Intercropping with Pineapples
2.18 - Intercropping with Pineapples
Dana Filipetti, University of Guelph,Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Filipetti,D. (2026) Intercropping with Pineapples. In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. farmpedia.org
Intercropping with Pineapples: Mechanisms for Optimal Crop Growth and Sustainability
Background
Pineapple, scientifically known as Ananas comosus, is a tropical perennial fruit across the global tropics including Southeastern Nigeria (Emma-Okafor et al., 2018). Pineapple is often eaten fresh in the form of salad or juiced for human consumption (Ajayi et al., 2016). The fruit crop can also be consumed by animals and livestock (Emma-Okafor et al., 2018). Pineapple is the most important species in the Bromeliaceae family, carrying great significance commercially and economically (Kishore et al., 2021). Pineapples are usually grown in hotter climates, need shade, wide-row spacing, and between 12 to 18 months to mature, depending on propagation and planting methods (Ajayi et al., 2016; Biology Insights, 2026). While pineapple drives domestic economics in national and international markets, production in various countries including Nigeria suffers from several challenges in the production system (Emma-Okafor et al., 2018). Considering pineapple's long growth period, there is a lack of financial returns during the early growth stage and first year of harvesting, which poses an economic challenge for small-scale farmers during this waiting period. This challenge is especially pronounced with the wide-spread row growing patterns typically used for planting pineapple, preventing land from being used for faster-maturing crops (Ajayi et al., 2016). This issue brings about concerns of adequate resource usage of land space, sunlight, water, and nutrients (Access Agriculture, n.d.; Ajayi et al., 2016).
To combat this issue, intercropping pineapple with short duration crops may provide a solution that enhances the efficiency of resources, helping farmer incomes and intensifying overall crop production (Ajayi et al., 2016). Intercropping is the process of numerous crops being grown in the same field. Various studies demonstrate that pineapple intercropping increases ground cover, which limits weed exposure, and enhances nutrient cycling and productivity without reducing the yield of the main pineapple crop (Ajayi et al., 2016; Emma-Okafor et al., 2018; Uriza-Ávila et al., 2005). Given that the economic benefits of pineapple production are limited because of its long-duration, Eka (2018) found intercropping with short growing crops resulted in an increase in total income of farmers in Indonesia. Similarly, studies in England, Ethiopia and Kenya, among others, show that both total income as well as environmental sustainability can be increased through the process of intercropping (Glaze-Corcoran et al., 2020; Toker et al., 2024).
Overview of Intercropping with Pineapples
Intercropping enhances sustainable practices, including water use efficiency, while reducing the need for commercial fertilizers, and improving pest control (Toker et al., 2024). Varying techniques (relay, mixed, row, and strip) produce alternate outcomes during intercropping and allow for configurations that suit local environmental conditions (Glaze-Corcoran et al., 2020; Toker et al., 2024). See Figure 1 below for a visual diagram breakdown of the varying intercrop techniques.
Figure 1. Intercropping techniques with pineapples, illustrating relay, mixed, row, and strip configurations. Adapted from Glaze-Corcoran et al. (2020) and Toker et al. (2024).
Relay intercropping involves planting a secondary short-cycle crop after pineapples that have been planted but not harvested. This extends the land space and allows for reduced soil erosion and improved water retention (Toker et al., 2024). Mixed intercropping involves the introduction of other crops into pineapple fields within the same area and with no specific row pattern, promoting rich biodiversity, soil health and fertility, and ground coverage. Mixed intercropping is especially effective on small-scale or subsistence farms (Toker et al., 2024). Row intercropping alternates rows of pineapples with other crops; this allows for precise management and easier targeted intervention with fertilization or pest control (Toker et al., 2024). Strip intercropping uses wide concurrent, pronounced strips of various crops to help improve pollination and pest control. Strip intercropping is best suited for larger fields (Toker et al., 2024).
Smallholder farmers commonly adopt intercropping practices to manage crop failure and produce culturally preferred foods, increasing earnings (Glaze-Corcoran et al., 2020). Spaces between the rows of pineapple can be used to grow other crops such as beans or legumes, which will improve soil nutrients (Access Agriculture, n.d.). Figure 2 displays the successful strip intercropping of pineapple with vegetable crops like sweet potatoes and papaya.
Figure 2. The successful strip intercropping of pineapple with sweet potato and papaya using an integrated vegetable crop method. (Pacific Farmer Organisations, 2021).
Timely conditions of intercropping with pineapples matter substantially, as delayed introduction of cowpea in the late season resulted in greater yields of the pineapple-pepper intercrop (Ajayi et al., 2016). As well, increased shade plays a key role in the outcome of intercropping with pineapple, impacting nutrient uptake, growth, and overall yield (Kishore et al., 2021). Intercropping pineapples with vegetables involve two primary steps, namely vegetables as a temporary intercrop and the rotation of alternative vegetable strips; both have pineapples as the main crop (Pacific Farmer Organisations, 2021).
Table 1. Available intercropping options and techniques
Adoption by Smallholder Farmers
The successful adoption of pineapple intercropping by smallholder farmers is dependent on many factors, including when the intercrop is planted, the intercrop formation chosen, as well as nutrient management. Intercropping is appealing to small-scale farmers because of the increase in economic growth and sustainability (Glaze-Corcoran et al., 2020; Toker et al., 2024). Weed management is a concern for smallholder farmers, as it accounts for over 40% of pineapple production costs (Emma-Okafor et al., 2018). Intercropping helps to naturally reduce the growth of weeds by introducing another crop in the field, which simultaneously helps to make crops less at risk for pests and disease (Toker et al., 2024). The table below presents intercropping management recommendations for improved adoption of pineapple intercropping.
Table 2. Pineapple intercropping management recommendations.
Constraints and Solutions to Adoption
Although the adoption of pineapple intercropping has been shown to increase the profitability for small scale farmers, constraints including labour, knowledge gaps, and nutrient competition pose challenges which may impact their adoption of intercropping. Some smallholder farmers choose not to adopt intercropping unless there is proven financial value (Emma-Okafor et al., 2018). Familiarity and comfortability in farming traditions may contribute to this finding. Increased labour demands associated with pineapple intercropping, like additional planting and harvesting, may also be a factor. This said, pineapple intercropping has been shown to reduce the number of weeds and lower the need for synthetic fertilizers (Toker et al., 2024). With the labour in mind, the minimal machinery equipment required for intercropping with pineapples is a grass cutting tool called a "tengkuit" and machetes (Eka, 2018).
Economic findings from the case study in Indonesia show that the production costs of pineapple and rubber tree intercropping is approximately $341 USD per metric ton, with most of the cost relating to variable inputs like land, labour, and fertilizer (Eka, 2018). By contrast, the average resulting revenue from this intercrop was $2,511 USD (Eka, 2018). These findings suggest that when managed effectively, pineapple intercropping can show favourable economic benefits to farmers.
Soil erosion, including gully, water, and wind, is a concern that farmers face when intercropping (Pacific Farmer Organisations, 2021; Toker et al., 2024). Soil erosion can lead to loss of biodiversity and nutrients necessary for optimal yields, resulting in greater competition among crops. Farmers can mitigate these risks using techniques to prevent soil erosion like digging slope drains, creating permanent coverings, and using mulching techniques between intercropping strip lines (Pacific Farmer Organisations, 2021).
Ultimately, for best adoption of pineapple intercropping by smallholder farmers, the dissemination of research and information about the processes, techniques, conditions as well as the benefits like sustainability and increased yields is vital. The creation of publicly accessible databases with this knowledge could provide the necessary resources for pineapple cropping to continue to be adapted. Training led by community organizations, NGOs, or educational initiatives can help to disperse this knowledge. In addition to this, farmer field schools to help strengthen intercropping techniques and the dispersal of knowledge, could be a useful technique to increase adoption.
Conclusion
Intercropping with pineapples provides small scale farmers a strong solution to enhance pineapple growing systems by increasing economic growth for smallholders and sustainability. Through the minimization of labour via the reduction of weeding, increased biodiversity promoting soil nutrients, and higher yielding crops, intercropping offers promising results for smallholders. But with the many advantages come some constraints surrounding the dissemination of knowledge and resources, nutrient competition, and labour. Recognizing and effectively addressing these challenges will help to ensure that pineapple intercropping is attainable for smallholder farmers.
Helpful Resources and Links to Get Started
This is a field demonstration which highlights how farmers can intercrop pineapple with cayenne pepper. It shows spacing, weed control, and management tips. This video is in Indonesian but has English captions.
Field demonstration video (In Indonesian)
This resource has an insightful and descriptive video embedded that covers the best practices for intercropping with pineapple. It mentions soil health, crop combinations, and has case studies.
Intercropping with pineapples (Video embedded)
Links to Further Reading
This webpage offers an accessible overview of pineapple field cropping, design, spacing, and overall layout. This resource also mentions methods on how to avoid erosion and is a helpful introduction.
Pineapple Field Cropping Layout
This resource provides insight into the growth stages of pineapple, with soil and climate requirements, propagation methods, and harvest timing.
Links for Commercial Intercropping Tools and Supplies
The tengkuit grass cutting tool is a hand-held device made to trim weeds and better manage overgrowth between intercrop rows. This tool is especially useful for farms with mixed-cropping systems that would benefit from tools with precision and maneuverability.
The machete is a commonly used tool that is most useful for clearing fields and helping to cut back vegetation. It has a long, sharp blade that allows for accuracy and can help to manage intercrop spacing efficiently. This is common in both commercial and small-scale agriculture.
References
Access Agriculture. (n.d.). Intercropping pineapples. Access Agriculture, Uganda. Retrieved from: Link
Ajayi, A. J., Agele, S. O., & Aiyelari, O. P. (2016). Growth, yield and yield components of pineapple in a pineapple-pepper-cowpea intercropping system, in Canada. International Journal of Horticulture, 6, 1–7. Retrieved from: DOI
Akia, J., Nalunga, J., & Ssemwanga, E. (2014). Intercropping pineapples with bananas and beans. Access Agriculture. Link
Biology Insights. (2026, January 23). How Pineapples Are Grown: From Planting to Harvest. Retrieved from: Link
Eka, M. (2018). Analysis of the amount of production and income of the farmers of pineapple and intercropping plants of tanjung medang village, Muara Enim District, in Russia. Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, 11, 342–345. Retrieved from: DOI
Emma-Okafor, L. C., Obiefuna, J. C., Alagba, R. A., Okoli, N. A., Nnebue, O. M., Keyagha, E. R., & Ibeawuchi, I. (2018). Pineapple forage legume intercropping systems for sustainable pineapple production in the tropical rainforest of southeastern nigeria. Futo Journal Series, 2, 1–9. Retrieved from: Link
Glaze-Corcoran, S., Hashemi, M., Sadeghpour, A., Jahanzad, E., Keshavarz Afshar, R., Liu, X., & Herbert, S. (2020). Understanding intercropping to improve agricultural resiliency and environmental sustainability. Advances in Agronomy 162, 199–256. DOI
Kerala Agricultural University. (n.d.). Pineapple Research Station. KAU. Retrieved April 4, 2026, from Link
Kishore, K., Rupa, T. R., & Samant, D. (2021). Influence of shade intensity on growth, biomass allocation, yield and quality of pineapple in Mango-based intercropping system. Scientia Horticulturae, 278, 109868. Retrieved from: DOI
Pacific Farmer Organisations. (2021). Pineapple Field Cropping Layout. Retrieved from: Link
Toker, P., Canci, H., Turhan, I., Isci, A., Scherzinger, M., Kordrostami, M., & Yol, E. (2024). The advantages of intercropping to improve productivity in food and forage production – a review. Plant Production Science, 3, 155–169. DOI
Uriza-Ávila, D., Rebolledo-Martínez, A., & Rebolledo-Martínez, L. (2005). Short Cycle Crops Intercropped with Pineapple: An Option to Increase Productivity. Acta Horticulturae, 666, 287–294. DOI