Modeling Growth and Yield of the Endemic “Loka Pere” Banana Based on Soil Macronutrient Availability

Agrobiodiversity is critical to agroecosystem health, and a key source of agrobiodiversity is farmers’ varieties. Reintegration of these resources into agroecosystems requires improving their knowledge base, including the creation of crop models. One underutilized farmers’ variety is Loka Pere, a local banana (Musa spp.) found in Adolang and Adolang Dhua villages, Majene Regency, West Sulawesi. The purpose of this study was to create a simple growth model simulating Loka Pere’s growth response to soil macronutrient concentrations across three traditional growth environments. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for Ntot, Corg, C:N, pH, Pav, Kexc, Naexc, Caexc, Mgexc, and CEC. Plants were measured for pseudostem circumference at the plant base and 1 meter height, plant height, and hands per bunch at three growth phases. Principal component analysis was used to define a productivity index. Multiple linear regression models and non-linear generalized additive models were fit utilizing soil parameters as input variables and growth parameters individually as response variables. Growth models varied in goodness of fit (R2 = 0.11 to 0.69). The most important soil variables for Loka Pere growth were Ntot, Caexc, and CEC, and the most important soil variables for yield were pH, CEC, and Pav. The growth responses of Loka Pere to the availability of certain nutrients differed from responses found in studies on other varieties.