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.

Issue

Section

Research Papers