Sub-section: Sucker Pruning/ desuckering Effective date: 1/8/15
1.Person responsible
-Worker/ farmer
-Supervisor
2. Objective:
To ensure unwanted suckers are properly remove and proper selection of effective producing unit for production and seedling for replanting.
3.Scope:
This work instructions define the action and responsibilities of worker/farmers in sucker pruning or desuckering.
4.Work instruction:
-Prepare the following tools and materials;
Pruning bolo/ desuckering equipment
Disinfectant solution (chlorine 30gms/ liter water)
Sharpening stone
-Go to the farm assign for sucker pruning.
-Select 1 follower/ sucker for production in every mother plant (vogor, big corm and sword like leaves sucker)
-Remove unwanted suckers.
-Allow the sword sucker to grow 1:1 or 1:2 for replanting purposes (mortality if any)
-Farmers/ worker analyse well where to grow the sucker for production unit (side or back)
-The follower/sucker should have distance from the mother for good growth and development
-Mother plants which have adjacent mortality stem could leave 2 suckers for replanting and for producing unit.
-When transfering to another mat/stem disinfect the sucker pruning equipment
-Maintain plants population/ha
-Avoid placing the removed stems/ suckers on the base of the plant for fertilization purposes.
-Farmers/ workers should analysed well if there are stems to be replace which are physically poor, very small plant, sickly/ poor growth and development.
-Repeat procedures on the next mat/ stem until area is funlly finished sucker pruning.
-Report accomplishment to the supervisor