Application of fertilizers and root enhancers by two irrigation systems on ‘BRS imperial’ pineapple

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate two irrigation systems, by drip and diffuser microjets, two types of fertigation, by spraying at the base of the plant and in the soil, and two types of root enhancers in the development and production of the pineapple ‘BRS Imperial’. The drip system promoted greater root development than the diffuser microjet system. Much of the root system was concentrated in the stalk and soil up to 0.1 m depth, where the drip system promoted a higher relative percentage of root growth in the stalk compared to the microjet. The root enhancers promoted greater root growth in the stalk than in the soil. The use of the root enhancers based on humic and fulvic acids was not significant, while the use of the root enhancers based on phosphoric acid and amines was significant for root growth only in the microjet system. Application of fertilizers by spraying at the base of the plant promoted root growth and increased yield compared to the use of fertigation. The drip system showed higher efficiency of crop and irrigation water productivity for ‘BRS Imperial’ pineapple.