Nutrition and fertilization management of embryo cultured Makapuno Tall (ECMAKT) seedlings

  • M.B. Areza-Ubaldo
  • S.S. Magat
  • E.P. Rillo
  • M.I. Secretaria
Keywords: Embryo cultured Makapuno Tall (ECMAKT) coconut, NPK compound fertilizer, Foliar Fertilizer, K nutrient, Cl nutrient, Micronutrients

Abstract

A two-year nursery study on ECMAKT coconut seedlings was conducted at the Philippine Coconut Authority - Albay Research Center, Guinobatan, Albay to know the effects of applying different rates of complete fertilizer (14-14-14 fortified with micronutrients) and a foliar fertilizer on the vegetative growth and leaf nutrient status of ECMAKT seedlings.

The application of complete NPK fertilizer (14-14-14) at 6-9 g/seedling significantly produced taller seedlings with bigger girth size and more number of living fronds from 2 to 12 months from initial fertilization. The applied rates of complete fertilizer (6-9 g 14-14-14/seedling) on ECMAKT seedlings indicates that the levels of nutrient application (fertilization) is significantly much lower than that of the average rates used in growing ordinary seednuts (seedlings attached to unhusked nuts) in the nursery. The application of foliar fertilizer was ineffective even over the unfertilized ECMAKT seedlings.

The better growth of ECMAKT seedlings in terms of their girth, plant height and total living fronds produced were significantly associated with higher levels of leaf K, Cl, and Mn, and lower leaf Na, but with likely adequate leaf P, Mg, S, B, Zn, Cu and Fe based from leaf number 3 (12 month old ECMAKT seedling).

The study clearly indicates the necessity of applying inorganic fertilizer i.e. complete fertilizer (14-14-14 fortified with micronutrients) at the moderate rates of 6-9 g/seedling during the nursery stage for proper nutrition and fertilization management to ensure healthy and good quality ECMAKT planting material.

References

Earth and Table 2002. Glossary of Gardening Terms. Plants & Plant Health-Essential Elements. SmartRiver Communications. 2p. (www.earthandtable.com/glossary/plants/
essentialelements.html).

Friend, D. 1975. Joint Coconut Research Scheme, 1971-74. The Solomons Islands and Levers Pacific Plantations Propriety Ltd.

Magat, S.S. 1991. Fertilizer recommendation for coconut based on soil and leaf analysis. Phil. J. Cocon. Stud. 16 (2):25-30.

Magat, S.S. 1999. Handbook on fertilizer recommendations for coconut and selected intercrops. Asian and Pacific Coconut Community, Jakarta, Indonesia 106pp.

Magat, S.S., Margate, R.Z. and Prudente, R.L. 1977. Utilization of common salt (sodium chloride) as a fertilizer and for the control of leaf spot disease coconut seedlings. Phil. J. Cocon. Stud. 2 (3):39-45.

Maravilla, J.N. 1986. Nutrition and fertilization of coconut seedlings in polybags. The Phil. J. Cocon. Stud. 11 (1):44-56.

Oguis, L.G., Magat, S.S. and Margate, R.Z. 1979. The effect of chlorine sources and ammonium sulfate on the growth of coconut seedlings. Phil. J. Cocon. Stud. 4 (3): 25-39.

Rillo, E.P. 1995. Embryo culture of Coconut: A laboratory manual. 1995. Tissue Culture Division. PCA-Albay Research Center, Guinobatan, Albay, 42pp.

Rillo, E.P. and Paloma, M.B.F. 1992. In vitro culture of Makapuno coconut embryos. Cocon.Today 9 (1):90-101.

Secretaria, M.I. 2003. Effects of AZ41 organic foliar fertilizer on the vegetative performance and nutrition of coconut seedlings at PCA-Davao Research Center, Bago Oshiro, Davao City. A terminal/final report submitted to AZ Agric. Products Corporation and PCA-RDEB Management for the 'Efficacy testing of AZ41 on coconut seedlings', 31 pp.

The Coconut Committee, 1993. The Philippine Recommends for Coconut. Los Banos, Laguna. PCARRD, PARRFI and PCRDF. 1993. 234 p. (Phil. Recommends Series No. 2-B).
Published
2005-06-01
How to Cite
M.B. Areza-Ubaldo, S.S. Magat, E.P. Rillo, & M.I. Secretaria. (2005). Nutrition and fertilization management of embryo cultured Makapuno Tall (ECMAKT) seedlings . CORD, 21(01), 34. https://doi.org/10.37833/cord.v21i01.398
Section
Articles