Nitrogen and plant density in the economic evaluation and fruit quality of pineapple

Abstract

The appropriate use of nitrogen fertilization and higher population densities increase the pineapple yield and can improve economic returns. This study aimed to evaluate the economic return and postharvest characteristics of irrigated Vitória pineapple under different nitrogen (N) sources and doses, as well as the increase in population density. A randomized blocks design with three replications was installed in a 2 x 5 x 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to two N sources (urea and cattle manure), five N doses (0 g plant^-1, 5 g plant^-1, 10 g plant^-1, 15 g plant^-1 and 20 g plant^-1) and four densities (51,282 plants ha^-1, 76,923 plants ha^-1, 90,909 plants ha^-1 and 126,984 plants ha^-1). The N sources did not affect the pH, total titratable acidity and total soluble solids/total titratable acidity ratio (TSS/TTA). However the TSS content was higher in plants fertilized with cattle manure. The plants density did not affect the quality of postharvest fruit. The increase of N doses supplied by urea and cattle manure influenced only the total titratable acidity of the fruits. The combination of 20 g plant^-1 of N-manure and a population of 126,984 plants ha^-1 resulted in the maximum partial net income of R$ 132,096.48, however, the dose of 19.75 g plant^-1 of N-urea, in the population of 119,686.00 plants ha^-1, reached a partial net income of R$ 154,997.15.