OPTIMIZING FLORAL INDUCTION TIMING FOR GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF MD2 PINEAPPLE ON TROPICAL PEAT SOIL UNDER FOLIAR FERTILIZATION
Authors: Mohd Nizam, Z.; Badril Hisham, A.B.; Siti Noor Aliah, B.; Adli Fikri, A.S. and Mohd Taufik, A.
Mohd Nizam, Z.: Horticulture Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Pontian, Johor, Malaysia.
Badril Hisham, A.B.: Engineering Research Centre, Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Siti Noor Aliah, B.: Engineering Research Centre, Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Adli Fikri, A.S.: Engineering Research Centre, Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Mohd Taufik, A.: Engineering Research Centre, Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
Traditionally, granular fertilizers have been the primary nutrient source for pineapple cultivation on peat soils. However, foliar fertilization is becoming increasingly popular. Large scale pineapple plantations commonly adopt foliar fertilization to complement the use of plastic mulch for weed suppression and to support high density planting systems. Determining the optimum growth stage of MD2 pineapple under foliar fertilizer application before floral induction is essential for maximizing fruit yield and quality. This study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications to determine the optimal timing of floral induction for MD2 pineapple cultivated on peat soil under foliar fertilization. Floral induction was applied at seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven months after planting. Vegetative growth parameters measured before floral induction including D-leaf length, D-leaf width, plant height and number of leaves showed no significant differences among treatments. However, growth parameters generally increased with plant age and were positively correlated with the timing of floral induction although growth tended to stabilize beyond a certain stage. Plant height and D-leaf weight differed significantly between seven and eight MAP but no significant differences were observed from nine to eleven MAP. A similar trend was observed for leaf number and total plant fresh weight, which increased until ten MAP before reaching a plateau. Fruit quality attributes including total soluble solids and titratable acidity were not significantly affected by the timing of floral induction. In contrast, fruit fresh weight increased with plant age at induction contributing to higher estimated yields. Floral induction at seven months after planting resulted in a significantly greater proportion of small sized fruits whereas no significant differences were observed among the other induction ages. The proportion of medium sized fruits remained consistent across all treatments. Based on overall vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality parameters, floral induction at nine months after planting was identified as the most suitable induction age for MD2 pineapple cultivated on peat soil under foliar fertilization.
Keywords: Ananas comosus, Foliar fertilizer, Floral induction timing, Peatland agriculture, Fruit quality