Management of harvested (senescent) banana pseudostems has implications
for efficiency of nutrient use for sole cropped as well as intercropped
bananas. Two studies were conducted on aspects of nutrient flows from
senescent pseudostems. Sixty one and 55% of the initial N and P,
respectively, in standing senescent pseudostems were determined to be
translocated to attached growing pseudostems at six weeks after
harvest. Lesser proportions of the initial K, S, Fe, Zn, Cu and B were
translocated; translocation of Ca, Mg and Mn was negligible. Over 50%
and 70% of the initial N, K and Mg were released from the mulch of cut
and shredded pseudostems by six and nine weeks after harvest,
respectively. Other nutrients were released more slowly from the mulch