| dc.description.abstract | The pineapple Ananas comosus L. Merr. is a tropical fruit which is
grown at altitudes from 100 to over 1800m above sea level with rainfall
ranges of 600 to over I500/mm annually.
Soils with high murram (high iron or manganese concretions)
contents favour pineapple growing while those with high clay content
are not favourable. The soil for pineapple growing must be well
drained. The slope of the terrain must not exceed 5%. Monocropping of
. pineapples gives higher yie~ds than intercropping. It is thus best for
commercial pineapple production. A double row system of planting
makes field management easier than single row planting and gives
higher yields.
The use of evenly-sized planting materials as practised by large scale
growers_i~ important in the production of fruits of even weight and
maturing period. This is further facilitated by the use of flower forcing
growth regulators in order to ensure uniform flowering and maturity
of fruits of the same age and size. Small scale farmers usually plant
mixed propagules that mature unevenly. They also do not use flower
forcing growth regulators.
Irrigation ensures continous production of pineapple fruits all year
round. Rainfed pineapples are, however, seasonal and can fail in times
of drought.
The use of fertilizers especially Nitrogen fertilizers gives higher
yields than those of pineapples grown without any fertilization.
Mealy bugs and nematodes are the commonest pests of pineapples
in Kenya. Their control is important in order to produce better fruit
yields of high quality. Small scale farmers who do not use pesticides
produce lower fruit yields of low quality. The use of Diazinon has been
found to be effective in controlling mealy bugs whereas, DD Nemagen
used as a fumigant controls nematodes.
Fungal attacks mainly by Phytophthora spp. are common in fields
where fumgicides are not used. Control of these fungal diseases
reduces losses both at the field level and after fruit harvest.
Production practises for large scale growers are mechanised while
those for small growers are manual. However, planting and harvesting
are manual operations of both large and small growers. Fruits for
. canning are however harvested differently from those intended for
fresh markets.
Post harvest losses for large scale farmers are very low while those
for small scale farmers are high due to poor packaging, transportation
and marketing conditions. Large scale growers also have moreinarket
openings i.e. processed fruits, 'fresh export and local markets while
small scale growers only sell to the local fresh markets.
The occurrence of multiple crowns is common when
environmental conditions are unfavourable e.g. very high rainfall or a
prolonged dry spell.' The same factors also increase leaf and fruit
spineness. Rosetting was only observed in fruits produced in virgin
lands.
Fruits produced at lower altitudes have higher brix to acid ratio than
those grown at higher altitudes. However, fruits produced at the same
altitude may show different brix to acid ratio due to variation of other
climatic factors such as light intensity and temperature. Production
practises are also important in determining the final fruit quality.
Excessive ratoon crops also reduce the brix acid ratio similar to close
spacing which has the same effect.
Rosetting increase the acid content of a fruit. The water and sugar
content of fruits rise ~ith progressive 'ripening and the acid level goes
down.
The scale of processed pineapple as well as export of fresh fruits is on
the increase in Kenya. The sale of fruits at the local fresh market is also
in the rise. | en |
