THE EFFECTS OF CONCENTRATION AND PERIODS OF DAY OF APPLICATION OF CALCIUM CARBIDE ON THE FLOWER INDUCTION OF ANANAS COMOSUS (L) MERR. CULTIVAR SMOOTH CAYENNE IN GHANA

Calcium carbide solution at 0,5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% (W/V), with tapwater as control, was applied as a drench to 8-month-old Smooth Cayenne pineapple plants at Kwadaso near Kumasi at each of the following times: between 01.00 and 14.00 h, 06.00 " 09.00 h, 13.00 " 16.00 h and 20.00 " 24.00 h

between	01.00	and	14.00 h,
	06.00	"	09.00 h,
	13.00	"	16.00 h and
	20.00	"	24.00 h

Both concentration and times had significant effects on percentage flowering at 56 and 70 days, with the control giving the lowest percentage flowering.
The 0.5% significantly (P = 0.05) induced a lower percentage flowering at 56 days than the other concentrations.
The other concentrations were however, not significantly different from each other.

The most effective times for calcium carbide application under the conditions of the experiment were from 01.00 to 09.00 h and between 20.00 and 24.00 h at both 56 and 70 days.

The period between 06.00 and 09.00 h is recommended for practical adoption in Ghana, using calcium carbide concentrations from 0.5 to 1%.

IV Africa Symposium on Horticultural Crops

W.S. Abutiate

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1977.53.36