Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) cultivation under minimum tillage and conventional tillage in San Carlos, Costa Rica.

Abstract

The establishment and development of a

pineapple cultivation sowed in minimum tillage and

conventional tillage was evaluated in San Carlos, Costa Rica.

The work carried out consisted of a description of the

preparation of the land, and an analysis of organic matter,

microorganisms and arthropods, nematodes, and mortality of

plants; an analysis of production costs was also made. The

conventional preparation of soil was carried out between four

and five months after paraquat application, while in

minimum tillage the time preparation of soil was of two

months after herbicide application. Also, in minimum tillage

the residues of the previous plantation deposited in the

internal streets can serve as a source of inoculum of pests and

diseases, besides hindering the drainage. The population of

microorganisms (bacterias, actinos and fungi) was higher in

minimum tillage. In the analysis of arthropods, the

conventional tillage showed higher populations of Oribatida

and Collembola, while in minimum tillage there was a larger

population of mites and larvae of Elateridae; the population

of Scarabeidae was similar in both tillage systems. The

population of nematodes in soils and roots was also relatively

low. The main cause of plant mortality was due to diseases

known as “rots” caused by the complex Phytophthora-

Erwinia; but the incidence was low in both tillage systems.

No significant differences were observed in plant height

either. The costs of preparation of the land in minimum

tillage were 50 % lower than those of the conventional tillage.