Field Trial by Clavijo Benitez Ltda: NUTREENT Increases Banana Bunch Weight & Fruit Caliber in Commercial Crops

Validation Partner: Clavijo Benitez Limitada (ICA Certified Technical Dept.)

Location: Magdalena, Colombia (Zona Bananera)

Crop: Banana (Musa spp. - Varieties: Valery & Williams)

Trial Duration: Full vegetative cycle (4 applications)

The Commercial Challenge

Banana production is driven by two critical export metrics: Bunch Weight and Fruit Caliber (thickness). The objective of this regulated field trial was to determine if the biological inoculation provided by NUTREENT could improve these metrics compared to standard chemical treatments, thereby offering a sustainable complement to edaphic fertilization.

The Methodology

Clavijo Benitez implemented a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) across two commercial farms ("Adelaida" and "San Pedro"). The study compared five distinct groups:

1. T0: Control (Standard Farm Management).
2. T1 - T3: NUTREENT at escalating doses (300g, 350g, and 400g per hectare).
3. T4: Commercial Chemical Standard (Ecoterra WG).

Key Performance Results

The statistical analysis (ANOVA and Tukey test at 5%) revealed that NUTREENT delivered highly significant improvements over the control group across all key variables.

• Increased Export Weight: The application of NUTREENT consistently produced heavier bunches. Specifically, the 400g/ha dose (T3) achieved the highest weight performance for premium 7-hand and 8-hand bunches, statistically surpassing the control group.
• Superior Fruit Caliber: Treated plants produced significantly thicker fruit (higher grade). The biological activity in the soil allowed for better nutrient uptake, resulting in fuller, higher-quality bananas.
• Competitive with Chemicals: In almost every metric, the biological NUTREENT treatment performed statistically equal to or better than the chemical commercial standard (T4), proving that growers can switch to biologicals without sacrificing yield.

Safety and Dosage Conclusion

• Zero Phytotoxicity: The study recorded a score of "1" on the EWRS scale (European Weed Research Society), indicating absolute absence of damage. Even at double dosages, NUTREENT showed zero negative effects on the crop.
• Recommendation: The study officially recommends a dosage of 400g/ha to maximize export-quality variables (Weight and Grade).

Study Conclusion

Clavijo Benitez Limitada concluded: "The biological soil inoculant NUTREENT is effective as a COMPLEMENT to edaphic fertilization in Banana cultivation, improving net weight and caliber in bunches of 6, 7, and 8 hands."