Evaluation of new cross combinations of oil palm for growth and yield attributes in Tungabhadra command area of Karnataka

Abstract

High yielding hybrids play an important role in increasing the yield and oil in the oil palm. With a view to develop and evaluate high yielding new oil palm cross combinations, a field experiment was conducted in AICRP On Palm (Oil Palm), ARS, Gangavathi, UHS, Bagalkot (Karnataka) to evaluate the ten new hybrid cross combinations of oil palm (NRCOP 1 to 10). Hybrids were planted during 2007 in a replicated trial. Managed with recommended package of practice (1200:600:1200 g N, P2O5, K2O per plant per year and irrigation based on potential evapotranspiration). The average data of all five years indicated that, significantly higher annual rate of leaf production recorded with NRCOP-2 &1, 4 (18.10) & (18.02) over NRCOP-7 & 6 (16.76) & (16.86) and it was on par with NRCOP-10(17.88) & NRCOP-3(17.40) hybrid combinations. Numerically higher sex ratio was recorded with NRCOP- 7 (0.66) over other hybrid combinations. With regard to FFB yield (average of all five years) the hybrid cross combination NRCOP- 4 recorded significantly higher FFB yield (14.66 tha-1) over, NRCOP-3 (10.98 tha-1), NRCOP-1(11.22 tha-1) and it was on par with remaining hybrids and similar results in Bunch weight and number of bunches per palm was recorded. Pooled data on FFB yield for 2013-2017 indicated that, the hybrid combination NRCOP - 4 recorded higher FFB yield (14.66 tha-1) at Gangavathi and appeared to have better prospects for adaptation under Tungabhadra command area.