COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PINEAPPLE (ANANAS COMOSUS, VAR. MD2) PRODUCTION UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION AND RAINFED CONDITIONS: THE CASE STUDY OF BOMARTS FARMS, GHANA

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is by far the most important crop within the horticultural subsector of the Ghanaian economy. Studies have revealed that most large-scale commercial farms in Ghana produce under rainfed conditions despite the current climate variability with uncertain rainfall pattern. Whereas several studies have been conducted on pineapple profitability, post-harvest handling among others, water management and irrigation practices in the cultivation of pineapple has not been adequately researched and thus, poorly understood. This study was conducted to assess the performance of pineapple production under drip irrigation and rainfed conditions in the Coastal Savannah of Ghana. A nonexperimental case study research design was adopted in the study. The crop water requirement of pineapple was estimated at 516.8 mm for 13 months growth period, and the irrigation requirement was 123.8 mm. In evaluating of the performance of the drip irrigation system used on the study site, the ratings were assigned according to ASAE (1999). The emitter flow variation and coefficient of variation were 59.3 % and 0.16 %, respectively, with rating indication of poor performance. The coefficient of variation, and the uniformity coefficient were 86.8 % and 79.7 % respectively, which were rated as ‘very good’. Based on these and other related parameters, the performance of the drip system on selected site was unsatisfactory. Fresh fruit yield from rainfed and irrigated fields were 32.483 t/ha and 32.640 t/ha, compared to average yield in Ghana being 60 t/ha. There was no significant difference between fruits produced under irrigated and rainfed conditions. The brix values for pineapple from irrigated field was 12.8 ⁰Bx on day of harvest; 15.6 ⁰Bxon 7th day after harvesting; and 19.8 on 14th day after harvesting, compared to the brix for rainfed production which was 13 ⁰Bx on day of harvest; 16 ⁰Bx on 7th day after harvest; and 21 ⁰Bx on 14th day after harvest. The difference in brix values for both fields was not significant. The cost of production for irrigated pineapple over 3-year period – 2019, 2020 and 2021 was estimated at Gh₡ 16,688.00, Gh₡11,233.00 and Gh₡ 11,593.00 per hectare, respectively. However, the cost of rainfed production was quite low and estimated at Gh₡ 11,315.00, Gh₡ 7,760.00, Gh₡ 8,070.00 per hectare for the same three years. Conclusions are that in Ghana, pineapple can do well, and produce the desired yield under rainfed conditions if farmers adopt good agronomic practices, without the need for irrigation system which comes with high capital investment that most farmers cannot afford. Researchers, students and agricultural extension officers can infer from this study as it serves as a seminal work on water management in pineapple production in Ghana.