POLE SITAO CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

Pole sitao grow well in lowland areas with temperature range of 35’C. It can manage to grow in the areas with low and high distribution of rainfall. The only problem is that the plant is disadvantageous during water-logging and dry season. It can grow in all types of soil from sandy loam to clayey soil  even in acidic soil.

Prepare the land thoroughly. Plow and harrow 3 times. Plow the soil with the deepness of 16 centimeters. Make furrows spaced 1.5 meters between rows to facilitate space for mechanical cultivation.

Let the soil analyzed to determine the correct pH level for the basis of fertilization. The common rate of application to the soil without any soil analysis is 5 bags of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) per hectare. Cover the applied fertilizer with thin layer of soil 3 centimeters thick. Add chicken manure and compost to have a better soil composition.

Plant 3-4 seeds per hill. Make a spacing of 40 cm. apart between hills and 1.5 meters between rows in open areas.  But in areas with available shade (trees or bamboos) make a wider spacing. Estimated to use 4.5 kgs of seeds per hectare.After 10 days from sowing when the seedling started to emerge, do the thinning of weak seedlings and retain only 1-2 plants per hill.

With abaca or plastic twines webbed in between or crisscross to whatever post installed around the plants to support its stem and foliage.

You can do the hand weeding or use animal-drawn implement two weeks after the seedling emergence, during flowering stage and fruiting period. This is to eradicate all types of weeds that may affect the growth of the plants. It is also to allow the soil to aerate during the cultivation making the soil soft and manageable.

Additionally, use mulching to preserve moisture in the soil especially during dry season. Use rice straw or cogon grass.

Water the plants during the onset of dry weather regularly or anytime if urgently needed. Plants needs enough water for their growth and development. During rainy season, there should be enough irrigation canal to control water-logging.

There are many kinds of harmful insects and destructive fungal diseases. Necessary control is needed when detected early. There should be a periodic application of pesticides and fungicides depending on the degree of infection under manufacturer’s direction about the rate of chemical for application.

There are other methods more safe and economical, a  non-chemical controls. Doing crop rotation every  end of the harvest is a good idea. A local systemic control of hot pepper extract to be sprayed to the plants is also helpful to keep beanfly away from the plants one week after planting and next week depending on the degree  of damaged. Aphids can be controlled by the use of soap spray or green-labeled pesticides. Do not use yellow and red label pesticides during the onset of pod bearing. It is not safe for consumers’ consumption. Practice botanical pesticides using hot pepper.

Harvest green pods (tender and soft) 8 to 10 days after flowering.  If it exceed the ideal harvesting period, the pods become fibrous and not palatable for consumption. Pick the pods every 2 to 4 days. To store the harvested pods for a longer time, use coconut water. It can extend its shelf life.

In preparation for the next planting, prepare seeds by harvesting dry pods (matured). Extract the seeds out from the pods and then dry it until the moisture content is only about 10%. Protect the seeds by treating it with insecticides. This is to prevent or disinfect any decay-causing organisms and those insects harboring in the seeds during storage. Secure the seeds by placing it in a sealed container with charcoal to help decrease moisture content.

PINEAPPLE CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

The production of pineapple can be done anytime of the year. Pineapple become the star in the fruit stand most people loved to eat either fresh or in can.

A variety called Queen pineapple has spring leaves. The fruit is sunshine-yellow during the ripening stage. Compared to other varieties, it has low acidity but with high sugar content and very sweet. The fruits are of small size less than a kilo.

Pineapple is easy to grow because it is a tropical fruit. It can be grown in any type of soil. It can survive even during dry  or rainy seasons. It can bear fruits more if it has a good drainage.

It can grow at sea level. But experience showed that it is best suited in a medium elevation of 2,000 feet above sea level or with good distribution of rain throughout the year. Best preferred in sandy loam soil and fertile soil with manageable acidity.

Prepare a thorough land preparation. This is to minimize the cost of weed eradication you have to initiate to free the plants from the harassment of weeds. Leaving the trees to grow together with plants unmolested will affect the productivity of the plants.

There are 3 planting materials you can choose: suckers, crowns and slips. Pineapple producers preferred slips because of its low mortality rate.

Before fertilization, have a soil analysis. This is to determine the correct kind of fertilizer to use and the quantity needed for application.  It will depend on fertility, acidity and poorness of the soil. If the result of the analysis showed an average fertility then the distribution of granule fertilizer will be:

– 600 kgs. or less.hectare – (N)

-200 kgs. or less/hectare- (P)

-300 kgs. or less/hectare -(K)

To additionally make the soil fertile, the use of organic fertilizers (compost, animal manure) is of great help for the increase production of fruits.  There are also chemical fertilizer (foliar) you can select. This is your other option if it suit you.

Apply fertilizer on the seventh(7) months of growth. Once the plants crowded each other closer, you can choose foliar fertilizer for easy application. Bear in mind, pineapple plants is a shallow-rooted plants and has many competition for soil nutrients.  Hand weeding is most expensive method to eradicate weeds. The best choose is to use chemicals to remove all kinds of weeds that can affect the growth of plants in the early stage of its development.

A pineapple can bear flowers even if not yet time for fruiting. The use of modern technology of applying fruit inducer can make pineapple production to be whole year round and in all seasons. It can be bought in agricultural supply.

Induce pineapple to bear flowers when the plant reaches 8-12 months of growth. It was proven a 90% rate of flowering.By the use of flower inducer, pineapple will start flowering after inducement.

The perfectness of the fruits depend on the balance in the application of fertilizer. Sunlight is important nearer to the harvest. Control pests and diseases that will affect to the quality of the fruits. With enough sunlight before harvesting is an assurance of the sweetness of the fruits. The acidity of the fruit is the result of harvesting it during rainy season. It is also the result of shading the fruits from sunlight in a higher elevation field.

Most common pests to become a problem in pineapple production are rats. They will eat ripe fruits damaging high productivity. All you have to do is constantly control them by using rodenticides to minimize its population in the field.

Using pesticides can control all sucking insects, a carrier of pest wilt. The destruction will start when the pests resides in the base of the leaves, fruits and roots. They will rapidly multiply during dry months. Spray them every month if the increase population is visible.

Check the roots of the plants. Worms and grubs will attack the roots. Use a granular form of insecticides as your pest control. Include ants in your list as another threat to the root system.

Use nematicide control of any nematodes you can find in the plants. This parasites will cause a stunted growth and unhealthy plants. Other producers used crop rotation as the most cheapest form of control.

If the crowns of the pineapple is affected by butt rot or heart rot before planting, then treat it first with fungicides. Remove all decompose vegetation in your field so that disease cannot harbor them especially if land preparation is done poorly.

During marketing of the fruits, proper handling from the field is important so that when the fruits is sold to market, it should be of highest quality. Bruises to the fruits will bring the price to go down.