A field experiment was carried out on an Alfisol in São Paulo State, Brazil, with the objective of investigating the effects of split application of NPK fertilizer on pineapple ('Smooth Cayenne') yield and fruit quality. Six patterns of split application of fertilizers were tested as follows: T1 (control) -- N and K rates split in four applications (60 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jun/95; 120 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Nov/95; 250 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jan/96 and 120 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Mar/96); T2 -- N and K rates split in four applications (60 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jun/95; 120 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Nov/95; 160 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jan/96 and 210 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Mar/96); T3 -- N and K rates split in three applications (90 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jun/95; 180 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Nov/95 and 280 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jan/96); T4 - N and K split in five applications (60 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jun/95; 110 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Nov/95; 160 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Jan/96; 110 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in Mar/96 and 110 kg ha¹ of N and K2O in May/96); T5 - differed from T1 due to five applications of N; all P fertilizer was applied at planting (mai/95) in these treatments (T1 to T5); T6 - differed from T1 due to split application of P (50% at planting and 50% in Jan/96). Fruit weight and quality were influenced by split application of N and K. Differently, split application of P has no effect on fruit production. The split of N rate in five applications produced heavier fruits, but the effect of late application of N on fruit quality was negative due to a decrease of soluble solids content.
Ananas comosus (L.) Merril; fruit quality
