2016 Volume 60 Issue 3 Pages 179-184
Root development and distribution in sago palm grown on mineral soil in Malaysia and Indonesia were investigated from 2007 to 2010 and compared among different ages, regions and folk varieties. Soil blocks (30 × 30 × 30 cm) were sampled by a trench method horizontally at 0, 1 and 2 m from the trunk base and vertically at 0–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm from the ground surface. Root dry weight per palm (expressed per soil volume) was significantly higher in the harvest stage (bolting stage) than in the trunk elongation stage (2 years after trunk formation), and was also significantly higher in Kendari, Indonesia than in Mukah, Malaysia. The folk variety Molat had a higher root weight than Rotan in the harvest stage. The root dry weight did not differ significantly in the horizontal direction in the trunk elongation stage, while in the harvest stage it was higher at 0 m than at 1 and 2 m. The ratio of the root dry weight at 0 m to total weight increased from 42% in the trunk elongation stage to 69% in the harvest stage, suggesting that the root dry weight increased with age near the trunk base. On the other hand, the root dry weight in the deeper layers (30–60 and 60–90 cm) was significantly lower than in the surface layer (0–30 cm). However, the root dry weight ratio at 60–90 cm increased from 11% in the trunk elongation stage to 18% in the harvest stage, suggesting that downward development increased with age. These study results suggested that variety had more effect than region.
