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Potential Use of Sea Water for Pineapple Production in Bris Soil

M. M. Hanafi
Professor,
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

S. M. Shahidullah
Senior Scientific Officer
Rice Farming Systems Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur -1701

M. Niazuddin
Professor
Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Z. Abd Aziz
Professor
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia

C. H. Mohammud
Researcher
Mechanisation and Automation Research Centre, MARDI HQ, P.O. Box 12301, 50774 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted to determine the response of four sea water treatments on an improved pineapple genotype “N- 36” grown in Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) soil. Sea water treatments were prepared by substitution of K with Na ions i.e., 0% (in control), 15%, 30% and 60% of required K doses were replaced by Na ions from sea water. Treatment effects were non-significant up to 30% sodium replacement from sea water. Na replacement (60%) showed significant impact on different growth parameters at different stages (8-10 months after planting). However, the fruit yield, the final target of crop harvest was not adversely affected at significance level. Therefore, sea water irrigation can easily fulfill 60% dose of potassium fertilizer by sodium ions for the production of pineapple in BRIS soil.

Keywords: BRIS soil; Pineapple; Sea water; Irrigation; Sodium; Potassium

Location: Field of Department of Agriculture Commodities Center, Rhu Tapai, Terengganu in the coast of the South China Sea, Malaysia

Start Date: 01-07-2003

End Date: 30-06-2005

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Pineapple

Objectives:

To evaluate the suitability of sea water as a partial fulfilment of fresh water irrigation and to determine the effect of sodium, as a replacement of potassium, on pineapple in BRIS soil.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the field of Department of Agriculture Commodities Center, Rhu Tapai, Terengganu, Malaysia. An improved genotype ‘N- 36’ of pineapple (Ananas comosus), popularly grown in the farmers’ field of Malaysia, was selected for the research. Ground suckers with an average length of 30 cm having 20 leaves were planted on the 20th March, 2004. A population of 62,117 plants per hectare was maintained with a double row planting system of 76.2 cm×55.9 cm×24.4 cm. Calculation was made to determine the amount of seawater requirements to replace the potassium (K) with sodium (Na) and it was found that 0, 2.32, 4.65 and 9.31 L seawater per day per block was required to substitute 0, 15, 30 and 60% of K, respectively. For a safe preparation and to avoid any precipitation of fertilizers, calculated seawater for each block/treatment was increased to a same amount (9.31 L) by adding irrigation water. Then, the amount of calculated fertilizers for each block was dissolved in that solution, separately. A recommended and calculated amount of dry fertilizers were added slowly into the seawater solution one by one. The amount of exploitable stock solution was prepared to use for two weeks time. Water was pumped through a PVC pipe of 50 mm diameter with a valve on the main line to control the operation pressure. Two grooved disc filter were fitted before and after pump to remove suspended materials from the water entering the irrigation line. Desired levels of fertilizer concentrations or fertilizers dissolved with seawater solution were injected by injector from a concentrate stock solution tank through a micro tube connected to the main line and then to sub-main line to the lateral lines. The injection rate was proportional to the irrigation water e.g., one-liter fertilizers/seawater solution to 1000 liters of irrigation water through a drip fertigation system. Three rates of 15, 30 and 60% of Na in seawater to substitute K were used. In addition there was a control treatment, where 100% K was supplied from fertilizer and totally free from seawater. Hence, there were four treatments. Treatments of Na for K substitution were assigned based on 300 kg K ha-1 (4.82 g/plant) required by the plant. Sodium was given in the form of seawater mixed with irrigation water. The applied seawater was characterized with pH 7.88 and EC 44.40 dS m-1 containing Na (4665 mg L-1), K (225 mg L-1), Ca (365 mg L-1) and Mg (1120 mg L-1). The amount of applied fertilizers (except K) and irrigation water was equal for each block. However, the amount of seawater varied according to the percentage of Na substitution for K. The required fertilizers (N @ 530.7 kg ha-1, P2O5 @ 225.5 kg ha-1, KCl @ 198.3 kg ha-1, MgO @ 72.3 kg ha-1, CaO @ 55.0 kg ha-1, Fe @ 26.5 kg ha-1 & CuO @ 11.7 kg ha-1) were dissolved with equal volume (9.31 L) of water and applied with irrigation water accordingly. The depth of fertigation water was calculated with CROPWAT model. Fertigation was applied only those days, when rainfall was less than 5.0 mm per day. Fertigation was started on March 20, 2004 and ended on July 20, 2005. Fertigation was applied for a period of 386 days during the pineapple growing period. Prior to each destructive harvest, each leaf was analyzed using the chlorophyll meter (CM) values, which measured the leaf greenness using a chlorophyll meter (MINOLTA TM SPAD-502). The CM value was recorded from 5 points/leaf. The actual leaf chlorophyll content was determined on the basis of proposed standard curve. Plant height, number of leaf, Dleaf (the longest & youngest leaf) length, D-leaf area, D-leaf dry weight and SPAD values were measured at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 month after planting (MAP). The data of pineapple plants and fresh fruit harvest were analyzed using SPSS package.

Source of Information: International Journal of Agriculture & Biology, 12: 396–400, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Asian Development Bank

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Replacement of K doses up to 30% with Na from sea water did influence at all the growth, development or fruit yield of pineapple in BRIS soil environment. Plant height, number of leaves per plant, D-leaf length and area and dry weight, fruit diameter were significantly reduced in case of 60% replacement. However, finally the fruit yield was not trimmed down at significance level. Therefore, sea water irrigation can easily substitute up to 60% dose of potassium fertilizer by sodium ions for the production of pineapple in BRIS soil area.

Knowledge Management: Journal