Oil Palm Bulletin No. 41 (November 2000) p39-46

Advances in fertilizer management in the oil palm industry

CHAN Kok Weng , AHMAD TARMIZI Mohammed , WAHID Omar
In today’s market economy, especially with the advancement of information technology (IT) and information and communication technology (ICT), new developments in technology are transmitted fast. However, the technology is normally adopted when the benefits exceed costs. In demonstrating that such advances are for the benefit of sustaining the oil palm industry, new knowledge is constantly reviewed with the existing with the existing large pool of knowledge. Adoption of such new advances is now done in a more integrated, collaborative and systems approach where cross cultural and key players from the industry, academic and R&amp,D institutions are brought together in a more resource efficient manner. In reality, the economic benefits are likely to come about from efficient use of inputs and from additional outputs from the plantations.
This paper traces the use of the traditional tools in a diagnostic programme to evaluate and correct potential deficiencies before they actually occur and cause yield losses. The diagnostic procedure involves the analysis of leaf samples of selected palms located at different areas throughout the 25-30 ha field. Interpretation of the leaf analysis results together with consideration of all production variables like soil, yield, climate, etc. under a nutrient balance concept will result in the best fertilizer recommendation to support the fertilizer management of the field. As the whole field is considered as a homogenous block for fertilizer application, there arises a desire for greater production efficiency. This has led researchers to evaluate nutrient demands in smaller areas, thus supporting the concept of a site specific management.
Much has been written and tried over the last few years to improve the accuracy and precision on the collection of data, including that of soil sampling from the field. Systems like MEYSP (maximum exploitation of site yield potential), PORIM OPENS (oil palm efficient nutrient system) are advances made in refining site specific management. Such studies are undergoing verification in the field. Further, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board has with the industry and universities, started to evaluate an innovative approach called PORIM INFORMS (innovative fertilizer organizational management system) which divides the field into small units of 1 ha each. Such soil sampling on a grid pattern is expected to identify the true variation in soils. Using modern technologies like GIS, GPS and variable rate technology (VRT), the plantations are set to exploit the soil spatial variability. This will also be supported by accurate sampling of palm leaves. The georeferenced yields are then recorded for palms within each of these small 1 ha plots. Regression techniques will be used to fit fertilizer response curves from which optimum rates of NPK Mg are calculated based on specific needs of each small plot.
This PORIM INFORMS approach is new and much remains to be learned. The aim is to find more answers to improve oil palm productivity. Applying fertilizers according to palm’s needs will lessen negative environment impact while at the same time increase profitability. The future challenge is to interpret field spatial variability to allow for variable rate technology to be applied without over fertilization yet giving optimum rates for higher profitability.


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