| Details of Innovation |
There are many methods to induce flowering and increase production. For instance, causing wounds or physical stress in the plant. This practice, called traumatism, is well known in ancient Indian literature. The jackfruit is a tall tree that bears fruit on the main trunk and lateral branches. To stimulate fruit growth, farmers in Thailand, plant the sapling over a stone or metal trough that the main root cannot pierce through. The main root does not develop and the lateral roots spread close to the surface resulting in clusters of fruits just above the soil.To increase the production of tubers, the farmers of eastern Java (Indonesia) adopt the girdling technique. The outer part (cortex) of the stem is cut and removed just about 10 cm above the soil. That portion is covered with rich fertile soil. It is watered to encourage root growth; yield of tubers almost double. An Indonesian farmer on another island has developed another interesting grafting technique of two species of manihot. One species is a tree type manihot and the other, a tuber yielding bushy variety. Unlike conventional scientific grafting, the rootstock is considerably modified, developing giant tubers and with a growing period of over 18 months. It increases yield tenfold. This technique combines the vigor of one variety and the productivity potential of the other variety.Farmers in China roll the main root of lemon (Citrus) to prevent the tree from growing too tall. It results in a profusion of small roots on the surface soil, enabling better uptake of fertilizers. This knotting root mechanism can be attempted with other plants.1. SEEDS, 11 MG Colony, Vadavalli, Coimbatore - 641 041.References:Aubert, S. 1990, High-Density Planting in the Lowland Area of Shantou, Guandong, China. UNDP-FAO Regional Project.Halle, F, 1003, Un Monde Sans Hiver, Les Tropiques. Nature et Societe Le Seuil, ParisHewindati, Y T, 1995, Docotoral thesis (These de doctorat, Univ. Mont pellier II, Montpellier)Kheow Vongeri Pramoth, 1991, (Personal communication, to Francis Hale quoted by him elsewhere) |
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