Articles
EFFECTS OF PLANT SPACING ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SAGO PALM (METROXYLON SPP.) ON UNDRAINED DEEP PEAT
Palms were compared at 4.5 m, 7.5 m, 10.5 m and 13.5 m square planting in a RCBD experiment with three replicates.
Vegetative growth of the palms were monitored to assess their responses to the spacing treatments.
Among the treatments, palms spaced at 4.5 m had the lowest frond emergence rate; smallest trunk circumferences at the base as well as at 1 m above ground level (a.g.l.); lowest trunk and sucker formation abilities; longest fronds with thinnest rachides as well as the smallest crown size and shortest prostrate (creeping) trunk.
The canopy was closed by the third to fourth years before trunks were formed.
The growth was intermediate in the 7.5 m spacing treatment.
Compared to the 4.5 m spacing, these palms had significantly higher frond emergence rate; larger crown size and trunk circumference; longer prostrate stem; better stem formation and suckering abilities as well as shorter fronds with thicker rachides.
The canopy was closed by the fifth to the sixth years after planting.
When compared to the 10.5 m and 13.5 m spacing treatments, in the 7.5 m treatment palms had significantly smaller crown size; lower frond production rate; shorter prostrate stems; longer fronds and thicker rachides; smaller trunks at 1 m a.g.l. and slower trunk formation.
However, there was no difference in the suckering abilities and the size of the basal circumference of the trunk.
Significant differences were only found in the frond length, sucker number and frond production rate between spacing treatments of 10.5 m and 13.5 m.
However, the canopy of palms spaced at 10.5 m was about to close at the eighth year whereas those spaced at 13.5 m remained open.
In all the spacing treatments, no difference was found in trunk height growth.