Pineapple Growth Performance, Fruit Quality and Yield Influenced by Foliar Fertilization on Clay Soil and Peat Soil

Small scale pineapple farmer conducting fertilization programme for pineapple with application of granular fertilizer. Meanwhile, large scale pineapple plantation conducts fertilization programme through foliar feeding to accommodate usage of plastic mulching for weed suppression and high-density planting requirement. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate different treatments of foliar fertilizer by comparing pineapple growth performance, fruit quality and expected yield on two different soil types namely clay and peat soil. This study was conducted using MD2 pineapple planted on completely randomized block design with application of five foliar fertilizer treatments with four replications. Granular fertilizer treatment was chosen as control. Usage of foliar fertilizer was suitable for pineapple plants on both soil type. Pineapple plant grew better on peat soil based on plant growth parameters. Foliar fertilizers were only affecting on plant height and D-leaf length only during early vegetative stage. Pineapple on clay soil produce heavier inflorescence with smaller crown but pineapple on peat soil produced sweeter fruit. Fertilizer treatments affect fruit quality parameters on inflorescence and crown fresh weight, total soluble solids and total titratable acid. T2 YARA kristalon green at 3.77g/plant proves to be an effective foliar fertilizer for pineapples, improving fruit quality with higher total soluble solids and better yield.