Impact of Different Organic Fertilizers Application on Soil Fertility Improvement, Growth and Fruit Yield Parameters of Pineapple (Ananas comosus L)

Abstract

Field experiment were carried out in Akure in the rainforest zone of Nigeria to determine the efficacy of wood ash, pig, poultry and cattle manures on the soil fertility improvement, growth and fruit yield parameters of pineapple (Ananas comosus L) between 2008 and 2011 cropping seasons.The four organic fertilizer treatments were applied each at 6t/ha with a reference treatment NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer applied at 300 kg/ha and a control treatment, replicated four times and arranged in a randomized complete block design. The results showed significant increases (P<0.05) in the soil, growth and fruit yield parameters of pineapple crop under the different organic fertilizers applied compared to the control.  The highest values of pineapple fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, “D” leaf length, leaf area, plant height and number of propagules were obtained with the application of poultry manure followed by pig manure, wood ash, cattle manure and NPK 15-15-15 respectively.  Pineapple fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, “D” leaf length, leaf area, plant girth, plant height and number of leaf propagules increased by 30%, 29, 8.7, 31, 15.4, 21, 30% and 20% respectively with the application of poultry manure compared to NPK fertilizer.  Generally, the yield parameters of pineapple were higher in values in the second year of harvest than the first year under different organic fertilizer treatment compared to NPK fertilizer.  The highest values of soil organic matter (0.M) and moderate values of soil P, K, Ca and Mg were obtained under wood ash treatment application.  Moderate values of soil pH, K, Ca, Mg and N were also recorded under pig and cattle manures.  Nevertheless, the highest K/Mg, K/Ca and P/Mg ratios of 61:1, 49:1 and 640:1 respectively were obtained under NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer application compared to 2:1 K/Mg, 2:1 K/Ca and 23:1 P/Mg in the cattle manure treatment. The poultry manure applied at 6t/ha produced the best results in improving soil fertility, growth and fruit yield parameters of pineapple and this was because of its balanced macro and micro nutrients contents and the very low C/N ratio.