Nitrogen Requirement of Pineapple Under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions

Two independent experiments, one under irrigated and another under rainfed conditions, were laid out to see the response to graded doses of nitrogen viz., 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 gms of N/plant per crop alongwith control (without applied nitrogen). It was observed that increased level of nitrogen led to significant increase in number of leaves/plant, ‘D’ leaf weight, number of slips and suckers/plant. Increase in fruitage per cent, yield/ha, average fruit weight and size was also observed with the increase in doses of nitrogen. However, both T. S. S. and percentage acidity decreased with the increasing levels of nitrogen. Significant increase in yield, number of leaves/plant, ‘D’ leaf weight and number of slips and suckers/plant was also observed under irrigated conditions compared to rainfed conditions. In general, it was also noticed that increased level of nitrogen under rainfed conditions can withstand drought stress to some extent, as quite moderate yields were obtained with high level of nitrogen under rainfed conditions. The optimum dose of nitrogen under irrigated conditions is 12 gm N/plant. However, under rainfed conditions, best results were obtained with 16 gm/plant.