Articles
APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER FOR PITAYA (HYLOCEREUS UNDATUS) UNDER CLAY SOIL CONDITION
Article number
928_17
Pages
151 – 154
Language
English
Abstract
Pitaya Hylocereus undatus (Haw) or dragon fruit, has been introduced to Thailand only recently but today it is popular and is found on the shelf nearly all year round.
Very little has been published on fertilization of this plant especially when it is grown in clayey soil.
This experiment was conducted to determine the optimal fertilizer application for Pitaya plants growing in the central region of Thailand in clayey soils with 53% clay, low organic matter (1.43%), medium P (10 ppm) and very high K (190 ppm). The experiment was carried out from October 2007 to November 2008. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with seven treatments of the following formulae of fertilizers: non-fertilizer, organic manure, NPK 46-0-0, 0-46-0, 24-24-0, 16-16-16 and 12-24-12. The study revealed that the highest number of shoots, flowers and fruits as well as the heaviest fruits, with the highest TSS content, and the highest yield were obtained from the following formulae: 46-0-0, 24-24-0, 16-16-16. Yields in these treatments were equal to 22.17, 21.44 and 20.68 t.ha-1 respectively, from 8-11 fruiting cycles of harvest.
The control (non-chemical fertilizers) gave only 8.85 t.ha-1 from 5-7 fruiting cycles of harvest.
The lowest values of all variables studied were registered for the control and the organic manure application.
The chemical fertilizers had an effect on the number of fruit per trellis, the fruit weight and the total content of soluble solids but did not affect the content of vitamin C.
Very little has been published on fertilization of this plant especially when it is grown in clayey soil.
This experiment was conducted to determine the optimal fertilizer application for Pitaya plants growing in the central region of Thailand in clayey soils with 53% clay, low organic matter (1.43%), medium P (10 ppm) and very high K (190 ppm). The experiment was carried out from October 2007 to November 2008. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with seven treatments of the following formulae of fertilizers: non-fertilizer, organic manure, NPK 46-0-0, 0-46-0, 24-24-0, 16-16-16 and 12-24-12. The study revealed that the highest number of shoots, flowers and fruits as well as the heaviest fruits, with the highest TSS content, and the highest yield were obtained from the following formulae: 46-0-0, 24-24-0, 16-16-16. Yields in these treatments were equal to 22.17, 21.44 and 20.68 t.ha-1 respectively, from 8-11 fruiting cycles of harvest.
The control (non-chemical fertilizers) gave only 8.85 t.ha-1 from 5-7 fruiting cycles of harvest.
The lowest values of all variables studied were registered for the control and the organic manure application.
The chemical fertilizers had an effect on the number of fruit per trellis, the fruit weight and the total content of soluble solids but did not affect the content of vitamin C.
Authors
S. Muchjajib , U. Muchjajib
Keywords
dragon fruit, fertilizer, yield
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