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Effect of Potassium on Size and Quality of Pineapple Fruit

Md. Nazim Uddin
Principal Scientific Officer
HRC, BARI, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

M. Moshiur Rahman
Scientific Officer.
HRC, BARI, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Vegetative growth of plants were influenced by different levels of potassium. Plant height and number of leaves increased progressively with the increase of potassium up to 36 g per plant and thereafter they declined. Plants receiving 36 g potassium per plant were the tallest (74 cm) having maximum number (59) of leaves against 47 cm and 37 respectively in the control plot. The highest number (93.7%) of plants flowered where they were treated with 36 g potassium per plant. The inflorescence size was also the biggest in that treatment. Application of K above this level had declining effect. The biggest and the heaviest fruits were produced by plants receiving 24 g of potassium per plant. The fruit size was the smallest and weight was the lowest in the control plots. Fruit yield differed significantly due to different doses of applied potassium. The fruit yield was the highest (36.6 t/ha) in plots supplied with 36 g of potassium per plant which was followed by plants receiving 24 g (34.8) and 30 g (33.4t/ha yield) of potassium per plant. The lowest fruit yield (14.1 t/ha) was recorded by the control treatment. Fruit quality in respect of TSS and acidity were also affected by different doses of applied potassium. It was observed that TSS increased and acidity decreased with the increasing rate of potassium fertilizer up to 36 g/plant after which the reverse trend was noticed. Plants receiving 36 g K₂0 per plant produced fruits having the maximum TSS (18%) with the minimum acidity (0.7%). But there was no significant difference in these plant characters between the doses of 24 g and 36 g K₂0 per plant and can be regarded a the most appropriate to produce good quality pineapple fruits.

Keywords: Potassium, Size, Quality, Pineapple fruit

Location: Gazipur

Start Date: 00-11-1999

End Date: 00-07-2001

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Pineapple

Objectives:

To examine the influence of potassium on growth, yield and quality of pineapple fruit and to select the optimum K dose for better quality, especially sweetness of fruits

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research Centre of BARI, Gazipur during November 1999 to July 2001. Shoot suckers of Giant Kew pineapple weighing 450±50g in size were planted in the last week of November 1999. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Different levels of potassium from 0 to 48g/plant with an increment 6g/plant constituted nine treatments including control. The treatments were-T₁= control, T_z= K₂0 @ 6 g, T₃= K₂0 @ 12 g, T₄= K₂O @ 18 g, T₅= K₂O @ 24 g, T₆= K₂O @ 30 g, T₇= K₂0 @ 36 g, T8= K₂O @ 42 g, T₉= K₂O @ 48 g/plant. Cowdung, TSP and gypsum at the standard dose of 300 g, 6 g and 2 g S/plant, respectively, were applied at a time during bed preparation (Anon., 1997). Muriate of potash at the specified rate along with normal dose (15g N/plant) of urea were applied in April and September 2000 and in April 2001 in three equal installments. All other cultural practices were done uniformly for all the treatments. Before application of manure and fertilizers, the soil samples of the experimental plots were analyzed. The soil of the experimental plot was slightly acidic (pH 6.0) having low (1.45%) organic matter content. The chemical properties were as follows: nitrogen (0.15%), phosphorus (l4.7 µg/g), potassium (0.21me/100 g), sulphur (26.2 µg/g), boron (0.3 µg/g) and zinc (2.3 µg/g). Data on vegetative growth were recorded from 10 randomly selected plants of each treatment at flowering stage. All the plants were taken into account to record flowering percentage. Fruit characters were recorded from 10 randomly selected fruits of each treatment. Total soluble solids (TSS) and acid content of fruits under different treatments were also estimated following Ranganna (1979). Data were analyzed statistically following Gomez and Gomez (1984) for interpretation of the results, the treatment means were separated by DMRT (Gomez and Gomez, 984).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 28(4) 625-628, (December, 2003)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From this study it was concluded that pineapple plants should be supplied with an adequate amount of fertilizers to obtain a satisfactory yield. Nitrogenous fertilizers encourage vigorous growth of plants and produce large fruits. Potassium containing fertilizers are also important in the production of large and good quality fruits. It increases fruit size and sweetness but too much of potassium increases acidity.

Knowledge Management: Journal