PINEAPPLE PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT in

Dole Philippines Inc., Polomolok ,South Cotabato A Major Practice in Horticulture

Dr. Calixto M. Protacio Adviser Josephine D. Tino AGRO 199

The Pineapple
Third important crop in terms of area of production next to banana and mango (BAS,

2009)
Second in terms of volume of production next to banana (BAS, 2009)

Second most important crop of the country in terms of export and demand next to banana (BAS, 2009)

Production Areas
World Production for exports (Metric Tons) (BAS 2007)
Costa Rica (1544.8 ) Philippines (232.6 ) Cote dlvoire (175)

Local Production (Metric tons) (BAS 2000-2009)

Northern Mindanao (887 819.5) SOCCSKSARGEN (690 997.4 ) Bicol Region (95 497.77 ) Cagayan Valley (23 739.25 ) Davao Region (18 910.22 )

Botany
Ananas comosus L. Family Bromeliaceae (terrestrial type) Perennial and monocarpic herb Grows to 1-1.5 meters with a spread of 0.9-1.2

meters Classified as facultative CAM

Planting materials
Stumps crown Slips Suckers Hapas Meristems (tissue cultured)

Fig. 1. Pineapple plant parts

Pineapple Varieties
Smoothe Cayenne

Most important variety for processing Biggest among cultivars Spineless except the leaf tip Light yellow flesh

Queen
Smallest but sweetest variety Spiny leaves Deep yellow flesh

Red Spanish
Sweet but coarse and spicy Pale yellow flesh Mainly produced for its strong silky fibers

Fig. 2. Smoothe Cayenne

Fig. 4. Red Spanish

Fig.3. Queen Variety

Uses and Nutritional Composition of Pineapple

Wine making Twine and net making Cloth making Rich source of Vitamins A, B, C and fibers Calcium, Iron and sugar Medicinal purposes
Contains micro-nutrients believed to protect cells

against cancer and break up blood clots Its juice can also kill intestinal worms, and relieves intestinal disorders (Philippine Herbal Medicine)

Objectives of the farm practice

Describe and analyze various management practices

employed in pineapple production based on theoretical validity;

Apply theoretical knowledge and various skills in the

actual production and management of pineapple through participation in the activities at the plantation
Analyze the various prospects and constraints of

pineapple production.

Expected outputs
Description and layout of farm area

Photo-documentation of various farm practices involved in propagation, production, and post-harvest handling of

pineapples and their analysis according to theoretical validity

Description of socio-economic factors

affecting the production and management of pineapple

 A discussion on bio-physical factors affecting

the production and management

An analysis of existing problems in plantation

area and possible recommendation of suitable solutions according to scientific basis

The Farm practice

Time and Place
The major practice was conducted in Dole

Philippines Incorporated, Polomolok, South Cotabato from April 5 to May 17, 2010.

The student participated in and observed actual

production and management practices done in pineapple.

the base plantation production management strategies.

The student compared the growers program and

The student performed the special project on

Evaluation of Soil Properties of Fields with Good and Poor Plants at Different Growth Stages

Dolefil Pineapple Plantation

International company that contributes

significant dollar earnings for the country.

Operates the largest pineapple growing

and uses the most modern technologies for production and utilization.
Dolefil produces pineapple year round.

Fig. 5. Dole Philippines Inc., Polomolok, South Cotabato

 10, 850 hectares base plantation located in

the eastern part of South Cotabato

4, 792 hectares are contract growers owned farm located in Mt. Matutum Zone, Sarangani Zone and Upper Valley Zone The land is gently sloping and gently rolling with minimum elevation of 300 meters above sea level The soil is classified as sandy loam to clay loam

Fig.6 . Province of South Cotabato

Fig.7. Dolefil Base Plantation and Growers Program Location

 The rainfall is currently characterized by two

pronounced seasons dry from January to May and wet during the rest of the year The annual average rainfall is between 109.2 cm -277.4 cm The annual maximum temperature ranges 30.3-35.2C and annual minimum ranges 20.3-20.9C. Relative humidity is 74.09% (2009).

Dolefil Pineapple Varieties

F200 (a clone of Smooth cayenne)
Canning variety Has long, slightly curved, green, spineless leaves with

red band color in the middle of the lamina The fruit is cylindrical with smooth to tapering shoulder.

MG3 (Malayan Gold 3)

Fresh fruit variety Has long slightly curved, green leaves w/o green band in

the middle of the lamina The fruit is square-shouldered and relatively large size

Milk pine ( new variety)

Under Agricultural Research observation White flesh

Fig. 8. F2oo pineapple variety

Fig. 10. Milk pine pineapple variety

Fig. 9. Malayan Gold 3 (MG3 pineapple variety)

planting Land Preparati on 6 period 0 Age Mid growth 8th period

Ratoon Harvest 37th Period

Plant Crop Force 14th period First Ratoon Force 30th Period Plant Crop Harvest 22nd period 1 Period = 4 Weeks or 28 days

 Plant crop

= 22 Periods = 1.75 years Ratoon Crop = 16 Periods = 1.25 years Fallow = 6 Periods = 0.38 years Total Cycle = 43 periods = 3.3 years

Land Preparation
Liming the Soil
The purpose is to make the pH 5- 6.5 which is

suitable for pineapple production Dolomite is applied at 25 bags/ha and Calcite at 12bags/ha Done with the use of Barber spreader

Fig.12. Barber Spreader for liming application

 Chopping/knockdown
Done after liming and it is carried out by

chopping the plants and stumps to decompose faster when incorporated into the soil. A chopper or conventional knockdown harrow is used. The plant debris are chopped 2 times

 Observed chopping/knockdown practice.

Fig.13. Plant Debris Chopper

Fig. 14. Plant debris after chopping

Moldboard Plowing
Moldboard is used to incorporate the trashes into the

soil in order to increase organic matter content. Normally done 12- 15 deep Figures 15 and 16 showing the observed equipment used and the plowed soil

Fig. 15. Moldboard plow

Fig. 16. After single plowing

Knockdown Review and Harrowing

Done 4 weeks after plowing to kill weeds, aerate

soil, break up clods, level the soil surface and provide a good tilth for planting
2 rounds of harrowing is done using disc

harrow to complete the step, then followed immediately by final disking with the use of disker.
Figures 17 and 18 showing the observed harrowing

equipment and the harrowed area, ready for planting

Fig.17. Knockdown reviewer and harrower

Fig. 18. After knockdown review and harrowing

 F200
Crowns are used because it is economical.
After harvest, crowns are removed and brought to

the dipping station at the cannery together with the fruits. These are separated through a blower where in fruits go directly to processing plant and the crowns pass through a conveyor they are sorted as small, medium and large, then directly loaded to the truck and delivered to the field ready for planting.

 MG3
Suckers are used through sucker retrieval they are

directly bathed up in the field after trimming then sprayed with fungicide
They are then delivered to areas ready for planting

Milk Pine
Tissue culture

Used for mass propagation of MG3 ,but now it is primarily for Milk pine variety production of plantlets. This is one of their new research project.

Student Participation in Propagation of Pineapple

Fig. 19. Participated in Sucker Harvesting

Fig. 20. Observed sucker trimming

Fig. 21. Observed Bathed up suckers after fungicide application

Planting
Planting materials are delivered to the field depending on the availability of trucks and planting

materials
Triangular and double row are used Planting distance
18 between row 27 between beds

9.25 between plants

Fig. 22. Designed planting distance

Planting guide and planting iron are being used

Student participation in Planting Pineapple

Fig. 23. Planting material are hauled in the field

Fig. 25. After planting

Fig. 24. Planting of suckers

Field Maintenance
FERTILIZATION (Plant Crop)
Fertilization is done monthly Side feeding Applied to 1 - 3 months old F200 and MG3 Fertilizer should be applied 3 inches away from the plant Urea applied 2.4 g/hill at 4 bags/hectare Foliar Spray Age 4-12 periods of the plant for both F200 and MG3. Foliar solution contains mixed fertilizers containing N, P, K and minor elements like B and Zn Applied through the use of boom sprayer.

Student observation in fertilizer application activities

Fig. 26. Observed Fertilizer side feeding

Fig. 27. After side feeding

Fig.28. Conveyor for fertilizer and other materials.

Fig. 29. Observed Forcing solution mixing in the Mixing deck

Fig. 30. Filling the supply trucks with fertilizer or forcing solution

Observed foliar fertilizer application

Fig. 31. Boom sprayer

Fig. 32. Supply trucks and the Boom Sprayer

Field Maintenance
Insect Pest and Disease control
INSECT PEST

Mealy bugs (Dysmicoccus brevipes)

Cause stunting and death of plant or the mealy bug wilt Serve as vectors of other pineapple disease like Phytophthora rot. Damage the bottom of the fruit resulting to rotting and leaking also attack leaves Control Management
Do not let old plantings stand around Soil must be thoroughly prepared If not controlled through cultural practices, Diazinon is sprayed.

Fig. 33. Mealy

bugs
(Dysmicoccus brevipes)

Fig. 34. Fruit affected by mealy bugs Fig. 35. stunted pineapple plant

 INSECT PEST

Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Larval stage of beetles attack roots

of plant and causes death of the whole plant due to root rot development.
Control Management

Do not let old plantings stand around

Soil must be thoroughly prepared if not controlled through cultural practices, Diazinon is sprayed.
Fig. 36. Grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

 Disease control
DISEASES

Butt rot (Thielaviopsis paradoxa) Rotting of base portion of the plant that leads to death of the plant Due to water logging in the area that causes causal organism to prevail and infest the plant. Planting materials can also be infested if not cured properly

Control Management
Good land preparation should be done Planting materials should be dipped in tilt and alliate

Fig. 37. Pineapple crown with butt rot observed from planting materials

Fig. 38. Pineapple plant affected with butt rot disease found in the field

 Disease control
DISEASES

Phythopthora heart and root rot (P. parasitica and cinnamoni)

due to improper side feeding fertilizer application that causes plant burn rotting of the heart portion of the whorl, yellowing of leaves , wilting and then death. undesirable odor Control Management Diazinon is combined with fertilizer through foliar spray to control the insect pests that act as vectors of the pathogen proper application of fertilizer

Fig. 39. Arrows show pineapple plants affected by heart rot disease

 Insect Pest and Disease Control

DISEASES

Pink disease (Acetobacter aceti)

Observed in sliced fruit specially during heating process for canning operation

Control Management
Diazinon is applied 6 weeks before flower induction or when the pineapple starts to flower. Spraying of Diazinon to control its vector that transmit the disease to other not affected plants especially grubs Endosulfan is applied 9 weeks after flower induction

Normal fruits

Affected fruits

Fig. 40. Sliced pineapples shows pink disease

 PHYSICAL DISORDERS
Multiple Crown
Common disorder due to genetic or environmental origin This occurs when temperature is high during flower development Core becomes large, reducing the value of fruit
Fruit might not develop Control Management Do not plant crowns from multiple crowned fruit Proper spacing to reduce temperature

Fig. 41. Multiple crowned pineapple

 PHYSICAL DISORDERS
Small Fruit
improper forcing and herbicide application

Sunburn
Exposure to sunlight, low density planting and high temperature Mainly happens in MG3 fruits which are for fresh fruit production Bagging is being done to minimize sunburn

Student Observation and Participation in Controlling Physical Disorders

Fig. 42. Observed small fruit disorder in the field Fig.43. Participated in fruit bagging to protect fruit against sun burn

Weed Control Management

Chemical Weed control
Application of Hyvar (Bromacil) combined with

Diazinon(988 gal/ha) within 1-2 days after planting Ametryn and Karnex are applied at age 1-3 periods after planting (6, 175 gal/ha) Use of boom sprayer Field Road sprayer Small truck with 2 hoses that go through the borders of the field or block Round-up and Glyphosate are also used.

Mechanical weeding
Done normally at 7th-13th and 15th periods with the use

of light hoe Field perimeters and roads are cleaned to about 1 meter away from the pineapple plant During the operation, mealy bug wilted plants are removed and plants around infected areas are sprayed with Diazinon. Figure 43 shows the observed mechanical weeding along the water way.

Student Observation in Manual Weeding

Fig. 44. Mechanical weeding

Rouging
Removal of pineapple stumps that are not fully

decomposed during land preparation Stumps are considered as weeds, as when it sprouts they compete the main pineapple plant and become undesirable.

Fig. 44. Pineapple stump

Flower Induction (Forcing)

The last fertilizer application is done at age 12

(12 months age), after this plants are subject to 1 month starving first round application Ethylene gas (0.33 lbs + Kaolinite (1 bag) per load mixture good for 7.9 has. second round -4.25 li ethrel + 3.5 bags/ load urea good for 22.23 has Done in the evening or late in the afternoon.

Fig. 46. Sacks of Urea

Fig. 47. Green ethrel liquid

Fig. 48. Mixing deck

Fig.49. Forcing is done in the evening

Bagging of Fruit
Bagging (for MG3 variety only)
Done 16 weeks after forcing
Use of plastic bags with small holes and placed over

the crown and strong leaf nearest to the fruit Fruits within 1-2 beds or from 1-6 rows along the block edges and waterways are covered to protect fruit from sunburn. Also done in areas where mortality is high

Fig. 50. Fruit bagging

Degreening
Hastens uniform ripening of pineapple fruits

Ethrel combined with phosphoric acid are

applied when majority of the fruits in the area already show slightly color break Done a week before harvesting

Harvesting
Pre-harvest estimate
Done 8 weeks before the expected date of harvest to

determine the volume of fruits available in the field Pink disease sampling will follow to determine if the fruits are affected by Pink disease

Manual harvesting
Crops under research are harvested manually also

crops for cannery if needed. Crown is also removed, fruits are sized and shell color is being determined. Fruits are hand loaded to bin trucks

Fig. 51. Manual harvesting

Fig. 52. Fruit sizing

Fig. 53. Decrowning

Fig. 54. Fruit Hauling

Harvesting

Fig. 55. Conventional boom harvester with conveyor

Fig. 56. Carousel type boom harvester

Carousel type boom harvester

MG3 for fresh fruit usually uses the carousel type boom
Fruits were brought to packing house or mobile packing house for

post harvest handling.

F200 for cannery fruits are harvested and decrowned then placed in the conveyor which convey the fruits to the bin trucks Pineapples are placed in 3 layers with crowns at the bottom to avoid bruising.

The fruits are hauled for cannery operation

F200 And MG3 Fresh Fruit Postharvest Handling

Fruit Receiving Fruit Rinsing Floatation

No

Floater
Yes

2nd Floatation
No

Floater
Yes

Decrowning

Final Spray Waxing Sorting

Rinsing

For Cannery

Blow Drying

Packing

Box Coding

Palletizing
Rapid cooling and storage

Container van Fig. 57. Postharvest Handling Process Cycle

Packing House Operations

After post harvest handling the fruits are carefully packed

and labelled according to costumers demand. Boxes were palletized and moved to the cold rooms with a temperature of 7.2C is maintained Container vans that are used in transporting pineapple products also maintain same temperature. Markets

China Japan Taiwan Brunei Singapore Middle East

Socio-Economic Involvement of Dolefil

Growers Program
Demand for pineapple products for export is

high and Dolefil opt to build partnership with contract farmers. Farmers plant pineapples for canned pineapples and rarely for fresh fruit

 Dolefil aims to increase tonnage for the

market
Help improve farmers income and develop

their entrepreneurship
Generate employment
Create social landscape in nearby

communities

The Tripartite Relationship

Partnership between Dole Phil. Inc.,

Landbank of the Philippines and Coop/Contract growers also called as Tripartite relationship Each element has its own important role that benefits also others and itself

Tripartite Relationship
Dolefil

Landbank

Coop/Grower

Fig. 58. The Tripartite relationship

Dole Philippines Incorporated

Provides the technology, environmental and

health awareness information for free Assures the market of the growers produce Provides free planting materials for free Subsidizes input cost if there is hike in prices of inputs Serves as collecting agent of the bank Pays corporate guarantee in case of coop loan default

Landbank
Provides funds for inputs as loans Assists in development of cooperatives

Cooperative and Growers

Provide labor and land Provide services (farm operations)

Current location covered by the program

Mt. Matutum Zone Polomolok Tupi Tampakan Malungon Upper Valley Zone Surallah Tboli Lake Sebu Sarangani Zone General Santos City Maasim

Fig. 59. Current Growers Program Location

Production Practices Observed Under Growers Program

Same with the base plantation except that

large farm equipments are not used They can also modify their farms to increase production (depends on the farmers technique)

Growers Program Farm Practice Modifications

Fig. 60. They use crates to carry the fruit during harvesting

Fig. 61. They have different planting

distances 25 in between beds 20 in between rows 9 in between plants

Fig. 62. They use drums containing Pre-mixed post emergence herbicide

Fig. 63. They use knapsack sprayer for foliar application of fertilizer, herbicide, forcing and degreening

Growers Program Farm Practice Modifications

Fig. 64. They maximize the area for more yield

Fig. 65. They plant along ways to maximize the area

Problems Observed in Base Plantation and Growers Program and their Recommendation
During hauling, harvesters sit above fruits in the

bin trucks because they dont have their own vehicle.

The company should provide trucks that can fetch

the laborers from the field.

Excessive planting materials left unused in a block

More accurate estimate of planting materials required in the

field.

Some of the bin trucks that load fruits have wide spaces in between metal bars that cause fruits to fall upon hauling.
Putting nets in between metal bars

 Careless or improper side feeding of fertilizer, little

amount of fertilizer mix may burn pineapple leaves and may become site for pathogen inoculation Planting distance is sometimes not followed Improper harvesting and decrowning reduce fruit quality Fruits are packed immediately even they are still wet with waxing solution may cause rotting Placing manually removed weeds on top of the pineapple plant will cause shading; or left on the ground will grow again
Strict implementation and supervision of superintendent

and supervisors Improve the man power and labor from land preparation up to the fresh fruit operation.

Summary
Dolefil is located in Polomolok, South Cotabato with

appropriate elevation, soil and climatic condition for pineapple production.

Dolefil produces pineapple whole year round. F200 and MG3 are the varieties grow and production

cycle is 3.3 years or 43 periods from plant crop (1.75 yrs), ratoon crop (1.25 yrs) and 6 0.38 years for land preparation fallow time
Production and management practices include land

preparation, planting, fertilization (side feeding and foliar), weeding (manual and foliar), pesticide control (foliar spray) and forcing.

 Special practices includes rouging, degreening and

bagging
Harvesting is done by hand picking or through the

use of conventional harvester with conveyor and the carousel boom type conveyor
Packing for fresh fruits is done either in the Packing

house and Mobile Packing house

Post harvest handling practices are done to ensure fruit

quality and prevent rapid deterioration of fruits

Fruits that do not pass the fresh fruit quality sorting will

be brought to cannery operation

Conclusion
Large commercial plantation is not easy to handle and

maintain. Cooperation between personnel and employees is very much important.

The skill and effort of every individual will help them

accomplish good results in pineapple production and management. management. They execute the recommended amount, timing of input application and field maintenance practices as well as post-harvest handling operations.

Workers also have important role in production and

Monitoring and good workmanship is essential.

Through this, high yield and good quality pineapple products is always possible.