Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Banana (Musa AAA Cv
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Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Banana (Musa AAA cv. Malindi) in Oman Dissertation presented to the Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics BY Khair Tuwair Said Al Busaidi Organicagriculturalsciences U N I K A S S E L University of Kassel 2012 Die vorliegende Arbeit wurde vom Fachbereich Agrarwissenschaften der Universität Kassel als Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Agrarwissenschaften (Dr. agr.) angenommen Erster Betreuer: Prof. Dr. Andreas Buerkert, Universität Kassel Zweiter Betreuer: Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Rainer Georg Jörgensen, Universität Kassel Prüfer: Prof. Eva Schlecht, Universitäten Kassel und Göttingen Prüfer: Prof. Dr. Anthony M. Whitbread, Georg-August-University Göttingen Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 28. November 2012 This work has been accepted by the Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences of the University of Kassel as a thesis for acquiring the academic degree of Doktor der Agrarwissenschaften (Dr. Agr.). Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Buerkert, University of Kassel Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Rainer Georg Joergensen, University of Kassel Examiner: Prof. Dr. Eva Schlecht, Universities of Kassel and Gottingen Examiner: Prof. Dr. Anthony M. Whitbread, Georg-August-University Gottingen Defense day: 28. November 2012 Table of Contents Dedication ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ iv Acknowledgements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ v Danksagung --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vi Summary----------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vii Zusammenfassung ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ix Chapter 1. General introduction .................................................................... 1 1.1Some notes about banana on the Arabian Peninsula --------------------------------------------- 1 1.2Banana cultivation in Oman: Status quo and challenges ---------------------------------------- 1 1.3Salt-affected soils: Reclamation and management ------------------------------------------------ 2 1.4Soil organic matter turnover: Toward agro-ecosystem sustainability -------------------------- 4 1.5Salinity and organic matter decomposition ---------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.6Research objectives --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 1.7Research hypotheses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 References ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Chapter 2. Bananas on the Arabian Peninsula: A Review of their domestication history ................................................................ 15 2.1Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15 2.2Banana domestication in the world ------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 2.2.1 Classification and distribution of banana species 16 2.2.2 Origin and migration routes of banana species from natural habitat to other continents------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 2.3Banana domestication on the Arabian Peninsula ------------------------------------------------ 19 2.3.1 Geography of the Arabian Peninsula and early agriculture---------------------- 19 2.3.2 Introduction of crops to the Arabian Peninsula in the Bronze Age------------- 20 2.3.3 Banana genetic diversity on the Arabian Peninsula--------------------------------22 2.3.4 The role of the Arabian Peninsula in inter-regional and inter- continental exchange of crops ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 i 2.3.5 The role of maritime routes in transferring plants to Arabia ------------------------------- 24 The Indian Ocean----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 The Red Sea Trade: Incense routes----------------------------------------------------------- 29 2.4Conclusions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 Chapter 3. Effects of composted dairy manure and date palm straw on properties of non-saline and saline Omani low organic matter soils ................................................................... 37 Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 3.1. Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 3.2Materials and methods --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 3.2.1 Sample preparation and experimental layout----------------------------------------39 3.2.2 Analysis of soil chemical properties---------------------------------------------------- 40 3.2.3 Soil microbial indices-----------------------------------------------------------------------40 3.2.4 Statistical analysis-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 3.3Results ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 41 3.4Discussion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 3.4.1 Soil properties------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 3.4.2 Decomposition of date palm straw and dairy manure----------------------------- 48 3.4.3 Salinity effects on the manure and date palm straw decomposition 49 3.5Conclusions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 Chapter 4. Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers addition on growth and yield of banana (Musa AAA cv. Malindi) on a saline and non-saline soil in Oman .......................................... 56 Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 4.1Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 56 4.2Materials and methods --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 58 4.2.1 Experimental site----------------------------------------------------------------------------58 4.2.2 Soil and organic amendments analysis----------------------------------------------- 59 4.2.3 Planting material---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 ii 4.2.4 Treatments----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59 Soil Amendments----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 60 Fertilizer combinations and application methods--------------------------------------------60 4.2.8 Data collection------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Vegetative growth----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 Yield parameters------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 63 4.2.9 Data analysis---------------------------------------------------------------------------------63 4.3Results and discussion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63 4.3.1 Soil and manure analysis----------------------------------------------------------------- 63 4.3.2 Vegetative growth---------------------------------------------------------------------------64 4.3.3 Yield parameters---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 67 4.4Conclusions and recommendations ----------------------------------------------------------------- 71 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71 Chapter 5. General discussion .................................................................... 75 5.1Maritime routes and banana genetic diversity on the Arabian Peninsula ------------------ 75 5.2Effects of composted dairy manure and date palm straw decomposition on chemical and biological behavior of alkaline non-saline and saline soils --------------------------------- 76 5.3Effect of salinity on C and N mineralization -------------------------------------------------------- 79 5.4Enhancing banana growth on saline soils --------------------------------------------------------- 81 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 82 iii Dedication To the spirit of my father and my great mother To my brothers and sisters To my dear wife, sons and daughters iv Acknowledgements In the beginning, I would like to thank Almighty Allah who gave me health and patience throughout my PhD studies. Thereafter my special thanks to Prof. Dr. Andreas Buerkert for his guidance, scientific