Technology for year round production of Pineapple in Tripura

Dr Jai Prakash
Division of FHT IARI New Delhi

The main constraints for year round production of Pineapple

Long wet and dry period and erratic precipitation. Predominance of queen and Kew on farms. Lack of techniques among the growers. Peoples perception regarding pineapple cultivation. Poor organic matter & low moisture containing soils. Free grazing of animals especially during dry period. Poor communication for marketing during glut.

Varieties
Kew
Plants are vigorous; leaves have short sector of spines at the tip and margins; fruits weigh about 1.5- 2.5 kg; eyes are broad and shallow making it more suitable for canning;
Dr. JAI PRAKASH, Scientist (Horticulture)

Queen
Most popular cultivar of Tripura. Plants- dwarf and compact; leaves- short, spiny along the margins; fruits weigh about 0.8 to 1.3 kg; peduncle-short, fruitlets or eyes are small, deep set; fruits although less juicier than the Cayenne group are less fibrous; TSS- 13 to 19 Brix and acidity 0.6 to 0.8%.

Mauritius
Fruits medium sized and are of 2 types- yellow and red. Yellow types- Oblong, fibrous and medium sweet. Red types- Oblong, less fibrous and sweeter than the yellow types. Leaves-yellowish green, spiny throughout the margin and the crown is also spiny in both types.

PQM-1
Fruits medium sized and suitable for table & canning purpose, fruit weight 0.91.4kg and late maturity. Orange colour, Oblong, fibrous and medium sweet. Leaves-reddish green, spiny throughout the margin and the crown is also spiny, TSS 1417.4brix

Propagation
Pineapple is commercially propagated by suckers in Tripura. However, it can also be propagated by means of slips and crowns but fruiting will be after two year of planting

Planting, HDP (across the slope and terrace)

Plant to plant Row to TrenchPlant Trench Population within a row. Row (cm) (cm) /ha. (cm) 43,500 53,300 63,700 22000 55000 30 25 22.5 45-60 60 60 60 60 90 90 Yield (t/ha) 45.2 51.6

60 or 45 75 or 90 61.0 90-120 75 15-18

Triangular system of planting

Manuring
FYM 25 to 30 tonnes/ ha N 200 Kg/ ha P 100 Kg/ ha K 200 Kg/ ha Application of fertilizers in three split doses is recommended. 1st: Onset of monsoon (June-July). 2nd: End of monsoon (Sept-Oct). 3rd: Feb-March as per rainfall.

Use of Different grades (weight) of Suckers cv. Queen

Weight of sucker (g) Time of planting Flowering Time Fruit maturity Weight of Fruit (g) TSS (0brix) Fruit Yield

(t/ha) 16.5 14.8 16.2 31.36 41.25 39.45

900 600 300

15-30 September 15-30 September 15-30 September

March

MayJune

650

June-July October 1055 JulyAugust Decemb 1020 erJanuary

Off season fruiting

Main season fruiting

Recommendation of AICRP on Tropical fruits induce flowering in cv Kew

ept- Jan NAA 20 ppm (Planofix 2ml/ 4.5 lts of water) + 2 Urea. archay All months threl 10 ppm + 2 Urea +0.04 odium carbonate. threl 25 ppm + 2 Urea + 0.004 odium carbonate.

Why Ethrel for induction of flower

Several recommendations of chemicals are in India and abroad to induce the flower in pineapple plants with different combination and concentrations. It is accepted globally that each chemical i.e. Planofix, anaphthaleneacetic acid or B naphylacetic acid, Sodium carbonate, calcium carbide, B-hydroxyethyl hydrazine, Ethrel or Ethephon used to induce the flowering in and each of them produced ethylene in plant system Each chemical excluding stimulate ethylene production in plants which directly available in Ethrel and due to this its efficacy is much higher which prove it as best chemical to induce flower in pineapple and it is permitted by USDA also. World Health Organization calcium carbide is no longer permitted for application in fruit industry in any form due to its carcinogenic effect on human health.

Stage of chemical application

Ethrel can induce the flowering at any stage of the plant growth with different concentration but fruit size and quality will be reduced drastically if applied at early stage. However optimum size of plant should forced to induce flowering at right stage to get marketable size of fruits and without any adverse effect on ratoon crops. Hence, stage of plants are denoted by the active leaf number in plant of pineapple i.e. 30-32 leaves in Queen, 34-36 leaves in Kew, 32-34 leaves in PQM-1, 30-32 leaves in Mauritius under Tripura condition

Time of application
After concluding various experiments on time of chemical application and its efficacy to induce flower in pineapple, The evening application 3.00PM on wards enhance the efficacy of chemical poured in the heart of pineapple plant are sprayed uniformly in dense orchard. The plantation exists under Agro-forestry respond better even during 10.00AM to 3.00PM. due to partially opening of stomata of leaves otherwise it is closed during sunlight.

 Ethrel concentration should be prepared and poured in the heart of the plant (for small area and under low density). Where plant density is 43500 or higher the foliar application is better with foot sprayers or rock sprayers to cover a large area. The 30-40ml solution is sufficient to induce the flowering on physiologically mature plant of pineapple and it start flowering in 50-55 days after application in most of the month except December-January due to low temperature which, delay flowering by 7-10 days. The application of chemical should be avoided if there is rainfall before six hour of application and it should be repeated if rain was noticed within 10 hours after chemical application.

Method of Application

Inducing fruiting through chemicals

Staggered planting and application of Ethrel as influenced the flowering and fruiting of pineapple
Weight of Time of sucker (g) Planting 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g April May June July August October Time of application 15 30 ov. 15 30 Dec. 15-30March 15-30April 15-30May 1-15 August Concentration 100ppm 100ppm 100ppm 150ppm 150ppm 200ppm 200ppm --------Flowering Time January February May June July 20-30Aug 20-30 Sept Feb- March

September 1-15July

Main Crop Sept.-Oct. -----

Flowering and fruiting of pineapple cont

Weight of Fruit maturity Fruit sucker (g) weight (g) 300-450g 20 March-15 April 950 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 300-450g 20 April-5 May September October ovember Dec-Jan Jan-Feb 1020 1150 1050 985 850 750 740 TSS (0brix) 17.5 17.8 14.5 15.0 15.2 15.0 16.2 15.2 Yield (t/ha) 34.56 36.16 43.52 36.52 35.55 33.57 32.39 31.99

Main Crop May to June

Dr. JAI PRAKASH, Scientist (Horticulture)

Improvement of fruit quality

 Pinching: Removal of crown leaves 1.5-2.0 cm after 30

days of fruit set. The maximum fruit weight (1.34 kg) was recorded under 30 days followed by (1.20 kg) in 40 days and minimum (890g) under control.
Slips should be removed immediate after emergence; if number of slips will increase then fruit size and quality will decreases. Encourage the growth of suckers it have positive impact over fruit quality and size. Foliar feeding of N, Zn and Boron (1.5, 0.5 & 0.1% respectively) after 20 days of fruit set.

Pinching and Non-pinching

Management of Sun burn

Management of Sun burn by use of shade net

100% fruits were free from sun burn

THANKS