Cropping system and management of pineapple

Pineapple is known as the queen of the fruit.
Pineapple has the proteolytic enzyme known as Bromelin.It helps in digestion process.

Now we are coming to the cropping systems in pineapple.

Climate
Pineapple grows well in humid tropical condition.The optimum altitude for pineapple cultivation is 1100m from mean sea level. Temperature should be less than 35°c.It can be grown as intercrop in areca nut, coconut gardens.

Propagation
Pineapple is propagated by vegetative means only by using planting materials like suckers,slip and crowns.

For propagation selection of planting material is very important.For this-
Suckers and slips should be preferred for planting as they come to bearing earlier than the crown and produce larger fruit.The suckers of 501-750 g and slips of 301-400 g are considered as ideal planting material.

Treatment of planting materials
The dry leaf scales at the base of the slips and suckers are removed and the tips of the leaves should be at 25-30 cm from the base.The exposed bases of the planting materials are dipped in Dithane-M-45(0.2%) solution for half an hour before planting to protect the the plants bud rot.

Planting time
Planting of pineapple suckers can be done from April-October.However April-May planting is considered as the best time for better growth of the plants in Assam.
Planting system
Pineapple is planted in double row bed system for convenient intercultural operations.The spacing is 30 cm× 60 cm× 90 cm,i.e. the spacing between plant to plant is 30cm, in row to row is 60cm and 90cm between two double rows.In this spacing 44000 numbers of plants can be accommodated.

Now take a look at the fertilizer Application
Pineapple removes large amount of soil nutrients.In Assam condition,10-15t of FYM,12g N,2g P2O5 and 12 g K2O per plant in the first crop.Organic manures should be applied as basal at time of land preparation.

Cultural practices

*Earthing up-The pineapple plants should be earthen up because the plants may be get broken due to heavy weight.

*Rationing-Ratooning is the process by which the the suckers are retained in the same place to develop next crop.simply it is the conservation of suckers for further propagation.

*Flower induction-If the natural flowering does not occur then artificial flowering could be done.For this a chemical Ethrel 25 ppm(.25ml/l)+Urea(2%)+Calcium carbonate (0.04%).Fifty ml of the solution is applied into the heart of the plants.

In Assam, pineapple occupied area is 12.9 thousand hectares with an annual production of 225.1 Mt,now increasing rapidly.

Thanks.