Big harvest of money in pummelo

A close look at a one-hectare orchard planted to 400 plants at intervals of 5 x 5 meters can gross P160,000 (10 kilos x 400 trees x P40/kilo) on the third year and P800,000 (50 kilos x 400 trees x P40/kilo) on the sixth year; production expenses is 20 per- cent. This is for single rootstock.

On the other hand, with double rootstock, more yield can be realized. Continuously fruiting, harvest frequency is twice annually. On the second year, the gross is the same as the third year gross of the single rootstock; on the 10th year and onwards, the gross runs up from P2,400,000 (150 kilos x 400 trees x P40/kilo) to P3,200,000 (200 kilos x 400 trees x P40/kilo).

Pummelo can adapt itself to the lowland (sea level) area like the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City and in Naic, Cavite where Dizon conducted experiments on Danao pummelo and in the rice field area of Central Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. It has proven itself productive in the highland area of Mount Banahaw in Lucban, Quezon. It can be planted too in rice dikes (pilapil) and fringes of the farm to augment farmers' incomes.

For this agriventure, Magallanes Davao Pummelo is recommended as a commercial crop with excellent eating quality. According to Dizon, it is best to use the native pummelo (suha or lukban) seedlings as rootstocks for grafting; this would redound to prolonged productive life.

The right variety and application of fertilizer at the right time is important. For the young trees, nitrogen and phosphorus are a must, with the latter needed for the production of an extensive root system.

Fertilization should be a combination of chemical and organic fertilizers. During fruiting time, there should be more potassium and trace elements in the fertilizer to make the fruits sweeter and juicier. These trace elements are the micronutrients such as boron, manganese, zinc, iron and others. Unlike the Magallanes Davao pummelo the native suha or lukban, is sour and bitter.

Low-growing pummelos are not only easier to spray with insect control, it is also stronger against strong winds during typhoons.

Farmers, however, are well advised to dedicate themselves to the care of the plants like protection from pests and diseases for prolonged productivity. With that in mind, orchard growing – as in pummelo – will be a rewarding enterprise.