Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Chemical Fertilizer Interactions in Pineapple under Field Conditions

Dora Trejo, Wendy Sangabriel-Conde, Mayra E. Gavito-Pardo and Jacob Banuelos
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Dora Trejo: Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 91090, Mexico
Wendy Sangabriel-Conde: Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 91090, Mexico
Mayra E. Gavito-Pardo: Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Morelia 58190, Mexico
Jacob Banuelos: Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 91090, Mexico

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-8

Abstract: Excessive inorganic fertilizers applied to pineapple crops in Mexico cause the progressive degradation and pollution of soils in the short- and long-term, and they also increase production costs. An alternative to reduce excessive fertilization is its partial substitution by nutrition and growth enhancing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The goal of this research was to compare the effect of AMF inoculation combined with different fertilizer doses and full chemical fertilization on pineapple yield variables in a commercial plantation. We used a randomized block design with six treatments: a non-inoculated control with 100% chemical fertilization, and five treatments with AMF inoculation and fertilization doses of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% chemical fertilization. There were four replicates of each treatment containing 30 plants in each experimental unit (plot). We measured the dry weight of the D-leaf 9 months after planting, and the root mycorrhizal colonization percentage, yield, and fruit quality after 18 months. Mycorrhizal inoculation equated to 100% chemical fertilization already when combined with 25% fertilization and surpassed it when combined with 50% fertilization in most of the yield variables measured. The fruit mass and organoleptic variables were significantly higher in mycorrhizal plants with 50% fertilization than in the non-inoculated control and the treatments inoculated with AMF and combined with 0%, 25%, 75%, and 100% of a dose of chemical fertilizer. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi in the field could reduce chemical fertilizer application by 50%, with no yield loss and with improved fruit quality.

Keywords: D-leaf; quality fruits; yield; mycorrhizal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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