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ISSN 1908-885X

WESVARRDEC Farm Primer No. 3/2010

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural

Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Researchand Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC)

University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV)

Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-Region 6

Department of Agriculture (DA)

Coconut Farm Establishment

and Development in Western Visayas



ISO 9001:2008



Dear Reader:

This Regional Farm Primer presents location-specic and

need-based information, technologies, and farm practices from

among the regional consortia. It aims to provide the farmers

and other clientele the appropriate information and technologythat target the regional priorities or focus commodities in their

respective regions.

As part of enhancing the Techno Gabay Program, the primers

aim to hasten the delivery of information, education, and

communication (IEC) materials that are specically intended

for the target audience and beneciaries in the regions. Each

primer is created by a regional team based on the focus

commodities/regional priorities identied by the consortium.

Through these primers, farmers and other clientele of the

PCARRD-Consortia partnership will have better access to

appropriate information and viable technologies. Also, the

primers will enhance the inventory of location-specic IECs

and strengthen the continuum between research and extension.

Sincerely yours,

PATRICIO S. FAYLON

Executive Director

PCARRD

ISO 9001:2000

OFFICe OF The exeCuTIve DIReCTOR



WeSvARRDeC Farm Primr No. 3/2010

Cocont Farm establismnt

and Dlopmnt in Wstrn visayas

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural

Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Researchand Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC)

University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV)

Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)-Region 6Department of Agriculture (DA)

Los Baños, Laguna2010



ii

First Edition 2010

ISSN 1908-885X

Bibliographic Citation:

Southern Tagalog Agriculture and Resources Research andDevelopment Consortium. Coconut farm establishment

and development in Western Visayas. Los Baños,Laguna: PCARRD-DOST, WESVARRDEC-UPV, PCA-Region 6-DA, 2010. 18p. - (WESVARRDEC FarmPrimer No. 3/2010)



iii

Forword

Coconut is known as the tree of life primarily becauseof the variety of products that can be derived from usingand processing its parts—from the roots to the trunk, tothe fruits and leaves. No wonder this highly valuable crophas always played a significant role in determining thecountry’s economic growth.

In Western Visayas, for instance, the coconut-based farmand the development and utilization of coconut productsand its by-products are ways to diversify the use of thiscrop, not to mention that also affords livelihood to thecoconut farmers.

This primer introduces to the reader the nitty-gritty of starting a coconut farm and developing a profitable venture

with emphasis on conditions peculiar to the WesternVisayas region.

MINDA J. FORMACIONChairperson, WESVARRDEC Regional Research and

Development Coordinating Council (RRDCC)



iv

Acknowldgmnt

This publication was made possible through the support of various individuals to whom we express our thanks:

• Dr.MindaJ.FormacionandProf.JosephEdwardO. Idemne, RRDCC chair and consortium director,respectively, of WESVARRDEC for their leadershipand guidance in the preparation of this publication;

• Therepresentativesfromtheconsortiummember-agencies who make up the WESVARRDEC RegionalApplied Communication Office (RACO), theRegionalManagement;

• InformationSystems(RMIS),andtheRegionalTechno Gabay (RTG) groups for their support andcamaraderie; and

• totheDA-PCARegion6ledbyMr.JoseS.Cruz,for

allowing us to collaborate in the production of thispublication.



v

Contnts

Foreword iiiAcknowledgment iv

Introduction 1Site Selection 2Varietal Selection 4Nursery Establishment 7

Nursery Site Selection 7Nursery Area 7Seedbed Preparation 7

PlantationEstablishmentandManagement9Land Preparation 9Density and System of Planting 9 Holing and Planting 12Care of Young Palms 13

PlantationManagementandMaintenance14Nutrient Requirement of Coconut 16References 18Production Team 19



1

Coconut Farm Establishment and Development in Western Visayas

Introduction

Coconut (Cocos nucifera), an economically viablecrop, is perhaps the most widely distributed agriculturalcommodityinthecountry.Moreover,itsindustryplaysavital role in the development of the country.

The Region 6 (Western Visayas) accounts for only about4.02% of the national coconut population. The region is

conducive for growing coconut, however, planting remainsrelatively lower than in other Visayan Island.

Areas in Region 6 can be classified into three coconutsuitability classes: highly suitable (Aklan, Capiz, NorthernAntique, and Northern Iloilo); suitable (Iloilo, Guimaras,and Negros Occidental); and fairly suitable (Southern

Antique). The absence of strong typhoons and otherclimatic disturbances makes Western Visayas an ideal areafor coconut.

Before starting a coconut plantation it is important toconsider all factors in coconut production. Hence, thefollowing steps should be done when establishing aplantation.



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Site Selection

Site selection plays a very significant role in coconutproduction. Perhaps it is secondary to if not as equallyimportant as the climate. Selecting an ideal site for coconutplantation should consider the following:

• Soil depth. The soil depth is regarded as one of the major factors that determine the suitability of aparticular soil for coconut production. A soil depth

of not less than 1 meter (m) is required consideringthe need for strong anchorage and regular supplyof nutrients. Hence, in most cases, a young palmmay look normal but turn yellowish due to thedepletion of the nutrient supply with time, more soif fertilizers are not replenished.

• Soil drainage. Proper drainage is conducive forcrop growth and production as it provides free airand water movement within the soil. Excessivewater in the root zone interferes with normal plantdevelopment since the coconut root system doesnot go beyond the free-water system. A rise inwater level may damage the roots while too muchstanding water in the root zone will eventually kill

the palm and reduce its production significantly.

• Soil texture. Sandy-loam soils are usually looseand friable and easy to handle during the tillageoperations. This soil provides good drainage andproper aeration.

• Soil structure. Soil structure can be easily subjectedto changes under different management practicessuch as plowing, drainage, liming and fertilization.Addition of organic matter and its proper



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decomposition are important for building up andmaintenance of soil structure.

• Rainfall and temperature. The coconut palm growsand produces nuts with well-distributed rainfall of 1,000 millimeter (mm) per annum. For profitablecultivation, 2000 mm of rainfall evenly distributedthroughout the year appears necessary.

• Sunshine. The coconut is a sun-loving tree. A long

period of isolation, favoring photosynthesis leadsto the normal formation of the coconut meat. It issuggested that about 120 hours per month is thelimit for profitable coconut production.



4


Varietal Selection

The use of improved variety is an important considerationin coconut production. High yielding varieties areendowed with genetically improved capacity to optimizethe effects of other technologies for better yield.

Before establishing a coconut plantation, one shouldcarefully select varieties for a certain purpose. This isbecause one variety differs in traits and characters. For

example, Aromatic Dwarf, Tacunan Green Dwarf, andGalas Dwarf are superior varieties for buko production.Table 1 presents the characteristics of coconut varietiesfor buko production , Table 2 presents the recommendedvarieties for tuba or vinegar production and Table 3presents the recommended varieties for copra production.

Table 1. The characteristics and traits of Aromatic Dwarf, Tacunan GreenDwarf, and Galas Dwarf varieties for buko production.

Outstanding

Characteristics

GalasGreenDwarf

TacunanDwarf

AromaticDwarf

1. Circumference (cm) 46 45 No dataavailable

2.Meatweight(g) 137 1003. Volume of water (mL) 318 250

4. Thickness of meat (mm) 5.2 4.6–6.15

5. Firmness of meat (lbs) 1.9 3

6. Total soluble solids (TSS)(%)

7.3 5

7. pH 5.9 5

8.Mediumchainfattyacid

(%)

72 71 69



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OutstandingCharacteristics

Galas

GreenDwarf

TacunanDwarf

AromaticDwarf

Potential Yield and Basic Traits

1. First nut harvest (year) 3–4 2–3 3–4

2. Ave. nut/tree/year 70 94 80

3. Potential Yield (nuts/ tree/year)

177 204 166

4. Color Green Green Deep Green

Table 1. (Continued).

Table 2. Recommended coconut varieties for toddy (“Tuba”) orvinegar production.

OutstandingCharacteristics

EquatorialGreen Dwarf

PCA 15-4Hybrid(MRD xBAYT)

PCA 15-9Hybrid

(TACD xTAGT)

1. Average volume of toddy/tree/day (L)

0.95 No dataavailable

1.12

2. No. of spathe/tree/ year

14 9 8

3.MediumChainFattyAcid (%)

61.45 73.13 70.33

Potential Yield and Basic Traits

1. First flowering

(years)

3-3.5 3-3.5 3-3.5

2. First nut harvest 4 4 4

3. Nut size Small Medium Mediumtolarge

4. Nuts/palm/year 95 119 128

5. Nuts/kg. of copra (n) 6 4 3

6. Copra per nut (g) 171 277 303

7. Fruit length (cm) 19.5 19.5 21.98. Fruit width or (cm) 14.4 17.5 19.5

9. Weight of water (g) 143 354 346



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Table 3. Recommended coconut varieties for copra production.

Potntial Yild

and Basic Traits

Tacnan

Dwarf

Baybay

Tall

hybrid

MRDTAG(PCA 15-2)

MRDBAY(PCA 15-3)

Ag (yars)

First owering 2–3 3–4.5 3–4.0 3–4.0

First nut harvest 3 6 4 5

Nut size

Medium

to Large

Medium

to Large Medium Medium

Nut color Green

Green/

Brown Brown Brown

Nuts/kg of copra

(n) 4-4.5 3-3.5 4 4

Nuts per palm (n) 99 108 155 144

Nuts per ha/yr (n) 26,724 16,457 20,972 21,968

Copra per nut (g) 234 295 272 271

Copra per palm

(kg) 23 32 42 39Copra per ha/yr (t) 6.1 5.0 6 6

Wt. of whole

nut (g) 967 1,549 1,254 1,193

Wt. of husk (g) 335 388 298 307

Wt. of shell (g) 156 250 202 180

Wt. of meat (g) 316 529 456 447

Wt. of water (g) 160 382 298 259



7


Nursery Establishment

Raising seedlings in the nursery allows proper selectionand culture of coconut seedlings. Selecting the bestplanting material before transplanting ensures higherproductivity per unit area and time.

Nursery Site Selection

A good nursery site should be open, level, well-drainedand has light or loose soil texture to facilitate nurseryoperations. It should have good source of water withoutthe possibility of being flooded. The site should be freefrom existing potential source of coconut pests anddiseases (e.g., sawmills, pile of decaying logs, site of animal manure, etc.) and accessible to transportation.

Nursery Area

A nursery site must be spacious enough to accommodatea desired number of seednuts. A 50-m2 area is required toaccommodate some 200 seednuts good for one hectareplantation.

A nursery area must be fenced so that growing seednutsand seedlings will not be destroyed by stray animals or lostto vandals.

Seedbed Preparation

Determine and locate the seedbed area preferably at thecenter of the nursery. Clear, plow, and harrow the seedbed

area to fine tilth. Prepare the seedbed with the followingdimensions:



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• Elevation:15.24–20.32cmhightoprovidegooddrainage

• Width:1metertoavoidsteppingonseednuts

during maintenance and transfer operations• Length:aseedbedlengthdependsonthearea

15.24–20.32 cm

1 m

The nursery bed.



9


Plantation Establishmentand Management

Land Preparation

The technique of preparing the ground depends muchon the topography of land and its natural vegetation.On slope or in places where there is frequent erosion,

it is recommended to sow a cover crop at the time of planting or even beforehand, if possible. Bare soil that hasbeen under other crops needs special preparation beforecoconut planting.

Mechanizationhowever,isnecessarywhenrhizomatousgrasses like ‘cogon’ cover the ground entirely. Wild grassesmust be cut and removed regularly.

When mechanical preparation is employed, care shouldbe taken not to invert or bury the humus-bearing topsoil, asthis would seriously disturb the biological activities in thesoil.

Density and System of Planting

MajorityofthecoconutplantationsinWesternVisayasare small family properties, in which the owners oftenplant at random without much regard to regular spacing orconventional system of management. It is very common tosee mixed plantings of coconut and other crops.

In deciding upon the optimum spacing, some important

factors have to be considered. One is that adequate roomshould be provided for proper development of the roots.The type of soil, climatic conditions, and variety determine



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the number of plants per hectare which will give maximumyield.

There are four systems of planting recommended by somecoconut authorities. However, under Western Visayascondition, we recommend the following:

• The triangular system - the palms are set at fixeddistance at the corners of a triangle. In this system,about 15% more palms can be accommodated in a

unit area. This system of planting is oriented alongthe direction of sunrise and sunset, where the oneside of triangle is facing the East-West direction toensure that one palm will not cover the other. Thisplanting system is suitable for monoculture.



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• The double row system - The palms are set in adouble row with a fixed distance of 1.5 m, butthe distance between the palms to another row isdoubled than that of the normal planting distance of 9 or 10 m. This is to give a slightly higher stand thansquare planting and to allow more room for raisingintercrops.

The double row system of planting, showing fruit

trees as the intercrop.

Coconut fruit

trees or coffee

planting scheme

Coconut double row,

7 m x 1.5 m x 14 m – 154 hills/ha; fruit

trees or coffee, 7 m x 14 m – 98 hills/ha



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Palms should be 8–10 months old but 6-month oldseedlings can be planted if and when the timing of planting

warrants it (i.e., if the seedlings will be 8 months bythe start of the dry season). Eight-month old transplantsgive growers better idea of their general growth anddevelopment. However, differences in vigor are best seenwhen the seedlings are still too young to be moved, withthe majority of their leaves still very succulent.

Surface planting is not advisable in places where drought

prevails, it restricts the formation of the bole region andfavors the formation of shallow root system. The holesare usually dug ahead of the transplanting time to allowthe soil to weather. The surface soil is kept separate andthe sub soil is utilized in making small band all around toprevent rain water from flowing into the pit.

The time for transplanting seedlings varies from place toplace depending upon the land situation and climaticconditions. In Western Visayas, the best time fortransplanting is at the beginning of the rainy season or afteritsheaviestmonsooninMayorJune.

Care of Young Palms

The most critical time for the palm is during the earlystages of its life, that is, from the time of planting to thethird or fourth year. It is only by giving careful attentionduring the period that the palms can be made to bearearly, and well. This aspect can be overemphasized asinstances where newly planted seedlings are allowed tobe grazed by cattle, choked up by the weed growth, and

killed by coconut pests and/or diseases. To ensure theproper care for the young palms, the following activitiesare being suggested:



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• Fencing - the newly planted seedlings should beprotected from the disturbance of astray animals,

until they grow big enough to be beyond theirreach.• Watering - In the absence of rain, the newly

transplanted seedlings should be watered as neededuntil they produce roots and get established.

• Cultivation and After Care - the seedlings have tobe kept free of weeds periodically. During heavyrains, precautions should be taken not to allow the

water to stagnate in the hole for long periods.• Manuring/Fertilization - Proper fertilization from

the beginning is necessary to give good start tothe seedlings, unless the soil is virgin and of goodinherent fertility. As experienced in some areas,proper fertilization of seedlings promotes earlybearing and high yields.

• Replacement of Missing Hills - Provided allprecautionary measures are taken, there shouldnormally be no casualties among the transplantedseedlings. If however they do occur, they shouldbe immediately replaced with good seedlingspreferably of the same age. Seedlings showingcontinued unhealthy and stunted growth may alsobe replaced. For this purpose, some extra seedlings

should be kept in reserve.

Plantation Management and Maintenance

The poor productivity of most of the coconut plantationsis attributed to faulty and improper or inadequate soilmanagement. An appreciation of this fact and subsequent

adoption of improved practices will help step upproduction. The important soil management practicesshould be considered:



15


a. Tillage - In coconut plantation, inter-cultivationor cultivating the inter-spaces is the main tillageoperation and consists of plowing and harrowing.The objectives of tillage are:

• tomakesoilabsorbmorewaterandretainmoisture.

• toproducefavorablesoilstructureforthedevelopment of roots, thereby increasing theavailable feeding area for the palm.

• to improve the aeration of the soil resulting inincreased bacteria and chemical activity which inturn increases the available plant food in the soil.

• tokillweedsandtherebyconservebothplantfood and water for the palms.

• toincorporateorganicmatterinthesoil.

b. Fertilization - Coconut palms respond to properfertilization particularly in soils where there is anobserved deficiency of major plant nutrients. Evenif the soil is initially fertile, continuous removal of plant foods from the soil in fairly large amountswill soon lead to nutrient deficiencies, unlessproper fertilizer are used to replenish the nutrientsabsorbed by the palms. To avoid this, it is wise to

adopt the recommended fertilizer application.

At pre-bearing stage or vegetative stage (1–3 years). Split application of annual rate perpalm, the first half at the start of the rainy seasonand the remaining half at 6 months after or aboutone month before the end of the rainy season.

At bearing stage. One application for areas witheven rainfall distribution (1.5–3 dry months) or splitapplication for areas with distinct dry and rainyseason.



16


Nutrient Requirement of Coconut

At nursery to bearing stage, coconut needs the followingnutrients in grams per palm from organic fertilizers:

Nutrients (g/palm)

Stage N K Cl S

Nursery 12 25 22 39Field Planting (FP) 30 50 44 7.5

6 months after FP 40 75 66 101 year 100 250 220 252 years 150 375 330 37.53 years 250 500 440 504 years 300 625 550 755 years or more 400 750 660 100

Nutritionally deficient bearing palms need the following

fertilizers:

Organic fertilizer 8.0 kg/palm per yearKCl (0-0-60) 1.65 kg/palm per yearNaCl (common salt) 1.5 kg/palm per year

In order to have a specific fertilizer recommendation for an

area, leaf or soil analysis should be undertaken. Farmersare encouraged to visit the nearest PCA Provincial Officefor assistance in the conduct of these tests.

Intercropping - In coconut plantation where palms areplanted quite apart (9 m or more), the interspaces may beused to raise other crops as source of additional incometo the farmer. In early stages of plantation when the

seedlings are still young and the ground unshaded, raisingintercrops is a viable option, provided that care is given.The subsidiary crops should be fertilized and should notbe grown very close to the base of the palm. As a general



17


rule, it is best to allow 2 m around the base of the palmuncropped and keep this area free from weeds if repeatedcultivation is desired.

Intercrops are annual, biennial, and perennial cropsplanted under and between coconut palms. Theyprovide extra income for coconut farmers. Examples of crops proven to be adaptable under Western Visayasconditions are: are sweet potato, cassava, ginger, uplandrice, mungbean, corn, peanut, and vegetables like sweet

pepper, hot pepper, bush sitao, and eggplant. Varietiesof banana (‘latundan’, ‘señorita’, ‘saba’, and ‘lakatan’)are also suited. Pineapple, coffee, ‘cacao’, black pepper,lanzones, rambutan, durian, and papaya are among thefruit trees recommended for intercropping.

Selection of intercrops must be based on:

• Tolerancetopartiallyshadedconditions• Absenceofpestsanddiseases• Presenceofviablemarket(effectivedemand)• Highvalue(price)• Lowperishability



18


References

PotentialYieldofParentalMaterialsTechnoNotes.SanRamon, Zamboanga City: Philippine Coconut AuthorityZamboanga Research Center, 2005.

Potential Yield and Basic Traits of 16 PCA RecommendedCoconut Hybrids. San Ramon, Zamboanga City:Philippine Coconut Authority Zamboanga ResearchCenter, 2005.

Field Planting and Nursery Notes. San Ramon, ZamboangaCity: Philippine Coconut Authority ZamboangaResearch Center, 2005.



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Production Team

Technical WriTers and researchers

Philippine Coconut Authority-Region 6

Andy O. Laurilla, Agriculturist IIFrancis B. Fegarido, Project Development Officer III

Rolly P. Obon, Coconut Production Regulatory Officer IIIJasmin R. Conde, Agriculturist I

ediTing and layouT

WESVARRDEC

Cora F. Navarra, Coordinator, Regional AppliedCommunication

Niño S. Manaog, Staff, Regional Applied Communication

Technical ediTors

Ester L. Lopez, Supervising Science Research SpecialistCrops Research Division (CRD)-PCARRD

Coni G. Cutay, Science Research SpecialistCRD-PCARRD

series ediTors

Lily Ann D. Lando , Chief Science Research SpecialistApplied Communication Division (ACD), PCARRD-DOST

Paul Jersey G. Leron, Science Research SpecialistACD, PCARRD-DOST

series layouT

Marina T. de Ramos, Science Research SpecialistACD, PCARRD-DOST




Disclaimer

The use of trade names does not imply endorsement of or discriminationagainst any product. Such products were mentioned only to provide specificinformation for the convenience of the growers. The recommended methodsand pesticides are based on the results of research and the best informationavailable. In recommending certain treatments or activities, however, noliability shall be attached either in the event of injury to the commodity or tothe operator.

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