EFFECT OF PLANTING DENSITY ON GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD OF IRRIGATED PINEAPPLE IN NGHE AN PROVINCE

A study on the effect of planting density on growth, development and yield of a Chinese clone of ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple in irrigated cultivation was carried out at the Nghe An Fruit Company in Nghe An province from July 2007 to October 2009. Planting densities in the experiments were from 57,000 to 78,000 crowns/ha; fertigation was done through a drip irrigation system (TORO Australia Pty. Ltd.). Increasing planting density increased plant height and decreased width of the ‘D’ leaf. Plants were forced with calcium carbide during the off season and flowering percentage gradually declined as planting density increased. When the planting density exceeded 71,000 crowns/ha, average fruit weight was 1.25-1.32 kg, which was 20.0-21.8% lower than the average fruit weight at 66,000 crowns/ha, which density produced the highest yield. At 66,000 crowns/ha the theoretical yield was 85.70-86.32 tons/ha and the lowest yield, which was obtained at 78,000 crowns/ha was 68.91-73.27 tons/ha. Different planting densities did not significantly affect quality criteria of ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple fruit.