Growth of Malayan yellow dwarf coconut seedling on selected type of Malaysian soil / Nurfarizah Afendy

Cocos nucifera L. is a crop with numerous functions and use. It is mainly grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. The change of economic traits of oil palm has seen coconut as another main crop to cover up the oil palm industry losses. Coconut could potentially produce high yield with suitable soil type with correct fertilizer and proper water management. A study was conducted to analyses the growth of Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) coconut seedling on selected type of Malaysian soil and to determine the effect of husking and de-husking towards MYD coconut. This study was conducted in a share farm located at UiTM Jasin by using a randomized control block design (RCBD). The parameter data taken for the research study were height, no of leaves, fronds length, petiole length, diameter of stem and SPAD (chlorophyll content). The result indicated that the height of plant, fronds length and petiole length did showed significant differences among the treatment on the de-husking planting technique, in which laterite and peat soil produce lower growth compare to the Selangor soil series. Plant height of Selangor soil series showed significantly display a higher value with (101.00 a), fronds’ length (66.17 a) and petiole length with (34.83 a). The parameter growth value of Selangor soil series is higher than another soil types. However, SPAD value do not show any significant different between the planting method, where husking (54.74 A) and de-husking (54.17 A) produce slightly same results. Based on the result, between the types of treatment used, the suitable planting method for planted MYD coconut is the husking method. The study concluded that de-husking or complete removal is not a suitable planting technique for MYD coconut.