Pineapple yield and quality on a banana soil of the Canary Islands irrigated with acid and saline water

Authors

  • C.E. Alvarez Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain
  • A.E. Carracedo Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain
  • E. Iglesias Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, Cordel de Merinas, 40-50, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
  • J.J. Bravo Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain

Keywords:

Pineapple, Acidification, Salinity, Yield, Quality

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) plants, cultivar 'Red Spanish', were grown in a greenhouse in 300-L containers, with soil from a banana plantation, and irrigated with saline and acid waters. Essential chemical soil characteristics were a pH of 6.9, electrical conductivity (EC) 1.26 dS m-1, and available nutrient status 188 ppm P, 11.95 meq (100-g)-1 Ca, 5.35 meq (100-g)-1 Mg, 3.96 meq (100-g)-1 K, and 2.17 meq (100-g)-1 Na. Irrigation water treatments consisted of control (tap water); 7, 14, 21, and 28 meq L-1 NaCl; 10, 15, 20, and 25 meq L-1 NaHCO3; and 75 meq L-1 H2SO4. Sodium chloride at levels of 14 meq L-1 and above in water affected fruit yield and quality adversely. Neither acid water nor bicarbonated waters had any effect on the fruit, except for the highest level of NaHCO3.

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Issue

Volume 72 Number 3

Section

Research Papers