In the double planting scheme, ubod produced increased very slightly (only about 0.2 kg/palm from
3
rd
to 4
th
yr of planting (i.e. the 1
st
and 2
nd
ubod harvesting).
These results indicate that there is no need to
wait for the 4
th
yr for all young palms to be harvested since these palms have reached the optimum weight
and length for a profitable net return.
Besides, younger palms are a better source of ubod than older palms
(Cinco and Pugoy, personal communication, 1997).
This result was corollary to that of Protacio and Ruanes (1995) except that their time of harvesting
ubod was 2 yr from planting and the distance of planting young coconuts in open field was much closer to
each other (1 m
2
x 1 m
2
).
In our present planting distance, the smaller palms are allowed to grow bigger
due to more space despite two plants per hill.
Hence, heavier and longer ubod were produced.
On a per hectare basis, total ubod yield was higher in double planting (average of 4,452 kg/ha/yr)
compared to single planting with 2,467 kg/ha/yr.
This was mainly due to the double planting density of
young coconuts (1,484 palms/ha) in contrast to 742 palms in single planting scheme.
Economic analysis
Ubod production
.
Under single planting scheme, young underplants showed a total ubod yield of
2,522.8 and 2,411.5 kg/ha on the 1
st
and 2
nd
yr of harvest (3
rd
and 4
th
yr from planting).
While there was no
yield of ubod on the 1
st
and 2
nd
yr of planting, the net income from 3
rd
and 4
th
yr could compensate for the
net loss incurred in the previous years (Table 6a).
Hence, on a yearly basis, single planting scheme could
generate an average net income of PhP 17,156 with an average return on investment of 163%.
Compared to single planting, the double planting scheme produced higher net income of PhP129,030
in 4 yr or an average yearly net income of PhP 32,258 with ROI of 180% (Table 6b).
Copra production.
A positive ROI was obtained for 4 yr from copra production of bearing palms
(Table 7).
As a result of slightly higher yield attributes of bearing palms with double underplanting, a
slightly higher average net income was recorded for this scheme (PhP 28,669/ha/yr) as compared to PhP
28,028/ha/yr from single planting.
Consequently, a slightly higher ROI was incurred from double planting
scheme.
Cumulative copra and ubod production
.
Cost and return analyses for combined copra and ubod
production from bearing and young coconuts, respectively, revealed an encouraging ROI from the two
planting schemes (Table 8).
Both schemes in combination with copra production indicated a 202% - 203%
ROI.
The higher net income and ROI obtained in double planting could be attributed to better yield of
bearing palms brought by the benefits obtained from double fertilization of young coconuts, and to the
higher number of palms harvest for ubod production.
