University College of Agriculture, Calcutta University, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta-700 019.
*Present address: Horticulturist, Regional Research Institute, Chiplima, Sambalpur-768 026 (Orissa).
In a nutritional trial on pineapple cv. Kew, with a planting density of 63,758/ha, three treatments of mixed fertilizers [such as 4-0-4 gms. (T1), 8-4-8 gms (T2), 16-8-16 gms (T3) of NPK per plant per year] were compared. The highest dose of fertilizer (To) gave best result in the height of the plant, number of leaves, leaf area, sucker and slip production, percentage of survival, percentage of flowering, yield attributes and yield per hectare (actual yield 94.61 tonnes with crown). The fruit quality of T3 was also superior over T2 and T1 in total sugar and total soluble solid but lower in Vitamin C content. In the ratoon crop similar trend has been observed. Higher fertilizer level influenced higher uptake of nutrients by the plants. It is indicated that cv. Kew has a good prospect for commercial cultivation in the plains of south Bengal to feed the canning industries located in Calcutta.
