Researches
Bryan Palma
Date
July, 2020
Determination of the phytotoxic values of nutrient solutions in terms of electrical conductivity (EC) in pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivation and management options through the use of fertilizers with greater bioefficiency.
Around 80% of the nutrients required by pineapple cultivation are provided by salt-based fertilizers, diluted and applied
in mixtures using volumes from 1400 to 2400 liters of water per hectare. Using these mixtures, the presence of lesions or
phytotoxicity in the leaves has been detected after the applications, which could be attributed to the high electrical conductivity
(EC) of the cocktail. The EC variable was evaluated in solutions from 0 mS/cm to 150 mS/cm in scale of ten, to identify the
critical EC value in phytotoxicity ocurrence. On the other hand, the substitute and complimentary use of Greenplants K (35%
K2O potassium citrate) was evaluated, as a fertilizer with greater bioefficacy in terms of potassium uptake and with a lower
saline index in the fertilizer mixture. A 304 kg K2
O program was used as the basis, and the nutritional contribution of potassium was evaluated using 100% KCl (potassium chloride, 60% K2O), KCl + Greenplants K and 100% Greenplants K. Results showed that nutritive solutions with an EC equal to or greater than 40 mS/cm, are capable of generating minor lesions. As the EC of the fertilizer cocktail increased the severity of the lesion increased also. Besides, an additive effect of phytotoxicity by EC was observed as the number of cycles applied increased. On the other hand, regarding the use of Greenplants K as a source of potassium, significant increases in yield (mt / ha) were obtained with optimum quality parameters for export markets in plant crop and ratoon crop. This is accompanied by a significant reduction in the EC of the cocktail and therefore a lower phytotoxic risk after application. Finally, the incorporation of Greenplants K to the fertilization programs is a viable alternative for the reduction of the electrical conductivity in the fertilizer cocktails and the potassium nutrition of the pineapple crop, generating a proper cost-benefit relation to the farmer with less water and carbon dioxide footprintin the production process.
O program was used as the basis, and the nutritional contribution of potassium was evaluated using 100% KCl (potassium chloride, 60% K2O), KCl + Greenplants K and 100% Greenplants K. Results showed that nutritive solutions with an EC equal to or greater than 40 mS/cm, are capable of generating minor lesions. As the EC of the fertilizer cocktail increased the severity of the lesion increased also. Besides, an additive effect of phytotoxicity by EC was observed as the number of cycles applied increased. On the other hand, regarding the use of Greenplants K as a source of potassium, significant increases in yield (mt / ha) were obtained with optimum quality parameters for export markets in plant crop and ratoon crop. This is accompanied by a significant reduction in the EC of the cocktail and therefore a lower phytotoxic risk after application. Finally, the incorporation of Greenplants K to the fertilization programs is a viable alternative for the reduction of the electrical conductivity in the fertilizer cocktails and the potassium nutrition of the pineapple crop, generating a proper cost-benefit relation to the farmer with less water and carbon dioxide footprintin the production process.
