Phosphatic fertilization for 'smooth cayenne' pineapple production in the Sapé region, Paraíba state

Abstract

From April 1979 through November 1980 a phosphatic fertilizer field trial was conducted with 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merril) to study the effect of phosphorus application on production and fruit quality in a Red-Yellow podzolic soil (pH= 6.4 and P= 5.4 ppm), at Sapé, PB, Brazil. The treatments studied were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5g of P₂O₅ per plant. The dose of 3 g increased percentage of the first crop of fruit with more than 1.500g excluding crown weight. In relation to control plots (without phosphorus), 3 and 5g were found to be equally efficient to increase mean fruit weight, but with 5g also increased the core diameter. The total acidity of fruit was not affected by phosphorus fertilization, but the relation brix/total acidity was found to be higher doses of phosphorus.