AgronoBlog – Agriculture Blog Pineapple Crop Nutrition
The cultivation of pineapple (Ananas comosus) requires balanced nutrition to achieve vigorous growth and high-quality fruit production. Proper management of fertilization is essential to ensure healthy plants, improve disease resistance, and maximize yield. Below, we discuss the essential aspects of pineapple crop nutrition and best fertilization practices.
Nutritional Requirements of Pineapple
Essential Nutrients for Pineapple
Pineapple cultivation requires a specific set of macronutrients and micronutrients for optimal development:
- Primary Macronutrients:
- Nitrogen (N): Crucial for the vegetative development of the plant, especially during the early stages. Promotes the formation of robust leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus (P): Fundamental for root development and flowering. Improves fruit quality and accelerates ripening.
- Potassium (K): Helps in carbohydrate and sugar synthesis, enhancing the size, color, and sweetness of the fruit. Also increases resistance to pests and diseases.
- Secondary Macronutrients:
- Calcium (Ca): Essential for cell wall formation and structural integrity of the plant.
- Magnesium (Mg): Central component of chlorophyll, necessary for photosynthesis.
- Sulfur (S): Involved in the formation of proteins and amino acids.
- Micronutrients:
- Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), and Molybdenum (Mo) are required in small quantities but are vital for enzymatic and physiological functions.
Common Nutritional Deficiencies in Pineapple
- Nitrogen Deficiency: Pale and yellowing leaves, slow growth, and low vigor.
- Potassium Deficiency: Burnt or necrotic leaf edges, smaller fruit size, and quality.
- Calcium Deficiency: Wilted leaf tips and chlorosis on young leaves.
Fertilization Strategies for Pineapple
Base Fertilization
Base fertilization is done before planting to ensure that the soil has essential nutrients available from the start:
- Organic Amendments: Incorporating compost or well-decomposed manure into the soil improves soil structure and moisture retention.
- Phosphate Application: Use rock phosphate or triple superphosphate before planting to increase phosphorus content in poor soils.
- pH Correction: Adjust soil pH to an optimal range of 4.5 to 5.5 by applying agricultural lime or elemental sulfur.
Maintenance Fertilization
Once the plants are established, fertilizer applications should be made to maintain healthy growth and promote good fruit production.
Nitrogen Fertilization
- Nitrogen: Apply nitrogen in split doses every 2-3 months during the vegetative growth phase. The use of urea or ammonium nitrate is recommended for rapid absorption. A common application is 100-150 kg/ha of nitrogen per cycle.
Potassium and Phosphorus Fertilization
- Potassium: Apply potassium sulfate at a rate of 200-300 kg/ha, especially during the fruit development stage to improve quality.
- Phosphorus: Reapply phosphorus at the beginning of flowering to ensure continuous root development and promote fruit formation.
Micronutrients
In soils with deficiencies or high pH, the application of micronutrients such as zinc, boron, magnesium, and iron may be necessary:
- Foliar Fertilization: The application of micronutrients via foliar spray is effective for quickly correcting deficiencies. Applications are recommended every 30-45 days during the active growth stage.
Organic Fertilization
The use of organic fertilizers, such as enriched compost or biofertilizers, can complement chemical fertilization and improve long-term soil health:
- Compost: Apply compost at the base of the plants at the beginning of the growth cycle to improve soil structure and provide essential nutrients.
- Biofertilizers: Use microbial consortia that promote nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization.
Monitoring and Adjusting Fertilization
Regular monitoring of the nutritional status of the plants through soil and foliar analysis is essential to adjust fertilizer doses and avoid both deficiencies and excesses that could affect crop quality.
- Soil Analysis: Perform at least one soil analysis per year to assess nutrient levels and adjust fertilization according to the results.
- Foliar Analysis: Complement with foliar analysis to assess effective nutrient uptake and detect possible micronutrient deficiencies.
Fertilizer Application Techniques
Soil Application
The application of solid fertilizers can be done using manual or mechanized techniques, ensuring that the nutrients reach the plant’s root zone.
- Banded Application: Apply fertilizers in bands around the base of the plants to improve absorption.
- Broadcast Application: For large-scale crops, broadcasting with machinery is efficient but should be complemented with adequate irrigation to prevent losses due to leaching.
Foliar Fertilization
Foliar fertilization is especially useful for applying micronutrients and quickly correcting deficiencies. Applications are recommended during the cool hours of the day to maximize absorption and minimize plant stress.
Fertigation
In drip irrigation systems, fertigation is an efficient technique for delivering nutrients directly to the root zone, optimizing fertilizer and water use efficiency.
