MATAG COCONUT 1.

Matag Coconut

Matag is a hybrid coconut through crossing of Tagnanan tall as male parent and Malayan Yellow/Red dwarf as female parent. This hybrid is high yielding and early in maturity with round large fruit. The produce is versatile as it can be used as fresh drinking coconut at tender flesh forming stage or at maturity, the latter as raw material for santan, desiccated coconut and other industrial uses. The shell and husk are good raw materials for charcoal (activated carbon) and for cocopeat and fibre respectively. Seedlings selected should be true-to-type. The recommended stage for field planting is at 4-6 months old. Advanced planting materials are used as in-filling of vacant points but should be nursed in large polubags to avoid severe transplanting shock.

2.

Spacing

For permanent integration of cocnut with other suitable entreprises, the hedge planting design is recommended. Coconut is planted as twin rows, at 7 m x 7 m triangular, alternate with the alley at a width of 18 m. The plant stand for coconut is 110 palms/ha. The alley is separated from the coconut by field drains at 1.5 m from the palm row.

3.

Land Preparation and Field Planting

Trees should be felled, destumped and stacked in accordance with the zero burning guideline. Drains should be constructed before field planting. Field planting should be carried out at the beginning of the rainy season.

4.

Planting Hole

Planting hole should be dug at the dimension of 60 cm x 60 cm and 45 cm deep.

5.

Maintenance

A good standard of maintenance is required to ensure vigorous growth and a high yield. After establishing the garden, maintenance aspects such as drainage, weeding and manuring require particular attention.

6.

Drainage

For satisfactory performance of coconut, it is advisable to clean and deepen the drains regularly in order to maintain the water table to a depth of 75-100 cm.

7.

Weeding

Ring weeding to a radius of 2 m around palm at least 6 times a year should be carried out. Weeding can be done manually or by the use of suitable weedicides. It is a bad practice to burn the dry grass as very often the coconut trees are damaged.

8.

Fertiliser application The recommended fertilizer is as tabulated below:

Year Planting hole

First Second

Third

Appln Age Fertilizer Round (month) 0 R Phosphate GML 1st 1 Compound 25 2nd 5 Compound 25 3rd 10 Compound 25 1st 15 Mixture 44 Borate 48 GML Kieserite 2nd 19 Mixture 44 3rd 23 Mixture 44 1st 27 Mixture 44 2nd 31 Mixture 44 Kieserite Borate 48 3rd 35 Mixture 44

Rate kg/tree 1.5 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 10. 1.0 1.0 0.1 1.0110

Rate kg/ha 165 198 ) ) 121 ) 110 11 110 110 ) 220 ) ) 220 ) 110 11 2.2

Bags 50kg 3.3 3.96 ) ) 2.42 ) 2.2 0.22 2.2 2.2 ) 4.4 ) ) 4.4 ) 2.2 0.22 118.8

Cost (RM) 62.7 55.44 130.68 118.8 55 30.8 44 237.6 237.6 44 55 1,190.42

Total Note:

Rock Phosphate : RM19/50 kg, GML : RM14/50 kg Fertilizer Compound 25 Mixture 44 N 14 12 Cost/50 kg P2O5 RM54 13 RM54 6 K2O 9 22 MgO 2.5 3

It is advisable to weed the garden before applying the fertilisers. For a young palm apply the fertiliser around it to a radius corresponding to the horizontal stretch of its leaves. For a mature palm, apply the fertiliser evenly at 2 m radius around the base of palm.

9.

Pest and Disease

Pest/Disease Damage Control Rhinoceros The adult beetle bores into the crown Keep field clean by removing Beetle to feen on the tender tissue at the and burning decaying wooe to growing point thus causing faneliminate all suitable larval shaped fronds when the spears breeding places unfold. Regular field inspection to destroy the grubs and the breeding places Drench the crown with lindane or diazinon Trunk injection with monocrotophos or methamidophos at early stage of damage Coconut Skipper The larvae of skipper butterflies feed on the leaf blades leaving only the midrib. In serious cases, the palms look totally barren except for the youngest fronds These outbreaks usually come and go. Flocks of birds usually predate on them most of the time. Natural parasites are also found. Spray trichlorfon or any pyrethroid if necessary.

Bagworm

The caterpillars scrape the epidermis Chemical control is often not whilst leaving the palm leaves necessary. skeletonised. Feed on young leaflets of the fronds leaving only the midrib. Spray trichlorfon if necessary.

Nettle Caterpillar

Rats, Squirrel On fruits mainly.

Poison with zinc phosphide at 1:20 ratio bait Shoot or trap if possible

Tapering Disease

Yellowing of the tips of leaflets and a Associated with malnutrition, lack of dwindling of their size, coupled with a adequate drainage and neglected corresponding diminution in the condition. diameter of the trunk. Finally the crown might fail to produce new leaves and the palm dies. Yellow to greyish white spots with dark-brown margin, surrounded by yellow halo on the leaves. This is a minor leaf disease. Maintain good growth of tha palm to reduce the disease incidence.

Grey Blight Leaf Spot

Projek pemulihan Kelapa MATAG ini adalah sambungan daripada pelan Projek Tanam Semula Kelapa MATAG bermula pada tahun 2000 sehingga 2008.(Jabatan Pertanian) Keluasan projek adalah 207.48 hektar iaitu 184.69 hektar bagi kawasan Bagan Datoh dan 22.79 hektar bagi kawasan Hutan Melintang. Pelaksanaan projek ini dibuat dalam sistem pengurusan berpusat melalui penglibatan PPK dan dibantu oleh agensi-agensi di bawah Kementerian Pertanian seperti Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang(LPP), Jabatan Pertanian, FAMA, MARDI, JPS, MOA, EPU dan Pejabat Daerah.Dengan adanya sistem pengurusan yang bersepadu, projek yang akan dibuat dapat berjalan dengan lancar dan memulihkan tanaman Kelapa MATAG yang tidak berjaya. Permohonan daripada jawatankuasa bertindak Pemulihan Tanaman Kelapa MATAG kepada Y.B Menteri Pertanian Tan Sri Dato Hj Muhiyidin Yassin pada tahun 2007 dan disokong oleh Y.B Dato Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Pihak EPU meluluskan peruntukan sebanyak 12.304 juta bagi perlaksanaan projek tersebut pada tahun awal tahun 2009. seterusnya matlamat dan misi projek tersebut dapat dicapai.