Pineapple intercropped systems as an income alternative during the formation of irrigated coffee crop

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the planting system of pineapple intercropped with coffee plants that provides the highest economic return, without harming the vegetative development and yield of the irrigated coffee crop. A randomized complete block design was used, with four replicates and ten useful plants per plot. The irrigated cropping systems consisted of two and three single rows of pineapple between coffee rows, or of two double rows of pineapples. Vegetative development of the coffee plants was evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 months after planting, and the coffee yield at 28 months. Cultivation of two single rows of pineapple improved coffee development, and the other planting systems did not harm coffee development. Coffee yield was greater in the cropping systems with two and three intercropped rows of pineapples. The three planting systems had positive economic return. The system with three single rows provide the best economic return, without compromising the vegetative growth and yield of coffee plants.