A study of the distribution of nutrients during the growth of cayenne pineapples under field conditions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the uptake and distribution of nutrients during the growth of the Cayenne cultivar of Ananas comosus (L) Merr under field conditions in the Eastern Cape. The study was also done to help explain the apparent drop in the nutrient levels in the basal section of the "D"- leaf of the pineapple plant during the winter months and to determine the best part or parts of the plant to sample in order to measure the nutrient status of the pineapple plant at any stage of its growth. The investigation was conducted by selecting a plot within a production land on two farms in the pineapple growing region of the Eastern Cape. Plants were sampled from each plot at regular intervals from planting of the pineapple tops until the harvesting of the fruit of the first plant crop. Plant growth was measured and the nutrient concentrations in each section of the plant were determined. The total amounts of nutrients for each plant part were calculated and the nutrient uptake was compared and plotted on distribution diagrams.