Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)
The mini-rhizotron technique was used to study oil palm root turnover and longevity. Preliminary data collected over a three-month observation period was not sufficient to determine oil palm root longevity since the total root length was not constant. Root length replacement was high in tertiary roots about 11% more than secondary roots. Root observation has […]
The importance of leaf area index (LAI) in oil palm is highlighted. Factors such as the fractional light interception, conversion efficiency e, effects of age, climate, soil and fertilizer, and carbon balance are also discussed. LAI can be influenced by the number of fronds per palm, area per frond and planting density. Planting at optimal […]
Maintenance respiration (MR) is normally the largest fraction of dark respiration in crop plants. MR of mature oil palm is difficult, if not impossible, to measure directly. However, it can be calculated from respiratory coefficients and standing crop biomass components. The derivation of the coefficients is described and examples are given of the MR of […]
The importance of water use efficiency in crop productivity including oil palm is discussed. Effects of water stress in oil palm e.g. sex ratio and fresh fruit bunch yield are also emphasized. The importance of photosynthesis proses and its limitations are also included. This review also includes carbon partitioning, hormonal effects e.g. absicic acid (ABA) […]