Growth and Fiber Yield of Red Spanish Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) through Fertilizer Management and Planting Density in Aklan, Philippines
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Abstract: The Red Spanish Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) is a natural fiber-producing crop primarily cultivated for its piña fiber and is deemed the “Queen of Philippine Fabrics” and “Mother of all Phillippine Textiles”. The Aklan province is the center and top producing piña fiber in the country and holds historical significance for piña weaving using traditional handlooms. However, proper fertilization of this crop has not yet been explored to optimize its potential to directly influence fiber leaves and fruits. This study analyzed the growth dynamics of RSP using planting density and fertilizer treatments. The study experimented to analyze the growth dynamics of the RSP using three planting densities (80 × 50 × 30 cm, 60 × 30 cm, and 30 × 30 cm) and five fertilizer treatments (control, STK recommendation 55-40-50, ASU recommendation 56-56-56, 20 t/ha vermicompost, and 40 t/ha vermicompost). The study showed that 20 tons per hectare of vermicompost consistently exhibited a significant influence on the growth performance of the RSP, while STK recommendations (55-40-50) also showed a significant effect on growth performance. In contrast, the ASU recommendation (56-56-56) exhibited moderate influence but had a lesser impact compared to other treatments. Meanwhile, planting distance demonstrated minimal influence; therefore, the growth performance of RSP was not as effective as that of fertilizer management. The results of this study provide relevant information and address the scarcity of data, sustain tradition, and optimize RSP to meet the demand for high-quality fiber locally and internationally.
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