1. Introduction
Banana crop is heavy feeder of nutrients. It’s roots spread superficially and absorb large amounts of nutrients from the soil.
Proper management of nutrients in banana crops leads to higher yield. The essential nutrients are supplied through different fertilizer combinations which vary with variety and climatic conditions.
Proper nutrient supply and management ensures adequate nutrient to plants to avoid deficiency or toxicity. It also stimulates proper shoot and root growth in plants.

2. Major Nutrients:
Nitrogen: It is required in large quantities for development of lush green shoot growth. It is absorbed by plant in the form of nitrates. It is needed for synthesis of chlorophyll and protein.
Deficiency Symptoms: Slow growth and yellowing of leaves. Leaf area reduces and leaf petiole becomes short and thin. Lesser production of suckers. Deficiency of nitrogen leads to excessive absorption of Phosphorus.
Management Nitrogen: In the form of urea, 200 gm nitrogen at vegetative stage and 100 gm nitrogen at reproductive stage should be applied. Out of which, 25 % Nitrogen through organic sources (Neem Cake + FYM) and 75 % Nitrogen through inorganic form.

3. Phosphorus:
Phosphorous is major nutrient essential for root development and fruit maturity in plant. It helps to produce healthy rhizome and strong root system in banana. It also influences flowering and general vegetative growth.
Deficiency Symptoms: Phosphorus deficiency results in to slow growth with thin and woody stems. Fruit maturity delayed and there is discoloration of flowers and fruits in banana.
Management: Phosphorus is applied in the form of Single Super Phosphorus at gm P2O5 per plant at time of planting.

4. Potassium:
Potassium is major nutrient for overall plant growth and colour to flowers and fruits. It regulates uptake of water and synthesis of starch and sugar. It improves the disease resistance of plants and keeping quality of fruits.
Deficiency Symptoms: Deficiency of potassium in banana affects plant metabolism and reduces growth and production of new leaves. Leaf size reduces with premature yellowing. Necrosis spread from border resulting in to withering of entire leaf lamina.
Management: Application of 200 gm potassium at vegetative growth and 100 gm at reproductive growth in the form of muriate of potash is recommended.

5. Magnesium: Deficiency Symptoms: Management:
Magnesium is main constitution of chlorophyll and plays vital role in production of carbohydrates, proteins, fats. It acts as carrier of Phosphorous in plant and regulates uptake of other nutrients.
Deficiency Symptoms:
Magnesium deficiency causes formation of green bands around the margin and near the midrib of leaf lamina in banana.
Management:
Spraying Magnesium 2 gm / Liter water effectively corrects the magnesium deficiency in banana.

6. Sulphur:
Sulphur is essential for vegetative growth and root development. It helps in formation of chlorophyll and essential component of many proteins and enzymes.
Deficiency Symptoms: Sulphur deficiency causes larger yellow spots on each side of midrib of leaf lamina in banana.
Management: Magnesium deficiency can be corrected by application of Magnesium 50 gm/plant as soil application at planting or 2 gm/liter water.
Application of Iron Sulphate can correct the iron deficiency as well as sulphur deficiency.

7. Secondary Nutrients
Manganese: Manganese is essential in the formation of chlorophyll in banana.
Deficiency Symptoms: Veins of leaf lamina remain green while the rest of leaf turns yellow and shows a netted appearance.
Management: Application of Manganese Sulphate (MnSo4) in to soil or spraying of MnSO4 can correct the manganese deficiency in banana.

8. Zinc
Zinc nutrient helps to regulate the oxidation-reduction processes within the cells. It’s deficiency found in banana only when it grows in zinc deficient soils.
Deficiency Symptoms: Plant bears narrow pointed and chlorite young leaves in banana. Bunchy top crowns is a typical symptoms of zinc deficiency.
Management: Application of Zinc 50 gm/plant in soil at the time of planting. Or Foliar application of 3gm Zinc Sulphate + 5gm urea is mixed in 1 liter of water at 45 and 60 days after planting.

9. Boron
Boron helps in cell development in banana and regulates translocation of sugars across membranes and the polyphenolase activities in metabolism.
Deficiency: Deficiency of boron may results in reduction in weight and size of the bunch and also affects the proper filling of the fruit bunch in banana.
Management: Application of 20 gm per plant at the time of planting in soil. Or Foliar application of Boric acid at 0.2 % at month after planting.

10. Iron
Iron is a constituent of cytochrome enzymes system and plays a catalytic role in numerous enzyme activities in plant
Deficiency: Iron deficiency is mainly observed in alkaline soil. Young leaves show yellowing and chlorosis between veins in banana.
Management: Application of Iron Sulphate can correct the Iron deficiency in banana.