Effect of Mulch Type, Ground Cover Percentage and Sucker Management on Growth and Yield of Pineapple (Ananas Comosus L. Merrill) under Growing Conditions of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was carried out in Nitisols of Makala, Aleta chuko district of Sidama Zone from 2006 to 2010 with the objective of identifying optimum number of suckers, mulch types and amount of mulch that produce optimum fruit yield of pineapple. The treatments consisted of mulch type (vetiver vis coffee husk), ground cover percentage (GCP) (0, 50, 75, 100 and 125% of ground cover) and sucker management (one, two, three, four, intact). Results showed that sucker management (p<0.01), mulching the ground and their interaction (p<0.05) produced significantly greater fruit numbers and higher pineapple fruit yield at Makala. 0.99 to 1.06 values of crown length to fruit length ratio obtained due to the imposed management showed that quality fruits could be obtained due to 75 – 100 GCP and managing suckers. However, the two way interaction effects of sucker regulation and mulching resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher fruit yield per unit area. Among the mulch types compared, coffee husk produced significantly (p<0.05) greater fruit yield compared to vetiver mulches (mainly meant for weed suppression). This study depicted that use of coffee husk at the rate of 100% ground cover percentage while retaining two suckers per stand would maximize the growth and yield components of pineapple.

Key words: Mulch type, ground cover percentage, sucker management, fruit yield