A step towards doubling farmers income "INTERCROPPING"

PINE APPLE CULTIVATION IN MANGO ORCHARD AS AN INTERCROP

INTRODUCTION

• Pine apple (Ananas comosus)

• It is a perennial fruit crop grown in tropical and sub tropical areas of the world

• It belongs to the family bromeliaceae.

ORIGIN:

• Pine apple originates at Parana Paraguay River

• The meaning of Ananas is excellent edible quality of fruit

• Pine apple is popularised in Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Orissa, Kerala, Goa, Bihar.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

• Pine apple is an excellent source of vitamin C and good source of vitamin A&B.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

• Pine apple is a herbaceous perennial plant

• Stem – 20-30cm long and narrow at base & wider on top

• Average fruit size – 20cm long - 14 cm broad

PLANT PROPAGATION METHOD:

• Pine apple is propagated by three asexual methods.

• Suckers: Axillary shoots originating from base of plant.

• Slips: Side shoots of suckers or originating from just below the fruit.

• Crowns: Leaf rosette on top of fruit.

• Production of fruits for suckers is 15 to 18 months. Production of fruits for slips is 18 to 20 months

• Production of fruits for crown is 22 to 24 months.

PRECAUTIONARY STEP :

• Before planting – All planting materials must be cured for one to several weeks after separated from the mother plant to reduce lose from decaying organism.

TISSUE CULTURE:

• Micro propagation technology had developed for faster multiplication.

CULTURAL PRACTICE:

• For Pine apple double row system is suitable

• Distance – 100 ×60×30cm

PINE APPLE AS AN INTERCROP:

• Pine apple is a semi shade loving plant

• It can successfully grown for commercial purpose inside mango orchard as an intercrop in between two rows of mango plant.

FLOWER INDUCTION :

:• Inflorescence development takes place at cool night temperatures.

• Flower initiation begins at November and continuous to February

• Nowadays NAA or ethylene are used to induce flowering and fruiting becomes more even.

• Cac2 is used in past for flowering.