A Comparative Study on the Performance of Metroxylon Sagu and Metroxylon Rumphil Grown on Gleyed Mineral Soil and Organic Soil
Sago palm is currently one of the major starch resources in Malaysia, as indicated by the M$14 million average annual export value obtained in the past few years. The two main types of sago palms found in Sarawak are the smooth sheathed Metroxylon sagu and spiny sheathed Metroxylon rumphii. Thes...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
1991
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8353/1/FSMB_1991_3_A.pdf http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8353/ |
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| Summary: | Sago palm is currently one of the major starch resources in Malaysia,
as indicated by the M$14 million average annual export value obtained in the
past few years. The two main types of sago palms found in Sarawak are the
smooth sheathed Metroxylon sagu and spiny sheathed Metroxylon rumphii.
These are grown all over Sarawak on different soil types ranging from mineral
soil, shallow peat and deep peat. To date, no information is available on the
performance of these two varieties grown on these soil types. This study was
conducted to determine the effect of soil types on the growth, physical
characteristics of the palms, the starch quality, and yield of the resultant starch
extracted from these palms. The longitudinal and radial starch distribution of
the palm, the different methods of estimating starch yields and the leaf nutrient
variation of the sago palm were also evaluated.Results from this study indicated that sago palm performed better on
mineral soil than on the marginal peat soil with starch yield ranging from 182
to 260 kg / trunk for Metroxylon sagu in mineral soil compared to 128 to 188
kg / trunk in deep peat. In terms of starch yields against palm maturity, total
starch yield was found to increase with palm age up to the 'Angau Muda'
(flowering) stage after which the total starch content decreased sharply. The
physico-chemical characteristics of the sago starch from both varieties and
different stages of maturity did not differ significantly. The longitudinal and
radial distribution of the starch in trunk of the palm was uneven. The upper
portion of the trunk and the outer segment of the pith had lower starch
contents. The starch yield per trunk of sago can be estimated by measuring
the trunk length and girth at breast height. Studies showed that estimating of
starch yield based on volume basis is easier and more accurate. The study on
the variation leaf nutrient content of sago palm recommended frond 9 be
sampled for the assessment of the nutrient status of the palm. |
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