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The Philippine
Star, Agriculture/Environment, Sunday, April 6, 2003 |
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Davao High Value Fruit Trees
Winning Ventures in Luzon |
| by Ramon Ma.
Epino |
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Durian (Durio Zibethinus) is an attractive evergreen tree
with pyramidal canopy. Recommended varieties are durian
monthong from Thailand and D24 from Malaysia.
Growing durian from seeds is not advisable. With this
method of propagation, it can grow up to 45 meters making
harvesting difficult. The other disadvantage is that it will
bear fruits only after 10 to 12 years - a very long time
that will take the edge off a winning venture. |
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Pomologist Bernie Dizon
who has a contract to propagate excellent
fruiting trees advises an exceptional alternative. He
recommends to hobbyists, orchard growers, retirees
and entrepreneur to plant double rootstock cultivars
to make the durian tree crown low for easy
harvesting. Double rootstocking makes for strong
trees that can withstand typhoons and adverse
weather condition.
Compared with planting materials from seeds which
bear fruits after 10 to 12 years, double rootstocks
durian trees reduce fruiting time to one-third
(three to four years). First fruiting can yield 10
kilos and double that volume in the succeeding
years. Eight to 10 year old trees can bring off 100
kilograms (kg).
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A
good example of the fruit-bearing qualities of rootstocked
durian is the 25 year-old tree in the backyard of Maximo
Roxas in Laguna. This durian tree yields 400-500 kg
annually. That would be some P20,000 to P25,000 at the
current farm gate price P50 a kilo. A fruit stands in Metro
Manila durian retails at P80 to P150 kilo.
Durian farming is simple enough for anyone. Plant some
160 to 200 trees in one hectare at a distance of seven to
eight meters. The fruit of the recommended Thailand monthong
has 40 percent edible flesh of mild flavor while the
Malaysian D24 has 40 percent edible flesh with strong
flavor.
Monthong rootstocked durian can produce two-three kilos
single fruit while D24 rootstocked durian gives 1.5- two
kilos single fruit. In comparison, the native durian has
only 20 percent of its flesh for eating.
Cultural Requirements
Durian cannot withstand full sunlight. For that you have to
provide 50 percent shade during the early stage of growth.
Plant bananas to serve as temporary shade. Construct
drainage canals in between the plants and make a mound with
the base at least one foot high for each plant. Durian is
susceptible to phythropthora root rot caused by waterlogged
condition.
During the juvenile stage, apply ammonium phosphate and
20 percent urea with microelements at the rate of four
tablespoons in each of the four holes - 2-4 inches deep-and
six-10 inches away from the base every two-three months.
Apply also one kilo of organic fertilizer every 45 days.
During fruiting do the following to make the fruits
creamy and juicy with strong flavor. Apply N-K (17-0-17)
fertilizer. Two months before ripening of the fruits apply a
combination of 17-0-17 and 0-0-60 in equal amounts at the
rate of one kilo for every 10-15 holes under the crown
(canopy). Potassium is very important in durian fruits.
Without it fruits have no flavor and the flesh as hard as
cassava.
Pollination
Even when there are no bats that do the pollination for
durian it can be done artificially. It is done during full
bloom between 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. when male and female flowers
are receptive. This is the only time that pollination takes
place. The male flower which surrounds the females flower
(stigma) is detached and brush off with the stigma in split
seconds.
With the multiple rootstock technology, durian can now
be grown profitably anywhere in the country. It has been
shown by orchard growers in Isabela, Central Luzon State
University in Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas,
Mindoro, Palawan. The biggest plantation is in Negros owned
by businessman Danding Cojuanco.
Durian growers in Mindanao need not to worry about
competition. Mindanao durian trees are harvested from August
to October while outside of Mindanao durian fruits are
harvested from May to July. |
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