RSUP Mission report 5 to 14 August 2004

It was pleasing to see the progress made in soil cleaning in the plots; this should be kept up and it is particularly important to maintain bare soil in plots once that stage has been achieved. In effect, it has now been demonstrated that Sufetula is indeed the cause of stagnating yields, and cultivation on bare soil is currently the only way of reducing pest pressure on coconut palm roots. However, the virtual absence of any fertilizer applications in the whole plantation in 2003/2004 is disappointing. Yet it is the right time to fertilize the palms, in plots that are much cleaner where fertilizer will be more effective. Remember that stable hybrid coconut palm yields can only be obtained by regular mineral fertilization, particularly on peat soil, a chemically poor medium. It has been demonstrated that K is the most sensitive nutrient at Pulau Burung, followed in second place by Cl. Consequently, an optimum fertilizer schedule is proposed for 2005, along with an economical fertilizer schedule, in the event that desiccated coconut prices are not favourable. It is essential that at least the economical fertilizer schedule is applied to ensure yield sustainability