Effect of frond pruning on the vegetative and reproductive performance of local salak palm (Salacca glabrescens Griff)

A.B. Hashim

Abstract

The effect of frond pruning on the vegetative growth, nutrient levels and the production of male and female inflorescences of salak palm (Salacca glabrescens), was studied at MARDI Jerangau Research Station since 1990. The pruning levels significantly affected all the recorded vegetative parameters, which included palm height, girth, leaflet number and frond length. However, the different pruning levels did not significantly affect the macronutrients status of the salak palm leaflets. The effect of pruning levels on the performance and production of female inflorescence showed that the panicle number reduced significantly with heavy pruning as compared to the control. However, the female inflorescence number did not show any definite pattern with pruning levels. Female inflorescence girth and length also reduced significantly with heavy pruning. The pruning levels did not significantly affect the performance and production of male inflorescence, except on the inflorescence length where the higher pruning levels reduced male inflorescence length. In general, over pruning of frond will reduce the vegetative growth performance, lower the female panicle production, and result in smaller and shorter inflorescences as compared to the control or minimum pruning. However, the frond pruning of the salak palm needs to be carried out as it will generally help in the field managements of the farm. Frond pruning at seven and higher frond numbers resulted in better palm growth performance as compared to the lower frond levels. While minimum pruning, leaving 9–12 fronds, is more preferable to get higher panicle production, bigger and healthy inflorescences.

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