Black Bunch Census ( BBC )

for yield forecasting at 4 month intervals

Time from anthesis to harvesting

• The time from flower opening ( anthesis) to harvesting is about 5.5 months.

• For 4 months yield forecast, we count bunches when about 1.5 month old, when blackish developing fruitlets are visible.

Time of census

• December ( to forecast yield of

Jan- April).

• April ( to forecast yield of

May - Aug).

• August ( to forecast yield of

Sept - Dec).

Sample size and palm census • Sample 10 % of palm population . • Count all palms every 10th palm rows. • Count all healthy black bunches on each productive palm.

Also count the following in each block: A) Number of vacant points and dying palms due to P&D, B) Number of abnormal/sterile palms, C) Number of immature supplied palms, D) Number of palms undergoing male phase.

Palm going through a male phase

Estimate of average bunch weight

• Average Bunch Weight - take average of last 4 months.

• Check by actual weighing at FFB platforms in each block for each month estimate.

Female flowers at anthesis

- Do not count.

6 weeks after anthesis,

When young blackish developing

fruitlets visible - count.

2.5 month old bunch

4.5 month old bunch

5.5 month old bunch turning reddidh colour

Black bunches to count.

3.5 month old bunch

Bunch turning reddish – do not count.

Bunch turning reddish with fruits start to detach – do not count.

Exam ple of BBC for Y ield For ecasting 4 m onths ahead

BLO CK

( HA)

STAND/HA

Non product i ve

pal m / ha

A+B+C+D

Product i ve pal m/ ha

AVERAG E

BUNCH WEI G HT

( KG )

AVERAG E

BLACK BUNCHES/

PALM

M T/ HA

( 4 M O NTHS)

Sept-Dec

A

50 ha

155 10 145 3. 70 10 5. 365

B

50 ha

155 15 140 3. 90 8 4. 368

C

50 ha

155 5 150 3. 80 7 3. 990

D

50 ha

155 50 105 3. 90 12 4. 914

E

50 ha

155 25 130 3. 40 6 2. 652

TO TAL

AVERAG E

250 ha

155 21 134 3. 72 8. 6 4. 258

THANK YOU