ability of nutrient supply on the basis of unit soil volume in peat soils constitutes one
of the causes in the particular case where sago palms show slower growth in
peatland. Moreover, water condition in soils and distance from the coast will also
affect the sago palm growth and starch production.
Proper management of water and soil nutrient conditions through controlling
groundwater levels and applying fertilizer is necessary for sustainable sago palm
cultivation in tropical wetlands (Watanabe 2015). As the former studies suggested
that chemical fertilizer application will increase nutrient concentrations in the plant
body, though its direct influence on sago palm growth and dry matter production
remains unclear. Watanabe (2015) stated that sago palm cultivation cannot be
considered as sustainable agriculture if fertilization practices impose a heavy burden
on the environment and the local ecosystem. It is important to understand how sago
palm culture has made an impact on the atmosphere, water, and soil and to establish
cultivation management techniques that can achieve both high productivity and low
environmental impact (Watanabe 2015). The establishment of a concrete system for
stable and sustainable production is a pressing demand to enhance the further use of
sago palm in strengthening food security for all. Our former observation and/or
experimental experiences related to sago palm’s active root growth zone from the
soil surface to 30 cm below ground (Chinen et al. 2003), the depression of photosynthetic rate under continuous prolonged waterlogging (Azhar et al. 2020b), and
the maintenance of transpiration rate at inflow of salinity up to 171 mM (1.0%) NaCl
(Ehara et al. 2006) will be valuable for further discussion regarding the appropriate
water control in sago palm growing areas. Cultural innovation, for instance, by
employing symbiotic microbes such as the nitrogen fixing bacteria or arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi may contribute to the future practices of sustainable utilization of
sago resources.
References
Ando H, Hirabayashi D, Kakuda K, Watanabe A, Jong FS, Purwanto BH (2007) Effect of chemical
fertilizer application on the growth and nutrient contents in leaflet of sago palm at the rosette
stage. Jpn J Trop Agr 51:102–108
Anugoolprasert O, Ehara H (2013) Preliminary investigation of growth and physiological characteristics of sago palm, rattan and yatay palm against aluminum stress under acidic conditions.
Thai J Sci Technol 2:200–217
Anugoolprasert O, Ehara H, Naito H (2014) Growth response and nutrient concentrations of sago
palm under aluminum stress. Thammasat Intern J Sci Technol 19:37–52
Asano K, Isoi Y, Murano H, Azhar A, Pasolon YB, Ehara H (2019) Colonization of roots in sago
palm seedlings associated with commercial mycorrhizal inocula. Sago Palm 27:9–14
Azhar A, Makihara D, Naito H, Asano K, Takagi M, Unoki S, Tomita R, Abbas B, Ehara H (2020a)
Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) response to drought condition in terms of leaf gas exchange
and chlorophyll a fluorescence. Plant Prod Sci. https://doi.org/10.1080/1343943X.2020.
1794914
502
H. Ehara et al.
of the causes in the particular case where sago palms show slower growth in
peatland. Moreover, water condition in soils and distance from the coast will also
affect the sago palm growth and starch production.
Proper management of water and soil nutrient conditions through controlling
groundwater levels and applying fertilizer is necessary for sustainable sago palm
cultivation in tropical wetlands (Watanabe 2015). As the former studies suggested
that chemical fertilizer application will increase nutrient concentrations in the plant
body, though its direct influence on sago palm growth and dry matter production
remains unclear. Watanabe (2015) stated that sago palm cultivation cannot be
considered as sustainable agriculture if fertilization practices impose a heavy burden
on the environment and the local ecosystem. It is important to understand how sago
palm culture has made an impact on the atmosphere, water, and soil and to establish
cultivation management techniques that can achieve both high productivity and low
environmental impact (Watanabe 2015). The establishment of a concrete system for
stable and sustainable production is a pressing demand to enhance the further use of
sago palm in strengthening food security for all. Our former observation and/or
experimental experiences related to sago palm’s active root growth zone from the
soil surface to 30 cm below ground (Chinen et al. 2003), the depression of photosynthetic rate under continuous prolonged waterlogging (Azhar et al. 2020b), and
the maintenance of transpiration rate at inflow of salinity up to 171 mM (1.0%) NaCl
(Ehara et al. 2006) will be valuable for further discussion regarding the appropriate
water control in sago palm growing areas. Cultural innovation, for instance, by
employing symbiotic microbes such as the nitrogen fixing bacteria or arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi may contribute to the future practices of sustainable utilization of
sago resources.
References
Ando H, Hirabayashi D, Kakuda K, Watanabe A, Jong FS, Purwanto BH (2007) Effect of chemical
fertilizer application on the growth and nutrient contents in leaflet of sago palm at the rosette
stage. Jpn J Trop Agr 51:102–108
Anugoolprasert O, Ehara H (2013) Preliminary investigation of growth and physiological characteristics of sago palm, rattan and yatay palm against aluminum stress under acidic conditions.
Thai J Sci Technol 2:200–217
Anugoolprasert O, Ehara H, Naito H (2014) Growth response and nutrient concentrations of sago
palm under aluminum stress. Thammasat Intern J Sci Technol 19:37–52
Asano K, Isoi Y, Murano H, Azhar A, Pasolon YB, Ehara H (2019) Colonization of roots in sago
palm seedlings associated with commercial mycorrhizal inocula. Sago Palm 27:9–14
Azhar A, Makihara D, Naito H, Asano K, Takagi M, Unoki S, Tomita R, Abbas B, Ehara H (2020a)
Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) response to drought condition in terms of leaf gas exchange
and chlorophyll a fluorescence. Plant Prod Sci. https://doi.org/10.1080/1343943X.2020.
1794914
502
H. Ehara et al.