Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T00:49:44.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Measuring Coconut Palm Dry Matter Production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

D. Friend
Affiliation:
Lever Solomon Ltd., Yandina, Solomon Islands, Plant Science Group, Maris Lane, Trumpington, Cambridge, England
R. H. V. Corley
Affiliation:
Unilever Plantations and Plant Science Group, Maris Lane, Trumpington, Cambridge, England

Summary

Non-destructive methods are described for estimating annual above-ground dry matter production by the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. Leaf dry weight is estimated from the cross-sectional area of the petiole. Trunk dry weight increment is estimated from the volume increment, and a function relating trunk density to palm age. Husk and shell dry weights are estimated from air-dry weights; copra dry weight is measured after oven drying. The weight of inflorescence stalks is small, and is ignored. Leaf area can be estimated from measurement of the length and width of a sample of leaflets. These methods have been applied to two coconut variety trials, and show significant differences between varieties in crop growth rate and harvest index. The trend of leaf area with palm age is described for two varieties and the hybrid between them.

Medida de la producción de materia seca en el cocotero

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Child, R. (1974). Coconuts. Second Edition. London: Longmans.Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. (1983). Potential productivity of tropical perennial crops. Experimental Agriculture 19:217237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. (1985). Yield potentials of plantation crops. In Potassium in the Agricultural Systems of the Humid Tropics, Proceedings of the 19th Colloquium of the International Potash Institute 6180. Berne: International Potash Institute.Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V., Gray, B. S. & Ng, S. K. (1971 a). Productivity of the oil palm. (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in Malaysia. Experimental Agriculture 7:129136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corley, R. H. V., Hardon, J. J. & Tan, G. Y. (1971 b). Analysis of growth of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). 1. Estimation of growth parameters and application in breeding. Euphytica 20:307315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donald, C. M. (1962). In search of yield. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 28:171178.Google Scholar
Dufrene, E. (1989). Photosynthese, Consommation en Eau et Modelisation de la Production chez le Palmier a Huile. DSc Thesis, University of South Paris.Google Scholar
Gray, B. S. (1969). A Study of the Influence of Genetic, Agronomic and Environment Factors on the Growth, Flowering and Bunch Production of the Oil Palm on the West Coast of West Malaysia. PhD Thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Hardon, J. J., Williams, C. N. & Watson, I. (1969). Leaf area and yield in the oil palm in Malaya. Experimental Agriculture 5:2532.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hardon, J. J., Corley, R. H. V. & Ooi, S. C. (1972). Analysis of growth in the oil palm II. Estimation of genetic variances of growth parameters and yield of fruit bunches. Euphytica 21:257264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mendham, N. J. (1971). Note on leaf area measurement in oil palm. Papua New Guinea Agrim1tural Journal 22:230231.Google Scholar
Meylan, B. A. (1978). Density variation within Cocos nucifera stems. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 8:369383.Google Scholar
Monteith, J. L. (1977). Climate and the efficiency of crop production in Britain. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 281:277294.Google Scholar
Moss, J. R. J. (1992). Measuring light interception and the efficiency of light utilisation by the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Experimental Agriculture 28:273285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ouvrier, M. & Ochs, R. (1980). Nutrient removal by the hybrid coconut Port-Bouet 121 (MAWA). In Proceedings of International Conference on Cocoa and Coconuts, 595605. Kuala Lumpur: Incorporated Society of Planters.Google Scholar
Potter, H. & Jones, J. W. (1977). Leaf area partitioning as an important factor in growth. Plant Physiology 59:1014.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vyvyan, M. C. (1957). An analysis of growth and of form in young apple trees. 1. Relative growth and net assimilation rates in 1- and 2-year old trees of the apple rootstock variety M XIII. Annals of Botany 21:479497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar