Starting a commercial pineapple farming venture is a great opportunity for new growers looking to enter the agricultural industry. To successfully grow pineapples on your farm, it is essential to understand various aspects of pineapple cultivation. This includes gaining knowledge about the pineapple plant itself, the specific climatic conditions required for optimal growth, and the best planting methods. Additionally, proper management of fertilizers, as well as effective control of pests and diseases, is crucial to ensure healthy crops and maximize yields. In this article, you will find all the necessary information and guidelines to help you cultivate pineapple effectively and achieve success in commercial pineapple farming.
Classification
Kingdom : Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom : Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Superdivision : Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division : Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class : Liliopsida (Monocotyledons)
Subclass : Commelinidae
Order : Poales
Family : Bromeliaceae
Genus : Ananas
Species : comosus
Origin
Early exploration by botanists in South America revealed an abundance of wild plant species in regions such as southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. These areas were noted for their rich biodiversity and became key sites for botanical study. Additionally, materials collected from northwestern and eastern Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and much of Venezuela further contributed to the understanding of the region’s diverse flora.
Climatic requirements
Rainfall
Pineapple is an obligate Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant, exhibiting xerophytic characteristics that enable it to endure long periods of drought. Its leaves possess specialized features for water conservation, including water storage parenchyma that acts as a reservoir. The upper epidermis is highly cutinized, and the stomata are small and situated in furrows on the underside of the leaf.
Additionally, these stomata are covered by long, multicellular trichomes, which further reduce water loss. Remarkably, no water loss is detected during midday, and at night, water loss can be up to 38%, especially during the early stages of inflorescence development.
Although pineapple can adapt to a wide range of rainfall conditions, from 600 mm to more than 3500 mm annually, the optimal range is between 1000 and 1500 mm. Despite its drought tolerance, prolonged dry periods can still adversely affect its growth, highlighting the importance of adequate water availability for optimal development.
Temperature
High temperatures exceeding 28°C make chemical flower induction more challenging.
Latitude and Elevation
As the distance from the equator increases, the temperature difference between seasons becomes more pronounced, which in turn extends the number of days from planting to harvest for pineapples. Latitude and elevation play significant roles in cultivation, with higher elevations offering an opportunity to create an ideal environment for pineapple growth in tropical regions by mitigating extreme temperature variations.
Solar Radiation
Solar radiation is essential for pineapple growth, with the light level needed to saturate photosynthesis being less than 25% of full sunlight. However, high irradiance is crucial to sustain the high productivity levels in commercial plantations, especially those with densities exceeding 75,000 plants per hectare. Additionally, fruit weight has been found to have a significant correlation with the mean irradiance levels from planting to harvest, emphasizing the importance of adequate sunlight for optimal growth and yield.
Day lengths
The plant is classified as a short-day plant, though it is quantitative rather than obligatory, meaning it does not strictly require short days to flower. It can naturally flower at any time of the year, depending on the planting material and the timing of planting. Floral induction is particularly stimulated by cool night temperatures coinciding with shortened day length, provided the plant has reached a sufficient size.
Additionally, the interaction between temperature and day length significantly influences the duration from the initiation of flowering to fruit harvest. Research have shown that flowering in ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple occurs 100% for 8-hour days lenght, 69% for 10-hour days length, 53% for 12-hour days length, and 30% for 16-hour days length or longer days.
Soil Requirements for Pineapple Farming
Pineapples thrive best in well-drained, fertile, sandy loam soils that provide the ideal balance of moisture retention and drainage. These soils should be rich in the humus, which enhances soil fertility and structure, supporting healthy root development and nutrient absorption. Additionally, the soil’s pH level is crucial, with an optimal range between 4.5 and 5.5. This slightly acidic environment helps ensure the proper availability of essential nutrients, promoting vigorous growth and high-quality fruit production.
Related Article : Mango Farming: A Comprehensive Guide.
Planting System
In pineapple farming, the double-row system is widely adopted, though three- and four-row systems are also fairly common. These systems allow for high planting density, which can enhance productivity. However, maintaining such dense plantings requires careful management to ensure that the plants’ nutritional and environmental needs are adequately met. Additionally, while higher density planting can be beneficial, it can make harvesting operations more challenging, requiring more labor and efficient planning to manage the process effectively.
Spacing
In pineapple farming, proper spacing is essential for healthy growth and optimal yields. The distance between plants within a row should be no less than 20 cm to prevent overcrowding and ensure adequate access to nutrients and sunlight. In a two-row system, the spacing between rows is typically around 35 cm. Additionally, the distance from the center of one bed to the center of the next bed generally ranges between 90 and 120 cm, allowing sufficient room for plant development and facilitating maintenance and harvesting operations.
Fertilizer Management
Growing pineapples in soil with good organic matter and high fertility significantly boosts production. These conditions support the plant’s growth, ensuring higher yields and better fruit quality.
Pineapple crops require a minimum of 15 grams of nitrogen and potassium per plant for healthy development. While phosphorus is generally not essential, applying 4 grams of P₂O₅ can be beneficial in less fertile soils to improve yield.
Nitrogen application should be carefully managed, divided into six equal split doses. The first dose is applied two months after planting, and the final dose is given about one year later. The same schedule should be followed for applying potassium.
Nitrogen is the most crucial nutrient for pineapples and can be applied through top dressing at a rate of 50 kg per hectare. Potassium is equally important, as its deficiency can lead to poor quality fruit. The best method for potassium application is broadcasting it into plant holes before placing the plants.
Regular weeding is necessary to prevent pest infestations and reduce competition for nutrients, ensuring that the pineapple plants receive adequate resources for healthy growth.
Irrigation for pineapple farming
Pineapples need consistent moisture to grow well, but they can be harmed by waterlogging in overly wet soil. Drip irrigation is often the best choice for pineapples because it provides water directly to the roots, reducing waste. This method helps maintain ideal soil moisture levels and prevents diseases associated with overwatering.
Botany
Plant
The pineapple is a perennial, herbaceous monocot plant known for its distinctive rosette-forming growth pattern. This structure contributes to the plant’s ability to produce fruit efficiently while adapting to various environmental conditions.
Stem
The stem of the pineapple plant is short, typically measuring 30 to 35 cm in length and 5 to 8 cm in diameter. It has short internodes ranging from 1 to 10 mm, with an axillary bud at each node. These buds play a crucial role in the plant’s propagation, as they produce suckers that contribute to new growth and reproduction.
Root
Pineapples develop adventitious roots, known as soil roots, which grow from pre-formed root primordia. Additionally, axillary roots emerge from the leaf axils located above the soil surface. Both types of roots play a vital role in anchoring the plant and absorbing nutrients and water.
Leaf
Pineapple leaves grow tightly around the stem in a rosette formation and exhibit a spiral arrangement with a 5/13 phyllotaxy, where the 13th leaf is positioned directly above the 1st leaf after five complete turns around the stem. These leaves are long, reaching up to 100 cm, narrow, and feature parallel venation. While many varieties have spines along the leaf margins, spineless cultivars are also available.
The leaves possess special adaptations for drought resistance, including stomata located in furrows beneath dense, long multicellular trichomes. These trichomes help reduce water loss by absorbing moisture and covering the stomata. On average, pineapple plants produce five or six new leaves each month. Older leaves do not fall off, and a mature plant typically has 70 to 80 active leaves.
Inflorescence
The pineapple plant produces a terminal inflorescence that develops from the apical meristem. Botanically, it is classified as a spike, with the central axis known as the peduncle. Small, sessile (stalkless) flowers are arranged around the peduncle. The phyllotaxy pattern varies, with large fruits like ‘Smooth Cayenne’ following a 21/55 arrangement and smaller ratoon crop fruits exhibiting a 13/34 pattern. Each inflorescence typically contains between 100 and 200 individual flowers.
Flower
Pineapple flowers are purple to red and are borne laterally on the rachis of a spike. Each flower is subtended by a single bract, which may be yellow, green, or red. The flowers consist of three sepals, three petals, six stamens, and a tri-carpellate ovary. Blooming begins at the base of the inflorescence, with one or more flowers opening per day, and the flowering process can last for up to a month.
Pollination and fruit set
In pineapples, both ovules and pollen grains are functional, but seeds typically do not form due to high self-incompatibility. This self-incompatibility is gametophytic, meaning that while pollen can germinate on the stigma, it fails to grow through the style. As a result, pineapples develop fruit parthenocarpically, without fertilization. However, if flowers are cross-pollinated, small, hard, brown seeds may develop. In their natural habitat, hummingbirds serve as the primary pollinators for pineapple plants.
Fruit
The pineapple fruit is botanically classified as a multiple fruit, composed of fused berries. It is also known as a sorosis or syncarp, which is a fleshy compound fruit formed by the fusion of several individual fruitlets, each developing from an inferior ovary. Each fruitlet within the pineapple represents a single berry. The time from forcing to fruit maturity in pineapples is approximately 190 days. However, this duration can be influenced by climatic conditions and may vary depending on the specific cultivar.
Flower Induction in Pineapple
Chemical flower induction is a common practice in pineapple farming, aiming to synchronize flowering and ultimately harvest. Several chemicals can be used for this purpose, including Ethephon, which breaks down to produce ethylene, as well as Acetylene, Calcium carbide, Napthalene acetic acid (NAA), and Beta-Hydroxyethylhydrazine (BOH).
Among these, Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is the most widely used due to its effectiveness and ease of application. The recommended concentration of Ethephon ranges from 500 to 1500 μg/l, with a 1000 μg/l solution typically achieving more than 90% flowering within 40–60 days of application.
Several factors influence the effectiveness of chemical flower induction in pineapples. The concentration of the chemical plays a significant role, with higher concentrations often needed in warmer months to induce flowering. Timing is also crucial; ethylene-based chemicals are more effective when applied during the night or early morning hours, as stomates are open, compared to daytime applications.
Temperature further affects the required concentration, with warmer conditions needing stronger doses. The level of nitrogen in the plant can impact success, as high nitrogen levels reduce the efficacy of induction in warm weather. Withholding nitrogen fertilizer for 4–6 weeks before induction can improve results. Additionally, the age of the plant at the time of forcing influences both fruit size and overall productivity.
Propagation
Suckers or ratoons
Suckers or ratoons are lateral shoots that grow from axillary buds located at various positions on the stem. These shoots serve as an effective method for reproducing the plant and ensuring a consistent supply of new growth.
Slips
Slips are lateral shoots that develop at the base of the fruit on vestigial fruits. These shoots are commonly used in pineapple farming as a propagation material due to their convenient growth position, making them an efficient means of cultivating new plants.
Crown
The crown, a shoot located at the top of the inflorescence or fruit, is another method of pineapple propagation, although suckers and slips are more commonly used. Typically, pineapples are marketed with their crown intact. In the case of the ‘Smooth Cayenne’ variety, each plant produces only one to two suckers and rarely more than three slips, making efficient propagation critical.
Stem sectioning
Stem sectioning is a propagation method that involves using stems from mature pineapple plants. The leaves are stripped off, and the stem is divided into sections about 5 cm in length. These sections are then treated with a fungicide solution or air-cured for several days before being planted in a nursery. Shoots emerge from the axillary buds of the sections, and the young plants can be transplanted into the field after 4–6 months of growth.
Maturity
Pineapples are ready for harvest when the basal eyes transition to a pale green color. During the cool season, harvesting is done when the eyes at the base start to turn yellow. A sugar content of approximately 12% indicates proper maturity.
Harvesting
For the fresh market, pineapples are harvested manually, with fruits being cut or broken off their stalks and placed on a conveyor system. Mechanical harvesting is also feasible and commonly used for pineapples intended for processing.
Storage
Pineapples can be stored for up to four weeks at an optimal temperature of approximately 8°C. However, temperatures below 7°C can cause chilling injuries, leading to flesh browning and crown damage. These chilling effects typically become evident only after the fruit is removed from refrigeration.
Major insects and diseases
- Nematodes
- Pineapple is extremely sensitive to nematode feeding on roots
- Nematode species
- Lesion (Pratylenchus brachyurus)
- Reniform (Rotylenchulus reniformis)
- Root-knot (Meloidogyne javanica)
- Several other species may occur
- Feeding on root tips causes darkened lesions, necrosis, root stunting and/or galling
- Affected plant stunted or killed
Control
- Fumigation of soil prior to planting is routinely practiced
- Crop rotation with non-host species Or
- Nematicides through drip irrigation
2. Mealy bug Wilt
- Wilt caused by pineapple wilt virus
- Viruses are transmitted by mealybug (Dysmicoccus spp.)
Mealybugs are suspected of producing a toxin that may interact with the virus to produce symptoms
Symptoms
- Infected plants first develop reddish leaves and then become chlorotic or necrotic
- Plants are severely stunted
Mealybugs are tended by ants which move them to new host.
Control
- Control measures target the control of ants with insecticides to prevent spread of diseases
