Effect of balanced fertilization on production of pineapple in Hainan

IPNI-2008-CHN-HI24

04 Jan 2012

2011 Annual Interpretive Summary


The study continued to verify the optimal fertilizer rates tested in 2010 for chili pepper, one of the most widely grown vegetables during winter on this tropical island, and the results will be used to guide fertilizer application for local technicians and vegetable growers. The experiment consists of six rates of N (0, 300, 375, 450, 525, 600 kg N/ha), P (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 kg P2O5/ha) and K (0, 225, 300, 375, 450, 525 kg K2O/ha). The rates were further fine-tuned based on the yield results from the previous field experiments. The source, timing, and placement of the fertilizers, as well as field management remained the same.

Results showed that the chili pepper yields significantly increased with increased rates of N, P, and K, but leveled off at 300 kg N/ha and 300 kg K2O/ha. Though the rate of 180 kg P2O5/ha produced the highest pepper yield, the increment was modest. The result verified that 300 kg N/ha plus 300 kg K2O/ha were the optimal rates for chili pepper in Hainan on acid, sandy soils. This fertilizer combination could produce 65 t/ha of chili pepper and net income of USD 11,391. Furthermore, it also achieved the highest agronomic efficiency for N (147 kg pepper/kg N) and K (32 kg pepper/kg K2O). Based on the two years of experiments, recommendations for NPK fertilization for chili pepper on the Hainan Island can be 300-60-300 kg N- P2O5-K2O/ha. If soil testing indicates a high soil P, P fertilizer can be omitted from the fertilizer program every other crop season or until further study is completed related to P use. Hainan-BFDP-08