Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)
The chemical composition of pulp is the basis for many paper properties. This chemical composition can be modified or changed by chemical pulping. In this work, the chemical compositions of four types of alkaline pulp made from oil palm empty fruit bunches were studied. The empty fruit bunches were cooked in soda, soda-AQ, kraft and […]
The marked increase in oil palm hectarage in Sabah is largely due to the large tracts of land made available for oil palm planting. Out of the approximately one million hectares of land planted with oil palm, about 4246 ha are on coral soils located at FELDA Sahabat 23 and 24. These soils, derived from […]
This paper discusses the theory, concept and experimental application of metabolic control analysis. This technique has provided a means by which a quantitative description of control structure by an enzyme, substrate and cofactor over a metabolic pathway can be produced. Application of metabolic control analysis results in numerical values (flux control coefficients) showing how much […]
The benefits of irrigating digested palm oil mill effluent (POME) in oil palm plantations have been reported by several researchers. POME, which contains water and high nutrient, can improve yield and is suitable for palm growth. However, it needs proper and efficient management to ensure clean and safe water sources. The paper reports the effects […]
One of the distinguishing features of plant development in comparison to the animal system is the absence of cellular migration during embryo development and the fact that most organs are formed during post-embryonic development. It is clear that cell division and expansion are essential processes for plant growth. As such, the plant cell division cycle […]
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) […]
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 […]
This Basal stem rot (BSR) disease, which has long been recognized as the most annihilating disease of field palms in Southeast Asia, still reigns as the number one killer of oil palms and serves a disastrous blow to palm oil production. With the identification of the causal agent, i.e. Ganoderma boninense, several control measures have […]