The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-14
sss.sssss.s OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sss
PINEAPPLE DRAWBACKS j:
Agricultural Experiment Station Bule :"
y y = y y

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For number of years the pineapple
growers in the Wahiawa district have
observed that on certain sections of
their land pineapples do not grow well.
On these areas the young plants begin
to grow as on the best soils, but in the
course of few months the leaves be-
gin to show a reddish-purple color,
which soon gives place to a yellowish-
white appearance, and this color per-
sists throughout the remaining life of
the plant. Many of these plants never
bear fruit; that which is produced,
however, is always of inferior size and
quality. These areas are quite definite
and with the rapid expansion Of the
pineapple fields in recent years, the
land thus affecting this crop has been
found to be much greater in extent
than was formerly thought. All eff
forts of the best growers, including
the application of fertilizers and lime,
good tillage, drainage, etc., have failed
effectually to change the growth of the
pines on these lands.
In consideration of the extent of such
soil, and its unusual character, the Ha-
waii Experiment Station has under
taken an extended investigation of the
question. This work is still in progress,
but it is thought that results of suffi-
eient Importance and scientific interest
have been obtained to warrant their
publication at this time. This bulle-
tin should, therefore, be regarded as a
preliminary report, rather than a corn
plete discussion of the subject.
The pineapple growers have noticed
for several years that the soil which
produces yellow pines in most instances
is dark in color, whereas that producing
thrifty, green plants is usually red.
From this difference in color. IL is
common in Hawaii to speak of pine
apple soils as being red or black, mean
ing thereby good or poor pineapple
soil; and it is in this sense that the
terms red and black soils are used in
this paper. In addition to this differ
ence in color, the black soils appear to
have finer texture than the red soils.
When reasonably dry and in good filth
the red soil usually has a granular or
"shotty' texture, while the black soil,
under similar conditions, is reduced to
finer state of division. Upon thor
oughly wetting, however, either of
these types may be crushed between
the fingers to an almost impalpable
| mass; and indeed, to such fine state
| of division that practically all of it will
pass through a one hundred mesh sieve
There is, therefore, very little true grit
| in this section. 1t should be remem
bered in this connection that practical
| ly all soils of Hawaii are of volcanic
origin, and it seems that in this dis
trict, very complete disintegration OF
the lava has taken place, which, in some
places, extends to depth of thirty
feet or more.
/ In certain other pineapple sectie ii
| of Oahu, particularly near Pearl City
and Pupukea, similar condition exists
but since there is larger area devoted
to this crop, and greater extent o.
black soil in the Wahiawa district thar
in other sections of the Islands, it wa
decided to undertake this investigation
at Wahiawa. Accordingly, in Septem
Der, 1908, two extensive series of fer
tilizer plot experiments were begun
one on red soil, and one on black. Their,
was twofold object in these expert
ments--frst, to determine the fertilize
requirements of pineapples in Hawaii
second, to ascertain the cause of pine
apple following on the black soil. Thi
bulletin deals with the latter of thes,
only.
The bulletin then goes into an ex
i ,1austive study of the soil and othe
conditions and concludes with the fol
lowing summary:
l. Some of the pineapple soils o
Hawaii contain black spots on which
Eineapples do not grow successfully.
2. The application of fertilizers ant
lime, in conjunction with good tillage
has not resulted in effectually over
coming the yellow appearance of tn
pines on black soil.
/ 3. The black soils contain less acid
ity than the red soils.
4 4. There is but one important differ
ence in the chemical composition ,
these soils, viz, in regard to the man
ganese content. The black soil con
tains many times as much manganes
) as the red soil.
5. The black color of these area
may in part be attributed to the pr IS
ence of higher oxides of manganese.
g. There is a close correlation be
tween the degree of yellowing of tn
pines and the percentage of manga
nese in the soil.
I. Yellow pines from soils contain
ing a high percentage of manganes
, are more active oxidizlng agents tina
green plants from red soil.
s. The yellow pines have poo
root system and contain but littl
chlorophyl:
s. AS yet no positive remedy fo
, this condition has, been worked ou
1: seems wise to try other crops o
the black soil. especially since suga
cane grows well on the black soil
This investigation is being continue
along the lines suggested in the bod