprooting, in the period from 2019 to 2020. Information related to banana plantation management, plant vigor, root distribution within the soil profile, chemical analysis of soil collected in different layers and incidence of phytopathogenic nematodes in the soil and in roots. The results indicate relationships between uprooting of banana plants and acidity of the subsoil. The different orchards showed favorable conditions of acidity for the root development of the plants in the surface layer of the soil (0-10 cm). But, in the areas with high incidence of falling plants, small presence of roots in the subsoil due to the strong acidity in the layer of 20-40 cm was detected. This result highlights the importance of incorporating soil correctives before establishing the orchard.
Index terms
soil acidity; soil fertility; fruit growing; banana culture
Resumo:
No estado de Santa Catarina (SC), a bananeira é cultivada por agricultores familiares, em pequenas propriedades e em pomares que foram implantados predominantemente em áreas de encostas. O arrancamento de plantas compromete o manejo e a produtividade dos bananais em SC, reduzindo o estande e a colheita de cachos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os principais fatores responsáveis pelo arrancamento de bananeiras cultivadas em pomares comerciais em SC. Foram amostrados 24 pomares comerciais, com ou sem arrancamento, no período de 2019 a 2020. Foram coletadas informações relacionadas ao manejo do bananal, vigor das plantas, distribuição das raízes no perfil do solo, análise química do solo coletada em diferentes camadas e incidência de nematoides fitopatogênicos no solo e nas raízes. Os resultados indicam relações entre o arrancamento das bananeiras e a acidez do subsolo. Os diferentes pomares apresentaram condições favoráveis de acidez para o desenvolvimento radicular das plantas nacamada superficial do solo (0-10 cm). Porém, nas áreas com alta incidência de quedade plantas,foi detectada pequena presença de raízes no subsolo devido à forte acidez na camada de 20-40 cm. Este resultado ressalta a importância da incorporação decorretivos de solo antes do estabelecimento do pomar.
Termos para indexação
acidez do solo; fertilidade do solo; fruticultura; cultura da banana
Introduction
Santa Catarina is an important Brazilian banana-producing state, with significant social and economic relevance for small farmers. Although its average yield (28 t ha- 1, mainly Cavendish subgroup) is above the national mean, it remains low compared to the productive potential of the crop (GUIMARÃES et al., 2021).
Most orchards were established on hilly areas more than 20 years ago, often without proper soil correction, fertilization, or adoption of recommended management practices.
Such conditions, combined with inadequate weed, pest, and disease control, reduce plant vigor and bunch size. Moreover, mismanagement alters soil properties and root density, directly affecting plant development and yield (GOWEN, 1995).
Banana roots, concentrated mainly in the upper 40 cm of soil and within one meter of the plant (PATTISON;LINDSAY, 2006), are crucial for anchorage, water and nutrient uptake, and hormone synthesis. Root density and depth influence both bunch size and plant stability (ARAYA;WAELE, 2011; DRAYE et al., 2005).
In Santa Catarina, uprooting before or during harvest has become a major yield-limiting factor, reflecting low root stability. Several causes, acting alone or together, contribute to toppling: thin pseudostem, banana borer weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus), nematode attack, high mats, lack of propping, herbicide use, soil compaction, and chemical limitations such as acidity or low fertility (GOWEN, 1995; PATTISON; LINDSAY, 2006; MIOTTI et al., 2013; NKWAIN et al., 2022).
Strong winds and tall cultivars further intensify uprooting (GOWEN, 1995; SCHERER et al., 2018). These factors can be climatic, soil-related, or biological, with their importance varying by site (GAUGGEL et al., 2005).
Nematodes, for instance, were associated with toppling in Uganda (SPEIJER et al., 1994), while combined nematode and weevil damage with pseudostem weight explained plant falls in Ghana (SINTIM et al., 2016). Identifying these causes is therefore critical for defining control strategies and preventing further yield losses. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the main factors responsible for the uprooting of banana plants in commercial orchards along the north coast of Santa Catarina.
The survey of the main factors that can influence the uprooting of banana plants (Musa spp., AAA group, Cavendish subgroup) was carried out in 12 locations in the municipalities of Luiz Alves and Balneário Piçarras, SC, Brazil, from 2019 to 2020 (Figure 1).
The climate in both cities is described as humid subtropical (Cfa, Köppen classification).
The most frequent soil classes in the region are Argisols and Cambisols (EMBRAPA, 2004). In each property, two areas were sampled: one with a high incidences in the uprooted plants and the other without uprooting, despite being close and cultivated with the same variety, and receiving the same management. Each sample consisted of two sub-samples: collected or close to recently fallen plants, or close to standing plants. All samples were taken from plants in the reproductive phase. Thus, two composite samples were collected in each property, totaling 24 evaluations in the experiment.
Each area (with and without uprooting) was duly identified and information related to orchard management and plant vigor.
The percentage distribution of roots in the soil profile (from 0-10; 10-20 and 30- 40 cm depth) was also evaluated through mini-trenches that were opened on the side of recently uprooted plants or standing plants (Figure 2). Soil samples were collected at different depths (0-10; 10-20 and 20-40 cm) for chemical characterization, according to Tedesco et al. (1995).
Banana roots and soil samples (0-20 cm) were also collected to quantify phytopathogenic nematodes in each area, according to the methods proposed by Coolen and D’Herde (1972) and Jenkins (1964), respectively.
Evaluations related to plant vigor were also performed: plant height from the base to the insertion of the bunch (m), pseudostem circumference taken 30 cm above ground (cm), number of functional leaves (with at least 50% of green leaf lamina), and rhizome above soil surface (cm).
All evaluated areas had low banana weevil population densities, as well as had been used herbicide for weed control. Physical barriers that limit root system development (coarse fragments, continuous rock, high water table) were not detected in soil depth up to 40 cm in any evaluated area.
Thus, those parameters were not analyzed.
Statistical analyses were performed using R software version 4.2.1. Differences between samples from uprooted and standing plant areas were assessed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test with the stats package.
Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted with the factoextra and factominer packages.
PCA biplots were generated using the ggord package, with ellipses grouping treatments at a 0.90 confidence level.
. Recently uprooted plants and trench next to the banana plant to assess root distribution and collect samples in different layers.
Regarding soil chemical parameters, no differences were detected in the 0-10 cm layer.
But, in the 10-20 cm and 20-40 cm layers, more acidity soils in areas with a high incidence of uprooting were verified, as evidenced by lower pH values; higher concentration of Al and H+Al; higher Al saturation and lower base saturation (Table 1).
Furthermore, these differences were more contrasting in the 20-40 cm layer, revealing the acidity gradient in the soil profile.
Likewise, a gradient of soil fertility was observed, with a reduction in nutrient concentrations in the sublayers in relation to the surface layer. However, the fertility gradient showed the same behavior in both areas evaluated. This result can be attributed to the absence of limestone incorporation in the soil before the orchard was established.
As liming was carried out only on the soil surface, only the 0-10 cm layer showed acidity values close to the recommended range, that is pH 6; absence of Al and base saturation between 70 to 80%. As limestone has low solubility and low percolation in the soil profile, its action is limited to the first few centimeters of soil when it is applied superficially (NATALE et al., 2012).
Likewise, the higher concentration of P and K in the 0-10 cm profile can be attributed to the superficial application of fertilizers and the low mobility of these nutrients, mainly P, in the profile of the soils. Three species of nematode were detected in soil and in roots: Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus coffeae and Helicotylenchus multicinctus.
Nonetheless, H. multicinctus had the highest population density (data not shown).
No difference was detected in the phytonematodes population in areas with or without uprooting (Table 1). Moreover, the threshold of burrowing phytonematodes vary from 1,000 per 100 g of roots in West Africa, to 20,000 per 100 g of roots in Costa Rica (GOWEN, 1995), and we find population densities of total phytonematodes much lower. Thus, phytonematodes are probably not responsible for the falling of banana plants in the sampled areas. Regarding the phytotechnical parameters, only distribution of roots in the 2Plants evaluated in the areas without uprooting had a larger pseudostem circumference and greater number of leaves, indicating greater vigor.
The greater vigor of banana plants in areas without uprooting plants can be attributed to lower subsoil acidity, indicating a more favorable condition for root growth and distribution in these layers, which results in a greater volume of soil exploited by water and nutrients.0-40 cm layer, pseudostem circumference and the number of leaves were statistically different.
These results, presented in Figure 3, indicate that the evaluated orchards exhibit low soil acidity in the 0–10 cm layer, as evidenced by Al saturation values close to 10% and base saturation around 60%. However, soil acidity increases progressively in the 10–20 cm and 20–40 cm layers. This acidity gradient was more pronounced in orchards with a higher incidence of uprooting. As shown in Table 1 and Figure 3, orchards with greater uprooting incidence displayed higher soil acidity and reduced root distribution, particularly in the 20–40 cm layer. It is important to note that the recommended levels are Al saturation near zero and base saturation between 70% and 80% (GUIMARÃES et al., 2020).
Gradient of aluminum and base saturations in soil from samples collected at depths: 0-10; 10-20 and 20-40 cm in 12 commercial banana orchards, in areas with uprooting or standing plants.
The higher presence of Al (evidenced by higher Al saturation) and lower Ca and Mg (evidenced by lower base saturation) in the 10-20 cm and 20-40 cm layers may represent a chemical impediment to banana root development in depth. According to Natale et al. (2012), high concentrations of Al and low concentrations of P, Ca and Mg are limiting factors for the root development of fruit plants. The growth and concentration of roots, mainly in the superficial layer of the soil reduces plant fixation and the exploitation of the root system by water and nutrients (NATALE et al., 2012).
Considering that the banana plants stop emitting new roots in the flowering phase, it is important to maintain them healthy to maintain an adequate root population until the bunch harvest (DRAYE et al., 2005).
Trials conducted with banana plants, under greenhouse condition or growth chamber, showed that high Al concentration reduced plant biomass, root growth rate, pseudostem height, leaf surface area, growth of lateral roots, number and diameter of root axes, water uptake, and also changed and nutrient uptake (RUFYIKIRI et al., 2000; RUFYIKIRI et al., 2001; JIANGZHOU et al., 2022).
Low pH also reduced plant growth and nutrient uptake, as well as decreased nutrient absorption in the presence of Al (RUFYIKIRI et al., 2003; JIANGZHOU et al., 2022).
Thus, it is expected that plants grown in soils with high Al concentration are more susceptible to water deficit and to falling. A nutrient solution added 78.5 μM Al inhibited 50% water uptake, 54% Ca, 81% Mg, 46% K, 25% P, 59% N-NO3 and 44% N-NH4 uptake by banana plantlets, cultivar Grande Naine (RUFYIKIRI et al., 2001).
The authors reported different mechanisms of Al toxicity for plants. The short term effects are inhibition of mineral uptake and growth inhibition of root apex. Those effects lead to the inhibition of the root growth and decreasing water and mineral uptake (medium term effects). The long term effects are reduction on root, shoot biomass and leaf surface, which also reduce mineral and water uptake.
The decrease in water uptake at medium and long effects also affect the mineral uptake by decreasing its mass flow. The consequences of this toxicity are the reduction of plant vigor.
The relationship among soil and phytotechnical parameters both with or without uprooting banana plants were also analyzed by principal components (PCs), only with the indicators that showed direct correlation among them. The PCA eigenvalues and percentages of the variance explained by each PC were presented in table 2.
Principal components (CPs), eigenvalues ( λi) and percentage of explained variance and cumulative proportion (%).
The first two main components explain 68.17% of the total variation (41.17% and 21.00% by first and second components, respectively). Furthermore, these two PCs present eigenvalues greater than 1.0. Thus, it was considered that these first two principal components considerably explain the variation of the sampled areas, reducing the dimension of six original variables to two PCs. Table 3 shows that PC1 has high negative loading for Al saturation, while positive loads were bases saturation, plant height and number of leaves. For this component, the most weighted parameters are Al saturation (r = -0.89) and base saturation (r = 0.82). However, the contrast between these parameters according to the sampled areas was evident. PC2 high positive loads were rhizome above soil surface, number of leaves, root distribution and bases saturation.
In the second component, the parameter that had the greatest weight was the rhizome above soil surface (r = 0.64).
The graphical distribution of the evaluated orchards, with and without banana plant uprooting, is presented in Figure 4. A clear grouping of samples was observed, with distinct patterns between orchards with uprooted plants and those with standing plants. Orchards affected by uprooting exhibited higher aluminum saturation values and greater rhizome height above the soil surface. In contrast, orchards with standing plants were characterized by higher base saturation, greater root distribution, a higher number of functional leaves, and increased plant height.
The greater length of the vectors, as well as the high correlation values (Table 3 and Figure 3) referring to Al saturation and base saturation in relation to the other parameters indicates that these parameters are one of the main factors that differentiate these groups of orchards. It is also possible to observe a correlation between the parameters root distribution, number of leaves, base saturation and plant height with the standing plants, evidenced by the acute angle formed between these parameters.
Rhizome above soil surface and Al saturation were related with uprooted plants.
Thus, the results suggest that the main factors responsible for the uprooting of banana plants in commercial orchards in the north coast of Santa Catarina are acidity of the subsoil, evidenced by high Al concentration.
Moreover, aluminum toxicity inhibits root development, which may result in reduction in water and mineral uptake.
Aluminum toxicity also reduces plant vigor, with the reduction of the number of functional leaves and pseudostem circumference, as well as increases high mat.
Biplot CP1 x CP2 on the parameters evaluated in areas with (uprooted) or without uprooting (Not uprooted) of banana plants. Rhizome above soil surface (AR); root distribution (RD); Al saturation (AS); base saturation (BS); number of leaves (NL); plant height (PH).
The study demonstrated that subsoil acidity is a key factor contributing to banana plant uprooting in commercial orchards on the northern coast of Santa Catarina.
High Al saturation and low base saturation between 10–40 cm restrict root penetration, reducing soil volume available for water and nutrient uptake. This condition increases plant susceptibility to water deficit and weakens anchorage. Therefore, correcting subsoil acidity with appropriate amendments before orchard establishment is essential to enhance plant stability and productivity.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Associação dos Bananicultores de Luiz Alves (ABLA) for their collaboration in the conceptualization and data acquisition, and the Brazilian agencies CNPq and FAPESC for financial support.
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Edited by
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Scientific Editor
Alexandre Pio Viana
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Associate Editor
Alexandre Pio Viana
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Guimarães, G.G.F., upon reasonable request.
