PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential nutrients needed by plants in large amount. However, response of fruit crops to phosphorus application may vary depending on soil and climatic conditions of the area. Hence, this study was conceptualized to evaluate the growth, yield and fruit quality of 'MD-2' pineapple in response to varying rates of P under Adtuyon clay soil in Bukidnon, Philippines. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five amounts (0, 84, 127, 169 and 211 kg ha^-1, respectively) of P as treatments with three replications. Results revealed that 'MD-2' pineapple growth was significantly influenced by P application. However, highest dose (211 kg ha^-1) of P in Adtuyon clay soil did not provoked significant P uptake of 'MD-2' pineapple. Instead, P uptake declined beyond 169 kg P ha^-1 application. Zn uptake of pineapple declined also as P applied in soil was beyond 169 kg P ha^-1. Unpredictably, 'MD-2' pineapple plants starved with P still produced fruits (mean fruit mass of 1.28 kg) with a yield of 76.80 tons ha^-1, however it could not be denied that higher doses of P (≥169 kg ha^-1) improved the fruit mass (≥1.42 kg) as well as yield (≥96.92 tons ha^-1) of 'MD-2' pineapple. Fruit physico-chemical properties of 'MD-2' pineapple was not dependent on the amount of P applied in the soil. In general, 169 kg P ha^-1 was found as the optimal amount of P for 'MD-2' pineapple production in Adtuyon clay soil.