Leaf pruning technique in bearing coconut palms (CLP): its effects on underplanting young coconuts for pith or `ubod' production

The feasibility and viability of producing coconut pith or `ubod' from young coconuts planted in either single or double plants per hill under pruned (CLP maintaining 18 younger leaves of upper crown) and non-pruned bearing palms was studied at the Philippine Coconut Authority-Davao Research Center, Bago Oshiro, Davao City [Philippines]. Results showed that the number of leaves produced by young coconut was significantly affected by leaf pruning with higher number of leaves produced under pruned coconut than those under non-pruned coconut. On the other hand, nut and copra production of bearing palms were not significantly affected by leaf pruning. Significantly bigger girth and higher number of leaves were produced from single planting (SP) of young coconut per hill than double planting (DP) scheme. Hence, longer and heavier weight of `ubod' was obtained from SP (ave. of 6.8 kg/palm) than those from RP (5.9 kg/palm) on the first year of `ubod' harvest. However, on a per ha basis yield of `ubod' from SP was much lower than DP ,mainly due to the number of plants per hill. The total `ubod' yields for SP and DP were 4.9 t and 8.9 t/ha. Under Davao condition, cost and return analysis of `ubod' production in SP scheme indicated a total net income of P68,624 in 4 years with a return of investment (ROI) of 163 percent. In DP scheme, `ubod' yield valued at P129,030 with 18 percent ROI. Considering copra plus and `ubod' production from these two planting schemes, the cumulative net income (four years) and ROI were: P180,736; P242,389.6 and 202 percent; 203 percent for SP and DP. Based on these results, with modest fertilization (21-0-0 plus NaCl) underplanting one or two young coconuts/hill at a 3 x 3 m distance between spaces of bearing coconut palms harvested at 3 years from planting is a profitable and viable production scheme to increase farm productivity even without leaf pruning of old palms