Bananas do best on flat (slope 0–1 %), well-drained, deep soils high in organic matter with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Low pH soil makes banana more susceptible to Panama disease. Avoid soil that is sandy, salty, nutritionally deficient and ill-drained soil.
Nutritionally deficient soil can be improved by incorporating organic matter to the soil before planting the bananas and then mulch them thickly.
Clay loams are preferred with no heavy clay or rock shelves within 50 cm of the surface. Sandy soils are less suitable as they dry out rapidly, lose nutrients quickly, fail to provide adequate root anchorage in windy weather, have low nutrient retaining ability and are susceptible to serious erosion. Bananas do not tolerate waterlogging because its roots will rot.
Once the plantation is established, the soil should be managed to provide the best environment for the plant roots. This will involve the application of fertilizers and soil additives aimed at improving the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil to benefit crop growth.
Soil suitable for growing banana
