Abstract
In agricultural production, nitrogen loss leads to economic loss and is a high environmental risk affecting plant growth, yield, and quality. Use of the N fertilizer with a urease inhibitor is thus necessary to minimize N losses and increase the efficiency of N. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) on the growth, yield, and quality of pineapple. The experiment involved two foliar fertilizer treatments: 1% (w/v) urea solution with NBPT (2.25 mL kg−1 urea) was treated as NLU (NBPT Liquid Urea), and the same concentration of urea without NBPT served as the control. Both were applied 12 times, starting 1 month after planting (MAP) and continuing once a month for 12 months. The application of urea with NBPT notably increased the above-ground dry biomass per plant (20% and 10% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), leaf area per plant (23% and 15% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), N accumulation per plant (10%), PFPN (Partial Factor Productivity) (13%), and average fruit weight (15%) compared to the treatment with urea alone (control). The analysis of quality parameters indicated that urea with NBPT improves TSS (Total Soluble Solids) (19%), ascorbic acid (10%), and sucrose (14%) but reduces the total organic acid content (21%) in pineapple. When using urea with a urease inhibitor (NBPT), there was a significant improvement in growth, yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency, with the additional benefit of reduced nitrogen losses, in combination with easy handling. Hence, urea with a urease inhibitor can be used as a viable alternative for increasing pineapple yield by boosting growth with better fruit quality.
Highlights
IntroductionPineapple is one of the major fruit crops in the tropics and sub-tropics, with enormous production, and is widely appreciated by customers globally for its taste and aroma [1]
Pineapple is one of the major fruit crops in the tropics and sub-tropics, with enormous production, and is widely appreciated by customers globally for its taste and aroma [1].It plays an important role in improving the human diet and is a source of fiber and micronutrients, especially vitamins and minerals [2]
Our study revealed that the overall superior quality of pineapple fruits from plants treated with urea and NBPT might be due to the function of NBPT in delaying the fast hydrolysis of urea, lowering NH3 emission and increasing the availability of nitrogen to the plant
Summary
Pineapple is one of the major fruit crops in the tropics and sub-tropics, with enormous production, and is widely appreciated by customers globally for its taste and aroma [1]. It plays an important role in improving the human diet and is a source of fiber and micronutrients, especially vitamins and minerals [2]. Nitrogen is a fundamental nutrient for agriculture and global food security [4] It is essential for the growth and development of plants and is a limiting factor for crop production [5].
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