© The Authors, 2025, Published by the Universidad del Zulia*Corresponding author: adriana.sanchez@utm.edu.ec
Keywords:
Mineral fertilization
Musa AAB
Growth
Morphological response of the ‘Barraganete’ plantain (Musa AAB) to magnesium levels under
dryland conditions
Respuesta morfológica del plátano ‘Barraganete’ (Musa AAB) con niveles de magnesio en
condiciones de secano
Resposta morfológica da banana ‘Barraganete’ (Musa AAB) aos níveis de magnésio em condições
de sequeiro
José Randy Cedeño-Zambrano
1
Nexar Vismar Cobeña-Loor
2
Luis Alfonso Jiménez-Flores
3
Santiago Miguel Ulloa
4
Francel Xavier López-Mejía
5
Adriana Beatriz Sánchez-Urdaneta
6*
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(3): e244239
ISSN 2477-9407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47280/RevFacAgron(LUZ).v42.n3.X
Crop production
Associate editor: Dr. Jorge Vilchez-Perozo
University of Zulia, Faculty of Agronomy
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
¹Doctorado en Ciencias Agrarias, División de Estudios para
Graduados, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad del Zulia.
Maracaibo, Venezuela. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de
Manabí, Extensión El Carmen, El Carmen, Manabí, Ecuador.
2
Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Extensión El
Carmen, El Carmen, Manabí, Ecuador.
3
Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Agronomía,
Departamento de Ingeniería, Suelos y Aguas. Maracaibo,
Venezuela.
4
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas, ESPE, Sede Santo
Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Santo Domingo, Ecuador.
5
Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Extensión
El Carmen, El Carmen, Manabí, Ecuador. Fundación
Agroecológica Río Negro. Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas,
Ecuador.
6
Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Facultades de Ingenierías
Agroambientales, Dirección de Investigación. Portoviejo,
Manabí, Ecuador. Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de
Agronomía, Departamento de Botánica. Maracaibo, Zulia,
Venezuela.
Received: 04-06-2025
Accepted: 29-07-2025
Published: 24-08-2025
Abstract
Plantain (Musa AAB) is a crop of great economic importance in
Ecuador due to its extensive planting area, high production, and job
creation. Considering its high nutrient requirement, this research
was conducted to evaluate the response of morphological variables
in ‘Barraganete’ plantain (Musa AAB) to the application of dierent
levels of magnesium. An experiment was carried out in ‘El Carmen’
canton, province of Manabí, Ecuador (-0,259503 S, -79,427558 W),
which included six levels of Mg application (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and
125 kg.ha
-1
), under a randomized complete block design with three
replications. The variables evaluated (plant height, pseudostem
circumference, leaf length and width, leaf area, and total leaves)
were subjected to repeated measures analysis over time, with weekly
measurements. Statistical analyses showed that the morphological
variables evaluated did not present signicant dierences between
Mg doses; however, the temporal analysis highlighted that the
highest doses promoted greater growth of vegetative organs.
Overall, the results suggest that Mg application at doses equal to or
greater than 50 kg.ha⁻¹ could be considered. This nding supports
the need for future studies to compare morphological variables with
yield, as well as evaluate protability, to provide useful information
for improving crop production under the study conditions.
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(3): e254239 July-September. ISSN 2477-9409.
2-6 |
Resumen
El plátano (Musa AAB) es un cultivo de gran importancia
económica en Ecuador debido a su extensa supercie de siembra,
alta producción y generación de empleos. Considerando su
elevado requerimiento de nutrientes, se condujo esta investigación
para evaluar la respuesta de variables morfológicas en plátano
‘Barraganete’ (Musa AAB) ante la aplicación de diferentes niveles de
Mg. Se realizó un experimento en el cantón “El Carmen”, provincia
de Manabí, Ecuador (-0,259503 S, -79,427558 O), que incluyó seis
niveles de aplicación de Mg (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 y 125 kg.ha
-1
), bajo
un diseño de bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones. A las
variables evaluadas (altura de la planta, perímetro del pseudotallo,
largo y ancho de la hoja, área foliar y hojas totales) se les aplicó un
análisis de medidas repetidas en el tiempo, con mediciones semanales,
Los análisis estadísticos demostraron que las variables morfológicas
evaluadas no presentaron diferencias signicativas entre dosis de
Mg; sin embargo, el análisis temporal destacó que las dosis más
altas promovieron mayor crecimiento de los órganos vegetativos;
en general, los resultados indican que la aplicación de Mg en dosis
iguales o superiores a 50 kg.ha
-1
podrían considerarse, lo que sugiere
estudios futuros en donde se compare variables morfológicas con el
rendimiento, así como también la evaluación de la rentabilidad en
aras de proporcionar información útil para mejorar la producción del
cultivo en la zona bajo las condiciones de estudio.
Palabras clave: fertilización mineral, Musa AAB, crecimiento.
Resumo
A banana-da-terra (Musa AAB) é uma cultura de grande
importância econômica no Equador devido à sua extensa área de
plantio, alta produção e geração de empregos. Considerando sua alta
necessidade de nutrientes, esta pesquisa foi conduzida para avaliar a
resposta de variáveis morfológicas na banana-da-terra ‘Barraganete’
(Musa AAB) à aplicação de diferentes níveis de Mg. Um experimento
foi conduzido no cantão “El Carmen”, província de Manabí, Equador
(-0,259503 S, -79,427558 O), em um projeto de blocos completos
aleatórios e três repetições que incluíram seis níveis de aplicação de
Mg (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 e 125 kg.ha
-1
). As variáveis avaliadas (altura
da planta, perímetro do pseudocaule, comprimento e largura da folha,
área foliar e total de folhas) foram analisadas ao longo do tempo,
com medições semanais, usando a metodologia de medidas repetidas.
As análises estatísticas mostraram que as variáveis morfológicas
avaliadas não apresentaram diferenças signicativas entre as doses
de Mg; no entanto, a análise temporal evidenciou que doses maiores
promoveram maior crescimento dos órgãos vegetativos; de forma
geral, os resultados indicam que a aplicação de Mg em doses iguais
ou superiores a 50 kg/ha⁻¹ pode ser considerada, sugerindo estudos
futuros que comparem variáveis morfológicas com a produtividade,
bem como avaliem a rentabilidade, a m de fornecer informações
úteis para melhorar a produção da cultura na área nas condições de
estudo.
Palavras-chave: fertilização mineral, Musa AAB, crescimento.
Introduction
Worldwide, the production of the plantain crop (Musa sp.) in
2022 was distributed across Africa, America, Asia, and Oceania, with
51.63, 13.11, 7.0, and 0.03 %, respectively (Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, FAOSTAT, 2022). Ramos et al.
(2016) pointed out that, in 2011, Latin America produced 25 % of the
nearly 38 million tons of plantain worldwide, with the main producers
being Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic,
Bolivia, Venezuela, and Honduras.
The plantain crop represents a signicant contribution to
Ecuador’s socioeconomics and food security, generating both
permanent and seasonal employment, as well as providing a steady
supply of energy-rich food to most of the population (Álvarez et
al., 2020). The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC,
2023) reported a total of 1.4 million hectares with permanent crops
for Ecuador in 2022, which represented 9.3 % of the total area for
Musaceae. Of that area, 133,145 hectares correspond to the plantain
crop; of these, 52,476 hectares are planted in the province of Manabí.
The average crop yield in Ecuador was 7.24 t.ha
-1
.year
-1
, which
is relatively low compared to the yields obtained in other countries;
the low productivity recorded is a consequence of biotic (pests
and diseases), abiotic (drought) and technological (nutrition, low
densities, irrigation, among others) problems; of the total planted
area, only 14,33 and 34 %, receive irrigation, fertilization and
phytosanitary treatments, respectively; that is, more than 60 % of
the national surface does not have access to technology, which could
be the origin of the low yields obtained (Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries (MAGAP), 2015).
The absence of fertilization plans that consider critical stages of
the crop, soil types, water conditions, among other aspects, is one of
the important factors that aect low yields. This requires an evaluation
of the eect that certain key minerals may have on production
parameters, under the specic conditions of each region where
plantain are a potential crop. For this reason, magnesium has been
considered an important element for plantain growth and production,
which is reected in the large quantities extracted in the eld, which
at harvest time is approximately 140 kg.ha
-1
.year
-1
(Avellán-Vásquez
et al., 2020; Cobeña-Loor
et al., 2020).
The response to mineral nutrition of morphological variables
allows improving the production of Musaceae (plantains and bananas).
The evaluation helps identify nutritional deciencies and understand
the interactions between nutrients, as well as develop fertilization
strategies that optimize plant growth and yield (Rodrigues et al.,
2021).
Magnesium (Mg²⁺) is an essential macronutrient in crop
physiology since it plays a key role in chlorophyll synthesis,
photosynthesis, nutrient metabolism, cell membrane stability, and
enzymatic activation (Ferreira et al., 2023). In addition, its role in
plant resistance to various environmental stressors has been widely
documented (Chen et al., 2018; Kumari et al., 2022). Even with
advances in understanding its impact on agricultural crops, its
inuence continues to be explored (Crusciol et al., 2019; Qin et al.,
2020; Heidari et al., 2021; Sharma et al., 2022). This information is
relevant since Mg²⁺, by contributing to plant growth and development,
also improves quality attributes such as avor, texture, and post-
harvest shelf life (Adnan et al., 2021).
Considering the above, this research aimed to evaluate dierent
doses of magnesium in the ‘Barraganete’ plantain crop (Musa AAB)
in the canton of El Carmen, Province of Manabí, Ecuador, under
dryland conditions and its eect on the morphological response.
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Cedeño-Zambrano et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(3): e254239
3-6 |
Materials and methods
The trial was carried out at the Río Suma Experimental Farm, Eloy
Alfaro Lay University of Manabí (ULEAM), El Carmen extension,
located in El Carmen Canton, Province of Manabí, UTM coordinates
-0.259503 S, -79.427558 W, and an altitude of 263 meters above sea
level, during the period April 2018-May 2019. The study area has an
average temperature of 24.15 ºC, annual rainfall of 2684 mm.year
-1,
relative humidity equal to 85.6 %, a heliophany of 553 h.light
-1
.year
-1,
and average annual evapotranspiration of 1,089.65 mm.
Mother plants of ‘Barraganete’ plantain were selected considering
morphological and phytosanitary characteristics and yield, such as
a greater number of leaves, pseudostem with good diameter, low
presence of black sigatoka (Mycosphaerella jiensis), reduced
presence of black palm weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus), and bunches
with a greater number of exportable hands and ngers. In the rst
nursery phase, corms with an approximate weight between 300 and
400 g were selected from them and were planted in 10” x 12” bags
containing sawdust as substrate. Cultural practices and phytosanitary
control were followed according to the methodology of Sánchez-
Urdaneta et al. (2022). After 12 weeks, when the plants had reached
a height of more than 20 cm and had approximately four developed
leaves, they were planted in their nal place in the eld (May-2019).
The planting distance was 2.5 m x 1.80 m, for a population of 2,222
plants.ha
-1
.
The research was conducted under dryland conditions, and
all the cultural practices required in the management of the crop
were applied, such as weeding, removal of dry or damaged parts
of the stem, phytosanitary control (pests, diseases, and weeds), and
fertilization (Sánchez-Urdaneta et al., 2022). In this last practice, a
balanced fertilization of NPK was applied, with N = 100, P
2
O
5
= 40,
and K
2
O = 150 kg.ha
-1
, using urea (46 % N), phosphate urea (17 %
N, 44 % P₂O₅), and potassium oxide (60 % K₂O) as sources. The
applications were made fractionally at three key moments of the
vegetative cycle, which coincided with the formation of 6, 12, and 18
leaves, in order to optimize nutrient absorption and reduce losses due
to leaching or volatilization, as indicated by Avellán-Vásquez et al.
(2020) and Cobeña-Loor et al. (2020).
Prior to planting in the eld, a soil analysis was carried out to
determine the amount of nutrients available, which revealed a
moderately acidic pH (5.76), suitable for the development of plantain
crops, accompanied by a high content of organic matter (6.47 %)
and a low electrical conductivity (0.28 dS.m
-1
), which indicated the
absence of salinity. Potassium (0.69 meq.100
g
-1
), calcium (9.00
meq.100 g
-1
), and zinc (8.90 ppm) levels were optimal, favoring
good plant nutrition. However, deciencies of boron (0.17 ppm) and
manganese (1.90 ppm) were detected, as well as suboptimal Mg/K
and (Ca+Mg)/K cation ratios, which could aect the eciency in
nutrient absorption. The soil presented a loamy texture, favorable for
root development and moisture retention.
The following vegetative variables were evaluated: plant height
(from the base of the pseudostem to the intersection of the last level
of unfolded leaves, in m); pseudostem circumference (at 1 m from the
soil surface, in cm); leaf length (on the third leaf, from the junction
of the petiole with the lamina to the apex, in m); leaf width (on the
third leaf, in the middle of the leaf lamina, in m); leaf area (which was
estimated based on the length and width of the most recently emerged
third leaf; Kumar et al., 2002) and total number of leaves (leaves
fully expanded at the time of assessment, including the youngest leaf
with approximately 80 % leaf expansion; completely dry or fallen
senescent leaves were not counted). These variables were measured
weekly from week 10 until the time of the inorescence emission.
The experiment was carried out under a randomized complete
block design, where six treatments were applied, corresponding to the
doses of MgO: 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 kg.ha
-1
. The rst application was
made in week 14 (6
th
leaf emitted), 2
nd
application in week 20 (12 leaf
emitted), and 3
rd
application in week 26 (18 leaf). They were applied
in three fractions, together with the base fertilization. Each treatment
consisted of three replications and 16 plants per experimental unit
for a total of 288 plants. From each plot, 4 plants were taken as a
sampling unit, for a total of 72 plants evaluated during the research.
Analysis of variance and Tukey’s mean tests were performed.
The variables evaluated were analyzed over time, with weekly
measurements, using the methodology of repeated measures over
time (SAS® statistical program, version 9.1.3 (Statistical Analysis
System, 2023), selecting the polynomial models that best explained
their behavior. For data processing, the GLM and MIXED procedures
of the SAS statistical program were used; the verication of the
assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variances was carried
out using the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene tests, respectively.
Results and discussion
Plant height and pseudostem circumference
The analysis of repeated measures over time showed statistically
signicant dierences (P<0.0001) in plant height and pseudostem
circumference of the ‘Barraganete’ plantain throughout the
evaluations. However, this analysis did not determine signicant
dierences for the variables mentioned due to the fertilization with
Mg. The dierences became evident when statistical analyses were
performed in particular weeks according to the phenological stages
of the crop, which for both variables were presented in weeks 30
and 40 (P<0.046 and P<0.02, respectively for height and P<0.05 and
P<0.043, respectively for the circumference), reected in gures 1A
and 1B by the separation of the curves.
Figure 1. Plant height (A) and pseudostem circumference (B) of
‘Barraganete’ plantain (Musa AAB), under dierent
doses of Mg fertilization, in El Carmen, Ecuador.
Plant height increased progressively over time, which is an
expected behavior due to the natural growth of the crop (Figure 1A).
This variable presented a characteristic pattern, a progressive growth
that was rapid at the beginning of the research and later stabilized
towards the end of it, agreeing with the phenological stages of the
crop. The decrease in the elongation rate occurred between weeks 40
and 46, which coincided with the beginning of the owering stage.
During this phase, the photoassimilates are redirected towards the
formation of the fruits, limiting vegetative growth.
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(3): e254239 July-September. ISSN 2477-9409.
4-6 |
The average height of the plants in all treatments at the end of
the evaluations was 3.28 m, with a range between 2.99 and 3.39 m,
corresponding to the doses of 50 and 125 kg.ha
-1
of Mg, respectively.
The absence of eect of Mg fertilization for all the phenological stages
on plant height may indicate that, within the dose range studied, the
amount of mineral applied had little inuence on the vertical growth
of the plant. However, Ahmed et al. (2023) have pointed out that Mg
should be considered to have other benecial eects for the plant, such
as improving soil quality, nutrient absorption, increasing resistance to
pests and diseases, among others, which may not be reected in the
plant height.
In contrast to the results obtained, Vivas-Cedeño et al. (2023),
whose experimental plantation was also in dryland conditions, noted
that fertilization with Mg inuenced plant height and the number of
functional leaves at harvest, where plants fertilized with 20 kg.ha
-1
reached an average height of 4.10 m, and with 60 kg.ha
-1,
the height
increased to 4.27 m, diering by approximately 80 cm from the
height of the plants evaluated in this research.
Concerning the pseudostem circumference, an initial phase
of rapid expansion was observed in the rst weeks, followed by a
deceleration as the plant reached the state of structural maturity.
This pattern is characteristic of the plantain crop, in which the initial
growth is dominated by cell division and elongation, while in later
stages it stabilizes as the plant prioritizes owering and progress in the
development of the fruit. The increase in pseudostem circumference
over time is a reection of the plant’s vegetative development and
is inuenced by the accumulation of biomass and cell expansion in
response to the availability of nutrients, water, and environmental
conditions. The average of this variable was 65.72 cm, with values at
the end of the evaluations of 64.61 and 66.69 cm for 50 and 75 kg.ha
-1
of Mg, respectively (Figure 1B).
González-García et al. (2021) found that the pseudostem
circumference of the ‘Hartón’ plantain varied between 59.44 and
66.86 cm, slightly resembling the results obtained in this research.
On the other hand, Delgado et al. (2008) in the state of Barinas,
Venezuela, indicated that the pseudostem circumference of the
‘Hartón’ plantain reached 55.9 cm, which suggests that the soil and
climatic conditions where the plants grow have a marked inuence
on their growth and development. Meanwhile, Rodríguez et al.
(2018) indicated that the plant height and its circumference depend
on the clone evaluated and will subsequently be inuenced by its
vigor according to the phenological stage of its growth. While it is
true that the genetic constitution of crops plays a major role in their
growth and development, factors related to the physical, chemical,
and mineralogical composition of soils also inuence crop behavior.
Length, leaf width, and leaf area
The analysis of repeated measures over time showed statistically
signicant dierences (P<0.0001) in the variables leaf area, length,
and leaf width of the ‘Barraganete’ plantain because of the evaluation
time. In contrast, no dierences were detected in the variables
mentioned due to the eect of the Mg application. However, when
performing statistical analyses in specic weeks according to the
phenological stages of the crop, statistically signicant dierences
were found for the eect of the Mg dose applied. For leaf length,
these dierences corresponded to weeks 25 to 40 (P<0.04; P<0.001,
P<0.002, and P<0.03; respectively), where the curves showed a
pronounced separation between treatments (Figure 2A).
Figure 2. Length (A) and width (B) of the third leaf of the
‘Barraganete’ plantain plants (Musa AAB), under
dierent doses of Mg fertilization, in El Carmen,
Ecuador.
The longest leaf length was recorded in the treatments of 50
kg.ha
-1
(2.34 m) and 125 kg.ha
-1
Mg (2.38 m) at 53 weeks. In contrast,
treatments with 75 and 100 kg.ha
-1
Mg showed the lowest leaf lengths
from week 21 to the end of the experiment in week 53. These results
suggest that the eect of Mg on leaf elongation was not linear but
presented an optimal point in the applied dose range.
In general, from week 15 to week 30, leaf growth was accelerated,
with an average rate of increase of 1.88 times compared to the initial
period. Subsequently, from week 30 to week 50, the rate of elongation
decreased signicantly, with an increase of only 1.04 times (Figure
2A). This trend suggested that in the initial stage of leaf development,
there was greater cell division and elongation, which drove more
pronounced growth. In the advanced stages, growth slowed due to
the redistribution of resources to other physiological processes, such
as the formation of reproductive organs and the maturation of the
pseudostem.
Regarding the leaf width, it was evident that it presented two
well-dened phases: an accelerated growth phase (week 10-30),
during which the leaf width experienced an average increase of 1.85
times with respect to its initial value. The second phase considered
stabilization (week 30-53), where the rate of increase in leaf width
was reduced, showing a less pronounced slope in the growth curve.
This deceleration could be related to the transition from vegetative to
reproductive growth, which prioritizes the redistribution of resources
towards the pseudostem and the formation of the inorescence.
Statistically signicant dierences were found because of the Mg
dose from week 23 to week 40 (P<0.05), where the curves showed
a pronounced separation between treatments. Treatments with Mg
applications were statistically dierent from the control (Figure 2B).
Between weeks 10 and 20, the leaf width was progressive,
reaching the highest values in the treatments 50 and 75 kg.ha
−1
Mg.
From week 21, a sustained increase was recorded until reaching its
maximum value in week 42 in the 125 and 50 kg.ha
−1
Mg treatments,
with values of 0.85 and 0.84 m, respectively. In contrast, treatments
with 0 and 25 kg.ha
−1
Mg showed the lowest leaf widths from week 21
until the end of the study (Figure 2B). These results suggest that the
response of leaf width to Mg fertilization was not linear but exhibited
an optimal eect within the range of doses evaluated.
In a study comparing the agronomic characteristics of two
plantain genotypes (Prata and PA 42-44), it was determined that there
were no dierences for the variables length (170.42 cm and 165.40
cm, respectively) and width of the third leaf (67.93 cm and 66.14 cm,
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Cedeño-Zambrano et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(3): e254239
5-6 |
respectively) for the rst crop cycle at the time of owering; while
for other vegetative variables such as pseudostem circumference,
number of leaves and leaf area ‘Prata-Anã’ presented values higher
than those of PA42-44 in more than one cycle, which demonstrates
the variability between genotypes, despite being the parent and
progeny, respectively (Rocha et al., 2011). Ferreira et al. (2020),
estimating the leaf area of ‘Prata-Anãʼ and ʻBRS Platinaʼ plantain
plants with lanceolate leaves, determined that the average leaf length
was 32.93 and 35.23 cm, respectively, while for the width it was 5.20
and 6.18 cm, respectively. The width, length, and width/length ratio
of lanceolate leaves of the ‘Prata-Anã’ and ‘BRS Platina’ plantain
plants were signicantly correlated with leaf area, with the highest
correlation being for ‘BRS Platina’.
In previous research, the average leaf length and width were
lower than those found in this research, although plantain and banana
are not fully comparable, both are AAB triploids, sharing a similar
genome. Another aspect to consider is the environmental eect that
determines growth patterns derived from climatic, edaphic, and
plantation management conditions.
Concerning the leaf area variable, the values ranged from: 1.51
to 2.59 m² (25 and 75 kg.ha
-1
Mg) in week 10; from 6.69 to 9.82 m²
(25 and 50 kg·ha
-1
Mg) in week 20; from 18.25 to 23.93 m² (25 and
50 kg·ha
-1
Mg) in week 30; from 30.15 to 35.40 m² (control and 50
kg·ha
-1
Mg) in week 40; and from 32.34 to 38.12 m² (control and 50
kg·ha
-1
) in week 46 (Figure 3A).
emission of the inorescence; this could be due to a lower rate of leaf
emission, a reduction in leaf lamina size, a reduction in the longevity
of the last leaves, or a combination of all these factors.
Sahu et al. (2023) in plantaind with Ca and a dose of nutrients-
NPK (RDN), on growth and production variables, demonstrating
that the application of calcium levels (150 and 300 g.plant
-1
) and
magnesium (75 and 150 g.plant
-1
) had a signicant eect on leaf area
(LA) compared to the control. The highest LA (10.19 m
2
) was found
with the RDN + calcium treatment (150 g.plant
-1
), similar to the RDN
+ magnesium treatment (150 g.plant
-1
) + calcium (150 g.plant
-1
) and
RDN + magnesium (150 g.plant
-1
) + calcium (300 g.plant
-1
), while the
minimum leaf area (6.07 m
2
) was recorded with the control. These
treatments diered from those obtained in the present study, where
the application of Mg did not have a signicant eect on this variable.
Number of total leaves
For the number of total leaves of the ‘Barraganete’ plantain,
the analysis of repeated measures over time showed signicant
dierences (P<0.04). On the contrary, when evaluating specic weeks
that corresponded to phenological stages of the crop, no statistically
signicant dierences (P>0.6276) were found due to the dose of Mg
applied. The total number of leaves on the plantain plant averaged
approximately 38 leaves throughout the entire crop cycle. Leaf
emission was approximately 0.7 leaves.week
-1
, and between weeks
43 and 44, the emission of new leaves ceased; the average number
of leaves towards the end of the observations was 36 leaves (Figure
3B). It is highlighted that fertilization with Mg did not determine
the number of total leaves during the crop cycle, which leads to
the presumption that this variable has more to do with the genetic
constitution of the plant than with the application of this mineral.
Vivas-Cedeño et al. (2023) indicated that the highest number of
leaves at owering was obtained with the doses of 40 and 60 kg.ha
-1
Mg (8.5 leaves), and with the dose of 20 kg.ha
-1,
the lowest number
was produced at harvest (7.56 leaves), these values being higher
than those achieved in this research. Likewise, Sahu et al. (2023) in
plantain (M. paradisiaca), where dierent doses of Mg combined
with Ca and a recommended dose of nutrients-NPK (RDN) were
evaluated, determined that the application of dierent levels of Ca
(150 and 300 g.plant
-1
) and Mg (75 and 150 g.plant
-1
) exerted a
signicant eect on the number of leaves·plant
-1
compared to the
control. The maximum number of leaves
·plant
-1
(27.11) was found
with RDN + Ca 150 g.plant
-1
treatment), as well as with RDN + Mg
(150 g.plant
-1
) + Ca (150 g.plant
-1
); The lowest number of leaves.
plant
-1
(14.22) was recorded with the control treatment.
Conclusions
The morphological variables evaluated did not show a clear
response to Mg doses, as there was no reaction to their application
during the crop cycle, except in specic stages, depending on the
vegetative organ and its quality. The dierences observed in these
variables were related to the time of evaluation, determined by genetic
and environmental factors that, in combination, determined the
expected growth pattern. In general, the results suggest that applying
Mg at doses equal to or greater than 50 kg.ha⁻¹ could be considered,
suggesting future studies to compare morphological variables with
yield, as well as evaluate protability, to provide useful information
for improving crop production under the study conditions.
Figure 3. Leaf area of the third leaf (A) and number of total leaves
(B) of ‘Barraganete’ plantain (Musa AAB), under
dierent doses of fertilization with Mg, in El Carmen,
Ecuador.
When evaluating specic weeks corresponding to the main
phenological stages of the crop, statistical dierences (P<0.045) were
found in weeks 30 and 40; in week 30 between treatments 0, 25, 50,
and 125 kg.ha
-1
Mg regarding the 75 and 100 kg.ha
-1
treatments Mg.
Finally, in week 40, these statistical dierences (P<0.03) occurred
between the treatments with higher doses (50, 75, 100, and 125
kg.ha
-1
Mg), compared to the lowest doses (0 and 25 kg.ha
-1
Mg).
During these phenological stages, the leaf growth curves showed a
clear separation between treatments (Figure 4A), which indicated a
dierentiated response of the plant to Mg fertilization at all stages of
development, establishing that the inuence of Mg on this variable
depends on both the phenological stage and the doses of Mg applied.
These results suggest that the eect of Mg on leaf growth is not
necessarily proportional to the dose applied and suggest that the
optimal point is between 50 and 75 kg.ha
-1
Mg.
Another important aspect to highlight is that the dynamics of the
leaf area over time responded according to what has already been
described, its magnitude decreased as the plant approached the
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(3): e254239 July-September. ISSN 2477-9409.
6-6 |
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