Response of pineapple to fertigation and flower induction in red laterite soil

Abstract

The present study was conducted to standardize fertigation level and flower induction treatment in pineapple variety ‘Giant Kew’ under red laterite soil conditions of Goa. Six main plot treatments viz., F0- Surface irrigation + conventional soil application of 100% RDN (Recommended Dose of Nutrients), F1- Drip irrigation + conventional soil application of 100% RDN, F2- Fertigation with 125% RDN, F3- Fertigation with 100 % RDN, F4- Fertigation with 75% RDN, F5- Fertigation with 50% RDN and three subplot treatments viz., T1-Ethephon 25 ppm + urea 2% + sodium carbonate 0.04%, T2 - NAA 25 ppm and T0 - water were applied to the experimental field in maincrop as well as ratoon crop. Fertigation with 125 % RDN improved the vegetative growth, photosynthetic pigment content, yield and leaf nutrient status. Ethephon treatment enhanced flowering and reduced crop duration of pineapple. The earliest flowering was recorded in F2T1 (47.55 days), and the latest was in F0T0 (59.22 days). Ethephon treated plants were harvested early after flower induction(156.41 days) over the control (168.50 days). F2 resulted in the highest fruit weight and total fruit yield (2.21 kg and 90.70 t/ ha), which was at par with F3 (2.20 kg and 90.62 t/ ha), but nutrient use efficiency was the highest in the F5 treatment. Fertigation with 100 % RDN and ethephon flower induction treatment resulted in a better yield of ‘Gaint Kew’ pineapple in Goa at a reduced rate of water and nutrients.