DIAGNOSIS OF PINEAPPLE CROP (ANANAS COMOSUS L.) CULTIVATION IN NAYARIT, MEXICO

In Nayarit, pineapple is grown on 1,000 hectares. Seven hundred hectares are planted with a native pineapple type (Criolla), and 300 hectares with the Smooth Cayenne type. The objective of this study was to identify the distribution, agronomic management and problems of both pineapple types. To gather this information several sites were surveyed. We found that Criolla pineapple is grown in the Ruiz and Santiago Ixcuintla municipalities. This crop is cultivated in rainy season under conditions of 1,800 mm of annual rainfall and 24-26ºC of annual mean temperature. The soils are rocky with shallow depth, having slopes of 10-25%. Soil acidity ranges from low to neutral. Soils are of light texture and well drained. The Criolla pineapple is cultivated under the shadow of legume trees with a very low population density. The Criolla yield is low with only 10 tons per hectare. The main pests are mites, fruit weevils, ants, symphylids and soil larvae. The main diseases are fruit heart rot and brown spot rot. Problems include broad leaf weeds and price drops due to harvest crowding from April to June. On the other hand, the Smooth Cayenne type is grown in the Compostela municipality on flat soils. The main problems for Smooth Cayenne are low technology use, high production costs, low yield, and low quality. Although the crop is grown under irrigation, deficient irrigation and fertilization practices are common. The sanitary problems are similar to those found with Criolla pineapple. The main difference for Smooth Cayenne in comparison with Criolla is a problem with narrow leaf weeds. If farmers used the available technology, they could increase the yield and quality by at least 40%.