Below is the Full Technical Growers’ Guide for Manila Elemi (Canarium luzonicum) — written in the same format as your professional manuals for Agarwood, Golden Champaca, Key Lime, etc., and suitable for CAPI, AGAC, COPI, and CESI integration.

(Canarium luzonicum – Philippine Aromatic Resin Tree)
Prepared for: Crown Agroforestry Plantations Inc. (CAPI), Agarwood Growers Agriculture Cooperative (AGAC), COPI, CESI, ANOC

1. Species Overview

Scientific Name: Canarium luzonicum

Family: Burseraceae

Common Names: Manila Elemi, Pili Elemi, Sahing

Type: Resin-producing tropical hardwood

Growth Habit: 20–30 m tall, straight bole, broad crown

Resin Type: Oleoresin (“Elemi resin”)

Aroma: Lemony, peppery balsamic, frankincense-like

2. Ecological Requirements

2.1 Climate

Temperature: 24–33°C
Rainfall: 2,000–3,000 mm/year
Humidity: 70–85%
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Wind: Prefers sheltered areas but tolerates moderate winds

2.2 Soil Requirements

Soil Type: Loam, clay loam, sandy loam
Drainage: Well-drained
Organic matter: ≥ 3%
pH range: 5.5 – 6.5
Elevation: 0–800 masl

3. Propagation Protocol

3.1 Seed Collection

Collect fruits when fully mature (dark purple).
Decorticate to obtain the nut.
Air dry for 24 hours.

3.2 Seed Pre-Treatment

Scarify the seed coat slightly OR
Soak seeds in water for 24–48 hours.
Optional: 0.2% KNO₃ soak for 12 hours to improve germination.

3.3 Germination Conditions

Medium: sterilized sand + cocopeat (1:1)
Shade: 50%
Watering: Mist twice daily
Germination time: 15–45 days

3.4 Nursery Management

Potting mix: topsoil + compost + rice hull (2:1:1)
Fertilization:
- COFI BioGrow™ 5–10 g at 2 months
Hardening:
- Reduce watering over 2 weeks
- Move to 70–80% sunlight

3.5 COPI Propagation (Tissue Culture / Organogenesis)

(For scaled CAPI plantations)

Explants: young leaflets, shoot tips, cotyledonary nodes
Sterilization: 0.1% HgCl₂ or 70% ethanol + NaOCl
Media:
- MS + 1–2 mg/L BAP → shoot initiation
- MS + 0.5 mg/L NAA → root induction
Acclimatization: fog chamber → shadehouse

4. Plantation Establishment

4.1 Land Preparation

Clear minimal vegetation (retain trees for agroforestry)
Deep plowing recommended for compact soils
Create drainage canals if needed (Elemi dislikes waterlogging)

4.2 Planting Spacing

Monocrop:

8 m × 8 m → 156 trees/ha

Agroforestry with Agarwood (recommended for CAPI):

Elemi rows: 8 m apart
Agarwood between Elemi at 3 m × 3 m
Intercrop options: ginger, turmeric, legumes

4.3 Planting Hole Preparation

Hole: 50 × 50 × 50 cm
Amendments per hole:
- 5 kg compost
- 200 g COFI BioGrow™
- 200–500 g biochar (optional)

5. Maintenance & Cultural Management

5.1 Weed Control

Ring weeding 3–4 times/year
Mulching with rice hull/coconut husk
Cover crops: Arachis pintoi, Centrosema, Stylosanthes

5.2 Fertilization Schedule (Organic System)

Year 1–3 (Establishment phase):

Compost: 3–5 kg/tree every 6 months
BioGrow™:
- 50 g at planting
- 100 g every 6 months

Year 4–10 (Pre-resin phase):

Compost: 5–10 kg/tree every 6 months
BioGrow™: 200–300 g every 6 months
Foliar (optional): Seaweed extract monthly

Year 10+ (Resin production phase):

Compost: 10–15 kg/tree every 6 months
BioGrow™: 300–500 g every 6 months
Mycorrhizae application yearly

6. Pruning & Canopy Management

Light pruning annually (dead & crossing branches)
Structural pruning up to year 5 to develop:
- 4–6 scaffold branches
Maintain an open canopy for better resin production
Avoid excessive pruning (resin yield decreases)

7. Pests & Diseases

7.1 Common Pests

Leaf borers – prune affected parts
Scale insects – neem oil + soap solution
Termites – introduce beneficial nematodes

7.2 Common Diseases

Sooty mold (due to scale insects)
→ treat insects, improve airflow
Root rot from waterlogging
→ improve drainage

Organic IPM recommended for certification compliance.

8. Resin Tapping Protocol

8.1 Age of Tapping

Minimum: 15–18 years
Peak yield: 25–40 years

8.2 Tapping Method

Choose a smooth area of the trunk 1–1.5 m high
Make shallow horizontal cuts (10–15 cm)
Depth: 0.5 cm only (avoid deep wounding)
Resin exudes and hardens into “tears”

8.3 Harvesting Schedule

Collection interval: 7–14 days
Season: Dry months (Nov–May)
Avoid rainy days — resin contamination increases

8.4 Yield Expectations

5–6 kg raw resin/tree/year
Lifespan of tapping: 30–50+ years

9. Postharvest Handling

9.1 Cleaning

Remove bark fragments, dirt, insects
Sun-dry for 4–6 hours
Store in clean, airtight containers

9.2 Grading

Grade A: light yellow, translucent, tear-shaped
Grade B: slightly cloudy
Grade C: dark, mixed impurities

9.3 Storage

Cool, dry place
Avoid heat (causes oxidation)

10. Value-Added Processing

10.1 Raw Resin

Sold to export traders
Price: PHP 300–500/kg
Uses: varnish, incense, industrial formulations

10.2 Steam-Distilled Oil

3–5% yield
Uses: perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy

10.3 Supercritical CO₂ (CESI Model)

5–7% oil yield
Zero thermal degradation → premium grade
Essential for ANOC/Ethereal Scent perfumery formulations

11. Economics (Per Hectare)

11.1 Annual Gross Income (Resin Only)

156 trees × PHP 1,500–2,500/tree
→ PHP 234,000 – 390,000/year

11.2 With Oil Processing (CESI)

300 g oil/tree/year
Elemi oil price: PHP 15,000–25,000/liter
→ PHP 700,000 – 1.2M/ha/year (value-added)

12. Manila Elemi + Agarwood Agroforestry Model

Synergies

Elemi provides partial shade → improves Aquilaria growth
Deep roots → low water competition
Shared maintenance → lower plantation cost
Dual resin income (Elemi + Agarwood)

Ideal Layout

Elemi rows 8 m apart
Agarwood center rows 3 m apart
Optional understory: ginger, turmeric, coffee

13. Sustainability & Certifications

Organic certification
FairWild (for wild-resin species)
CITES not required (Elemi is non-CITES species)
ESG compliance:
- FPIC
- Community profit-sharing
- Low-impact tapping practices