The obectives of the study were: (i) To quantify the dry matter production
and nutrients uptake under burnt and unburnt pineapple residue management
practices, (ii) To determine the nutrients capacity and intensity of tropical peat
under pineapple cultivation, (iii) To quantify the movement of nutrients in
pineapple production system, and (iv) To conduct economic valuation of the burnt
and unburnt pineapple residue management practices.
Treatments used were: (i) Leaves residue removed and no fertilization, (ii)
Leaves residue burnt and no fertilization, (iii) Leaves residue removed and
fertilization, and (iv) Leaves residue burnt and fertilization. The experimental unit
was individual plant planted in 4 m x 12 m plot. Altogether 300 pineapple plants
were planted in this plot having a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Phosphorus and K were applied in the fonns of China phosphate
rock and muriate of potash at the rates of35.56 P and 556.56 K kglha. At maturity,
3 plants were sampled from each treatment and partitioned into roots, stem, leaves,
fruit, crown and peduncle and their dry weight, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations
determined.
Soil sampling at the depths of 0-5, 5-25 and > 25 cm was done before,
during and after fertilization stages. Soil solution P, Ie, Ca and M
