Effect of Spacings on Growth, Nutrients Uptake, Fruit Size Distribution and Yield of Pineapple

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of spacing on growth, nutrient uptake, fruit size distribution and yield of pineapple. Plant spacings used in the experiment were 19, 21, 24, 28, 33 and 39 cm. Prior to forcing (11 months), low fresh weight was observed in the crop planted at 19 and 21 cm. spacings. There were no differences in N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentration in the D-leaves at this stage. After forcing, close spacing resulted in higher flowering percentage than wide spacing. At harvest, fruits were separated in to : sub – standard size (No. 0.0), small size (No. 1.0), medium size (No. 2.0) and large size (No. 2.5), wide spacing resulted in higher average fruits weight of size 0.0, 1.0 and 2.0. The highest fruit yield was obtained from spacing of 21 cm. The yield tended to decrease when specing is closer of wider than 21 cm. Fruit weight to plant weight ratio (F : P ratio) of pineapple was similar at 19, 21 , 24 cm spacings and increased slightly with greater spacing.