Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (I.C.A.R.), Bangalore-560006
A field experiment was conducted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta during 1971–73, with a view to find out the influence of four moisture regimes and four nitrogen levels on yield and quality of pineapple var. Kew. Varying soil moisture regimes had no influence on the fruit yield. The moisture use efficiency was similar in all moisture regimes. It was found that pineapple can tolerate upto 80 per cent available soil moisture depletion. Higher soil moisture regimes reduced the T.S.S. content of the juice.
The fruit yield increased significantly with added nitrogen upto a level of 12 g/plant and remained constant thereafter. Increasing levels of nitrogen increased the sucker and slip production, hastended the flowering but delayed the fruit maturity.
If the rainfall is fairly distributed for most of the year as in Bangalore, pineapple can be grown with a few protective irrigations during the hot season. With regard to nitrogen, 12 g per plant was found to be optimum.
