title: Applied K fertilizer use efficiency in pineapples grown on a tropical peat soil under residues removal.
abstract: In Malaysia, pineapples are grown on peat soils, but most K fertilizer recommendations do not take into account K loss through leaching. The objective of this study was to determine applied K use efficiency under a conventionally recommended fertilization regime in pineapple cultivation with residues removal. Results showed that K recovery from applied K fertilizer in pineapple cultivation on tropical peat soil was low, estimated at 28%. At a depth of 0-10 cm, there was a sharp decrease of soil total K, exchangeable K, and soil solution K days after planting (DAP) for plots with K fertilizer. This decline continued until the end of the study. Soil total, exchangeable, and solution K at the end of the study were generally lower than prior values before the study. There was no significant accumulation of K at depths of 10-25 and 25-45 cm. However, K concentrations throughout the study period were generally lower or equal to their initial status in the soil indicating leaching of the applied K and partly explained the low K recovery. Potassium losses through leaching in pineapple cultivation on tropical peat soils need to be considered in fertilizer recommendations for efficient recovery of applied K.
authors.affiliation: Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. osman60@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Osumanu H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Husni M H
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Hanafi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: Anuar A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.forename: Syed Omar S
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Rastan
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D031230:Ananas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D008296:Malaysia; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011188:Potassium