Production and quality of 'Pérola' pineapple under fertigation

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the yield and quality of 'Pérola' pineapple under increasing rates of nitrogen and potassium applied through fertigation. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with four replications, in a factorial scheme (4x4), which represents four nitrogen rates (128, 256, 384 and 512 kg ha-1 of N) and four potassium rates (192, 384, 576 and 768 kg ha-1of K2O) via fertigation. The evaluations consisted of physical and chemical fruit characteristics and yield. Increasing nitrogen rates provided linear growth on fruit production features and the rate of 516 kg ha-1 resulted in fruits with the largest diameters. The highest total yield on 'Pérola' pineapple crop was reached on plants under the supply of 498 kg ha-1 of K2O. Rates between 523 and 583 kg ha-1 of K2O, provided the largest fruit matter and the highest fruit pulp yield. The increasing amount of nitrogen applied by fertigation resulted in linear growth on fruit pulp pH, though it did not influence the soluble solids content. The lower acid content and higher SS/acid ratio on fruits were reached with the N rates of 333 and 375 kg ha-1 respectively. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the yield and quality of 'Pérola' pineapple under increasing rates of nitrogen and potassium applied through fertigation. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with four replications, in a factorial scheme (4x4), which represents four nitrogen rates (128, 256, 384 and 512 kg ha-1 of N) and four potassium rates (192, 384, 576 and 768 kg ha-1of K2O) via fertigation. The evaluations consisted of physical and chemical fruit characteristics and yield. Increasing nitrogen rates provided linear growth on fruit production features and the rate of 516 kg ha-1 resulted in fruits with the largest diameters. The highest total yield on 'Pérola' pineapple crop was reached on plants under the supply of 498 kg ha-1 of K2O. Rates between 523 and 583 kg ha-1 of K2O, provided the largest fruit matter and the highest fruit pulp yield. The increasing amount of nitrogen applied by fertigation resulted in linear growth on fruit pulp pH, though it did not influence the soluble solids content. The lower acid content and higher SS/acid ratio on fruits were reached with the N rates of 333 and 375 kg ha-1 respectively.