Fertilizer Requirements, High-Yield Fertilization Techniques and Timing for Pineapple in China

Fertilizer requirements characteristics and high-yield fertilization techniques and timing for pineapple in China: Pineapple is a tropical perennial evergreen herbaceous plant with high yields and large nutrient requirements. According to research, producing 2000 kg of fruit requires absorbing 7.5-14.0 kg of nitrogen, 2.1-3.1 kg of phosphorus, 14.7-41.6 kg of potassium, 6.1-14.6 kg of calcium, and 0.5-1.6 kg of magnesium. The absorption ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium differ across growth stages: 1:0.6:1 during the vegetative growth stage, and 1:1.4:3.9 during the flowering and fruiting stage. It can be seen that pineapple requires relatively high amounts of nitrogen and potassium. Moreover, as the growth stage progresses, the proportion of phosphorus and potassium increases significantly, especially potassium, which is needed in large amounts.

The nutrients required by pineapple are mainly absorbed through the root system. The pineapple root system consists of aerial roots and underground roots. Aerial roots grow from the leaf axils of the aboveground stem and various bud bodies and can absorb nutrients and water. The underground root system is relatively shallow but has mycorrhizae, which help with nutrient absorption. These characteristics should be taken into consideration when fertilizing. Pineapple fertilization is divided into base fertilizer and topdressing. For newly planted pineapple, apply 15-40 kg of nitrogen, 6.4-10 kg of phosphorus, and 19-30 kg of potassium per 667 sq m. When planting, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied; per 667 sq m, 1.5-2.0 tons of barnyard manure can be applied. The topdressing periods for the first season are divided into:

① Fertilizer for promoting seedlings and strengthening plants. The vegetative growth of small autumn-planted seedlings lasts about 12-14 months. In addition to base fertilizer, topdressing is needed 2-3 times;

② Fertilizer for flower bud differentiation. Apply 1 month before pineapple flower bud differentiation to increase the number of florets and fruit weight;

③ Fertilizer for strengthening buds. Apply from the end of the year before bud emergence to the early spring of the following year to promote bud enlargement;

④ Fertilizer for promoting fruit and sprouting. Apply after flowering to promote fruit expansion and the emergence of various bud bodies;

⑤ Fertilizer for strengthening sprouts. The sprouts retained after harvest are the fruit-bearing plants of the following year, and fertilization directly affects the yield of the next year. Therefore, this topdressing is very important. Half of the second season's fertilizer amount is often applied at this time, and the other half is applied during flower bud differentiation and the fruit-promoting and sprout-promoting period. The third season's fertilization is the same as the second season. Among the above fertilization periods, the fertilizer for promoting seedlings and strengthening plants and the fertilizer for strengthening sprouts are mainly nitrogen-based, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. The fertilizer for flower bud differentiation, the fertilizer for strengthening buds, and the fertilizer for promoting fruit and sprouting should be mainly potassium-based, combined with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. If only a single-season fruit is harvested, after harvest, use a plow to open furrows or dig holes between the large rows, and apply 1-1.5 tons of organic fertilizer per 667 sq m, combined with 10 kg of superphosphate and 15 kg of potassium sulfate. A mixed solution of 1.0% urea and 0.4% monopotassium phosphate can also be used for foliar spraying during the growing season.