Changes in the Vegetative Growth of Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) Suckers from Different Generation Orders in a Clump

Abstract

This experiment studied the periodic changes in the growth of sago palm suckers with different generation orders from the mother palm in a clump. Those were suckers which directly generated from the rhizome base of the mother palm (S1), generated from the rhizome base of the S1 (S2), and generated from the rhizome base of the S2 (S3). Plant height and number of leaves at the start of measurement were higher in the order; S1>S2>S3. Two different treatments were employed in the clumps; those without (Plot I) and with (Plot II) maintenance practices. Those practices, such as manual weeding and cleaning the debris inside and surrounding the clumps, were only carried out for about one year. During early one year observation, no reduction in the survival rate was observed in Plot II but it reduced to 22% in Plot I. One year after the maintenances were stopped in Plot II, the survival rate of S1 remained unchanged but small reductions were observed in S2 and S3. At 45 months later, the average survival rates of S1, S2, and S3 from both Plots were 50%, 64%, and 34%, respectively. In Plot I, S3 increased their heights more rapidly compared to S2 and S1. These results were different from those in the Plot II where all measured suckers showed similar growth. In both Plots, the production of newly-expanded leaves of S1 was faster than those of S2 and S3 while S2 and S3 produced similar numbers.