Effects of Organic Fertilizer Substitution and Reduction on Soil Physical/Chemical Properties and Banana Growth in Banana Orchard

【Objective】Excessive use of fertilizers, low utilization rates of crop straw/livestock/poultry manure resources, and environmental pollution caused by agricultural and forestry waste restrict the development of agriculture. The scientific fertilization method of organic substitution+reduced fertilization was studied to provide technical support for the reduction of chemical fertilizer and soil fertility in banana production areas of the the Pearl River Delta.【Method】Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of organic substitution combined with reduced fertilization on banana growth, yield, quality and soil nutrients. The main purpose was to taking conventional fertilization as the control, four fertilizer managements were set up, including 10% reduction of fertilizer amount (10% reduction of nitrogen)+organic fertilizer (T1), 20% reduction of fertilizer amount (20% reduction of nitrogen)+organic fertilizer (T2), 10% reduction of fertilizer amount (10% reduction of nitrogen)+biochar-based-organic fertilizer (T3), and 20% reduction of fertilizer amount (20% reduction of nitrogen)+biochar-based-organic fertilizer (T4), then their effects on the banana growth, yield, and soil nutrients and physical and chemical properties were investigated.【Result】Compared with the control, Organic fertilizer substitution and reduction treatments (T1-T4) could increase the pH and organic matter content of the treated soil. Among them, pH had a more significant effect in ripening stage, increasing by 0.38-0.77. While the soil organic matter content increased more significantly in budding stage, increasing by 6.62%-56.09% compared to the control. Moreover, the soil organic matter content of soil increased with the increasing of organic material application amount. The content of large elements, Calcium and Magnesium in the treated soil during the ripening stage was generally higher than that during the budding stage, but the difference between treatments was not significant. T1-T4 treatment had positive effects on banana growth, yield, quality and leaf nutrient elements, among which the effect of T3 and T4 treatment with carbon-based organic fertilizer was better, and banana yield increased by 14.44% and 13.43% respectively. Soluble solid, soluble sugar, vitamin C content increased 13.09%-21.99%, 3.98%-17.32%, 28.09%-41.57%, respectively.【Conclusion】Comprehensive analysis of banana growth and soil physical/chemical properties, the organic fertilizer substitution combined with reduced fertilization treatment is suitable for the fertilizer reduction and efficient utilization of newly-planted bananas in the pearl river delta.