What conditions are needed to plant pineapples and establish an orchard
(1) Site selection. When selecting a site for a pineapple orchard, full consideration should be given to climate conditions, soil conditions, transportation conditions and other influencing factors.
1. Climate conditions. Suitable temperature, rainfall and sunshine are the basic conditions for the normal growth of pineapple. Pineapple has relatively strong adaptability to climate conditions, but it is most suited to a warm and humid climate, and is averse to frost, low-temperature overcast rain and excessively dry climates. Generally, an annual average temperature of 24-27°C is required, with no frost and low-temperature overcast rain in winter; annual rainfall of 1000-2000mm, with monthly rainfall distributed fairly evenly; and annual sunshine hours above 1700h. Therefore, when establishing a pineapple orchard, especially for large-scale development and operation of a pineapple production base, a site should be chosen as far as possible in an area with no moderate frost and low-temperature overcast rain in winter and with relatively sufficient water sources.
2. Soil conditions. Pineapple has a relatively wide range of adaptation to soil, but it is best suited to acidic red soil with deep soil layers, good drainage, loose and breathable texture, high organic matter content and good fertility. In particular, note that pineapple is quite demanding regarding pH. Only when the pH is 4-5, that is, acidic, does the plant grow normally. When the pH is above 6, plant growth is inhibited, and such soil is not suitable for planting pineapple.
3. Transportation conditions. Because the harvest period of pineapple fruit is relatively concentrated, and the harvest peak usually lasts only about half a month, developing pineapple, especially commercial production and development, requires relatively convenient transportation so that fresh fruit and large quantities of raw fruit for processing can be transported in a timely manner.
(2) Soil improvement. The characteristics of the pineapple root system are that it is shallow-growing and favors aeration, and most of the root mass extends horizontally with the soil layer, distributed within the 20cm cultivation layer. In wasteland, or where the soil is compacted and the cultivation layer is shallow, soil improvement must be carried out. Soil improvement should emphasize deep plowing, followed by applying sufficient organic fertilizer, to create a soil environment favorable for pineapple root growth.
(3) Orchard planning. To carry out pineapple orchard planning, first use surveying instruments to draw a topographic sketch at a scale of 1:1000 or 1:10000, carry out map scanning and blueprint printing, and investigate and collect the local natural conditions, and then carry out orchard planning on this basis.
1. Design of planting areas. When designing planting areas, scientific design should be carried out according to the size of the leased land and the degree of mechanization. Because pineapple can only be harvested 1-2 years after planting, and after planting once it is a fruit tree that can achieve high yield once or two to three times, under high-level cultivation and management conditions it can achieve high yield and high efficiency. Therefore, the design of planting areas should be advanced and scientific. At the same time, without affecting operations, the planting areas should be expanded as much as possible to make full use of the land per unit area.
2. Establishment of windbreak forests. The role of windbreak forests for pineapple is as follows: first, wind protection; second, reducing wind speed and reducing evaporation; third, reducing frost and cold damage. For orchards with a large development area and gentle, open slopes, the area of shelterbelts generally accounts for 10% of the planting area; for orchards with high wind speed or affected by typhoons, shelterbelts may exceed 15%. For small-scale pineapple orchards, planting thorny shrubs around the orchard can both enclose the orchard to prevent cattle and people and also have a windbreak effect.
3. Design of the orchard road network. Orchard roads consist of main roads, branch roads and field paths. Different orchard scales require different road widths. For large and medium-sized orchards developed in contiguous tracts, the main road surface is 7m wide, branch roads are 5m wide, and operational paths in planting areas are 3m wide; for small orchards, setting a 5m-wide road and a 3m-wide operational path is sufficient; for specialized households with modest planning, setting a 3m-wide operational road connected to the road outside the orchard is sufficient.
4. Design of water conservancy facilities within the orchard. Water use in pineapple orchards is seasonal, and pineapple production areas usually irrigate only during autumn drought. Therefore, the scale of water conservancy facilities should mainly be small, with water storage and water lifting irrigation as the main approach. For hilly orchards without water sources and water conservancy facilities, water storage ponds can be built in small hills or on hilltops for irrigation and fertilization. Small water storage ponds can also be built one per 667m2, capable of storing 20m2 of water, and specialized households can set them up according to the area they develop. Large mechanized production farms can set up 1 water lifting station per 100hm2 of planting area, or a small water tower 5m high for production water to supply water for fertilization, pesticide spraying and irrigation machinery. While planning water conservancy facilities, drainage facilities should also be considered. China's pineapple production areas are located in the southern subtropics, where rainfall is relatively concentrated, so drainage is especially important; for terraces and contour beds built on hilly land or low mountains, a drainage ditch must be opened along the inner wall side.