1 Polybag Filling & Arrangement • Polybag size – 8cm x 15cm (4’’ x 6’’). • Fill polybag with topsoil of sandy loam texture + 5cm of pure white sand at the top. • Arrange the polybags at the nursery at 15-18 bags per row, widthwise (see picture above). • Germination rate may be lower by 10% due to poorer drainage and sprouting may be slower by 1-2 weeks if MB seeds are sown in heavy-clay soil. 2 MB Seed Scarification • Seed scarification refers to removing or weakening part of the seed coat by chemical or mechanical means. • Mechanical cutting (MC) off a small part of the seed coat at the tip of the seed (see picture above) is a more practical way to scarify MB seeds. Make sure that only seed coat at the tip at the opposite side of the helium of the seed is clipped to avoid damage to the embryo. • 2 workers could complete scarifying (by MC way) 1 kg of MB seeds (about 6,000-6,500 seeds) in a working day. 3 Soaking & Sowing • Scarified MB seeds are to be soaked in water for not more than 15 minutes and planted in the sand layer, about 1-2cm below the sand surface. 50% shade should preferably be provided initially. Watering twice a day will be necessary. • Good aeration in the sandy layer will facilitate fast sprouting. Sprouting would begin 3 days after sowing and complete in 7-10 days’ time (see picture above). 4 Success Rate, After Care & Planting • Using good quality MB seeds and following the above described sowing procedure, 80-90% success rates could be achieved. • 3-4 weeks after sowing, the MB seedlings would have grown to have 2 whorles of leaves (see picture above). Shade should now be gradually removed and a weekly round of light foliar spray should be done. • About 7-8 weeks after sowing, with 3-4 whorles of leaves the MB seedlings could be taken out for field planting. • To attain good ground coverage in 6 months, planting at density of 6-8 MB seedlings/palm is recommended.