Development of ‘Pérola’ Pineapple (Ananas comosus vr. Comosus) Infructescence Under Organic Fertilization

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus vr. Comosus) plants require balanced nutrition to meet fruit’s market quality standards for consumption. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of organic and mineral fertilization on the development of the ‘Pérola’ pineapple infructescence produced in Paraíba State, Brazil. The plants were conducted under organic fertilization composed by a mixing of cattle manure and poultry litter n at 0, 50, 75 and 100% of the nitrogen doses recommended (NDR) for pineapple cultivation and mineral fertilization. The evaluation for fresh fruit length, diameter, mass, and crown length was initiated at the 43rd day after the floral induction (DAFI). The use organic fertilizer at 75 and 100% of the NDR provided a higher growth rate of fruits. In general, the length and diameter of the infructescences evolved rapidly until the 73rd DAFI, characterizing the first development phase. At the second phase, it was observed an intense growth rate to about the 103rd DAFI be reached, which was followed by a slower growth rate until around the 118th DAFI. In the third and last phase, from the 118th DAFI the physiological maturity of the fruit was reached and was characterized by the pineapple commercial maturation up to 133rd DAFI, with a quarter of the fruit yellow. Under the experimental conditions, the mixed fertilization in the level of 75% NDR, promoted a greater length and fresh mass than the conventional mineral fertilization for ‘Pérola’ pineapple and can be an alternative for this crop’ family farming production.