The objective of this work was to evaluate nitrogen and potassium effects on the production of banana trees 'Pacovan', under irrigation, during three cycles, and the fruit quality during the 1st cycle, at the Apodi plateau in the State of Ceará, Brazil. The basic fertilization consisted of the application of 20 L plant-1 of cattle manure, 200 g plant-1 of mono-ammonium phosphate and 100 g of FTE-BR12 plant-1. Four and a half months aster planting, were applied, monthly, 1/12 of the doses of N:K2O (180:330; 180:770; 420:330; 420:770; 30:330; 570:770; 180:55; 420:1045 e 300:550 kg ha-1), using as source, urea and potassium chloride. The crop productivity was not affected by potassium during three yield cycles, suggesting the dose of 55 kg ha-1 year-1 of K2O. However, the nitrogen fertilization increased the number of fruits on bunches during the second yield cycle, allowing to estimate an optimal N dosage (198,3 kg ha-1 ano-1). The content of soluble solids, soluble sugars and tritable acids of fruits harvested during the first cycle were affected by the potassium and nitrogen fertilization.
Musa spp.; fertilization; productivity; fruit quality
