Category: AGRICULTURE

The versatile ipil-ipil

 

The Versatile Ipil-ipil

By: Zacarias B Sarian

Source:Greenfields, 1976

 

Very few trees have as many important uses as ipil-ipil – one of the most versatile trees in the Philippines.

 

Consider its major uses:

It is a source of fuel wood and charcoal for household and industrial use.

Ipil-ipil leaf meal is used in the manufacture of commercial feed for livestock and poultry.

It is used as forage (either grazing or soiling) for farm animals.

It is a rich source of organic fetrtilizer.

The tree itself is often used as a windbreaker as well as a nurse tree for shade-loving crops.

It is planted to prevent soil erosion.

 

In addition, the ipil-ipil is one of the easiest trees to grow. It will thrive even in stony areas where few other trees would take root. And since it has a deep root system, it can tolerate drought much better than many other trees.

 

James L, Brewbaker, professor of horticulture and genetics at the University of Hawaii, says that the root system of ipil-ipil is as deep as the tree is high.

 

Though the tree is not native to the Philippines, it is so widely planted throughout the archipelago that most people consider it indigenous to this country. Actually, the tree is indigenous to Central America where its usefulness has been well-known since tiem immemorial.

 

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Atis

Atis is cultivated throughout the Philippines and is occasionally spontaneous. It was introduced from tropical America by the Spaniards at an early date and is now pantropic in cultivation.

The plant is a small tree to 3 to 5 meters in height. The leaves are somewhat hairy when young, oblong and 8 to 15 centimeters in length, with a petiole 1 to 1.5 cm long. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves and are about 2.5 cm. long. They are pendulous, hairy , three angeld, and greenish-white or yellowish. The fruit is large, somewhat heart-shaped, and 6 to 9 cm in length. The outside of the fruit is marked by polygonal tubercles. When the fruit is ripe, it is a light yellowish green. The flesh is white, sweet, soft and juicy and has a mild, very agreeable flavor.

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Growing caimito – part 2

Cultivation is not very extensive, though the seedling requires constant ring weeding while young..

Farmers in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna regularly  grow filed crops like rice, corn, pineapple, and root crops between young caimito trees to maximize use of land. Other farmers plant fruit trees like banana, coffe and lanz0ones between caimito trees to sterilize all available space.

Fertilizer application is not always necessary. A caimit tree can draw sufficient food from the soil to support growth and fruit production. However, it is a good practice to apply nitrogenous fertilizer when the plants are young. Usually, animal manure is good substitute for commercial fertilizer. To improve fruit production, apply complete fertilizer may also be applied at the start of the rainy season before flowering and when the soil contains enough moisture. The broadcast method of fertilizer application is economical and effective.

Caimito is a medium-sized and spreading tree. Its leaves are oval, with pointed tips, and are light to dark-green on the upper surface, and copper or golden  beneath,

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Growing caimito – part 1

Caimito: a tough productive fruit tree

By: Dell H. Grecia and Pit La. Cantilang

Nobody can say with any degree of certainty why it is called star apple or caimito. There have been several wild attempts to explain these names. One corny version has it that the fruit was named caimito because it was first owned and propagated by Mito; thus kay mito

However it got its name, the introduction of this fruit in the Philippines was certainly one of the bsest things to happen to our fruit industry. For star apple or caimito (Chrysiophyllum caimito, L) is now one of the widely appreciated Philippine fruits.

The tree was introduce here in 1905 form the West Indies and Central America. Grown all over the Philippines today, caimito trees are thriving in La Union, Tarlac, Batangas, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulcan, Cavite and many other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

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