Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura (Jun 2011)

Potassium fertilization for pineapple: effects on plant growth and fruit yield

  • Luiz Antonio Junqueira Teixeira,
  • José Antonio Quaggio,
  • Heitor Cantarella,
  • Estêvão Vicari Mellis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-29452011000200035
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33, no. 2
pp. 618 – 626

Abstract

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A field experiment with pineapple (Smooth Cayenne) was carried out on an Ultisol located in the city of Agudos (22º30'S; 49º03'W), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with the objective of investigating the effects of rates and sources of potassium fertilizer on plant growth and fruit yield. The experiment was a complete factorial design (4x3) with four rates (0, 175, 350, and 700 kg ha-1 of K2O) and three combinations of K sources (100% KCl, 100% K2SO4, and 40% K2SO4 + 60% KCl). Plant growth and fruit yield were evaluated. Biomass accumulation of pineapple plants was impaired by chlorine added with potassium chloride. Fruit yield increased with potassium fertilization. At high rates of K application, fertilization with K2SO4 showed better results than with KCl. Detrimental effects of KCl were associated with excess of chlorine.

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