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POFP

Oil Palm Cultivation and Yield Production

Kushairi, A.

Oil Palm Species


Elaeis guineensis
West Africa High yield
Elaeis guineensis

Elaeis oleifera
Central-South America Low yield High quality oil Tolerant to pests & diseases

Interspecific hybrids E.o x E.g


Intermediate properties
Elaeis oleifera

Oil Palm Industry: The beginning

Amsterdam

Congo DR

Malaysia

Centre of origin: Elaeis oleifera Centre of origin: Elaeis guineensis

Bogor Mauritius

Historical
Deli dura 1848 1870s 1911 1917 1920s - Bogor, 4 seedlings - Deli, Sumatra - Rantau Panjang, Malaysia - Tenammaran Estate - Formal breeding & selection

Yangambi/AVROS pisifera 1920s - Selection in Yangambi, Congo - Sumatra - Malaysia

Production of Major Oil Crops


Crop Oil palm Coconut Olive Rapeseed Sunflower Groundnut Soyabean Oil (kg/ha/yr) 2500 4000 600 1500 500 1000 600 1000 280 700 340 440 300 450

Land utilization to produce 1 tonne oil


Crop Oil Palm Rapeseed Soybean Land (ha) 0.30 0.75 2.17

Climate & Soil Suitability


Rainfall: 1500-2000 mm/yr, evenly distributed Temperature: min 22-24 C max 29-33 C Sunshine: continuous 5 hours/day Soil: loose-textured, no hard layer

Reproductive Biology
Monoecious: male and female flowers
Male inflorescence (flower)

separately on same palm Inflorescences in alternate cycles Cross-pollinated species

Number of spikelet per inflorescence


Similar in both genders, ca.200 spikelets

Number of flowers
Males: 700 1200, Females: 5 30
Female inflorescence (flower)

Reproductive Biology
Male 30g pollen per inflorescence Enough for 300 pollinations Pollen mostly shed 1-2 days following anthesis One year storage at 5oC

Male inflorescence

Female Receptive 36-48hr Anthesise sporadically, up to 4 weeks Second day most suitable for pollination Main pollinating agent: Elaeidibius kamerunicus
3mm

Female inflorescence

Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil


Oil extractions (Palm Oil) Lab O/B = F/B x M/F x O/M Mill OER = O/B x 0.855 Kernel (Palm Kernel Oil) Mill KOER = K/B x 0.5

Factors affecting growth, flowering and yield


Total Dry Matter: partitioned into BDM and VDM
Photosynthetic rate
light intensity, water, CO2, temperature, nutrients

Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB)


Bunch weight, bunch number

Number of bunches
Frond production, sex ratio, abortion, bunch failure

Inflorescence development
Stages 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Events Inflorescence initiation Outer spathe initiation Inner spathe initiation Sex differentiation Initiation of fourth bract Spikelet initiation Spikelet differentiation distinct Abortion Anthesis Harvesting Months 33 41 26 34 24 32 23 31 21 - 26 17 21 14 17 9 12 6 0

Planting Materials
Breeding and Seed Production
The need for legitimate planting materials: 25 years economic life Very important to invest in legitimate planting materials, ca. US$0.50 per germinated seed Planting material: dura x pisifera (DxP)
Pollination

Germinated seeds

Tenera arising from DxP

Oil Palm Genetics


Oil palm has 3 fruit forms: dura, tenera, pisifera Selection progresses through a single gene controlling shell thickness Sh+ Sh+ Sh- ShSh+ Sh= dura (thick shell) = pisifera (shell-less) = tenera (thin shell)

Note: pisifera is female sterile (no bunch formation)

Inheritance of Fruit Forms (DxP)

X
Sh+Sh+ M/F = 60% S/F = 30% K/F = 10% O/B = 18% Sh-ShS/F = 0 Sh+ShM/F = 80% S/F = 10% K/F = 10% O/B = 24%

Tenera x Tenera (TxT)


Tenera (Sh+Sh-)

Tenera (Sh+Sh-)

25% Dura (Sh+Sh+)

25% Tenera (Sh+Sh-)

25% Tenera (Sh+Sh-)

25% Pisifera (Sh-Sh-)

50% Tenera

Segregation ratio 1:2:1

Timeframe in OP breeding
10 years of breeding cycle: 1-2 years - pollination / germination 1 year - nursery 2-3 years - juvenile stage 4-6 years - data collection and selection 10 years of progeny testing (field test of the DxP) Thus, 20 years to produce progeny tested materials

Timeframe in Seed Production


Production stage Pollination to harvest Seed processing and germination Pre nursery Main nursery and field planting Average duration (months) 6 3 3 10 Cumulative (months) 6 9 12 22

Choice of Planting Materials


Malaysia produces 50 88 mil seeds annually Limits in production
Planting material (genotype) Environment Genotype x Environment

Oil extraction rate (OER) Vegetative vigour

Planting Materials
Tissue Culture Clones
Mass propagation of high quality planting materials Supported by breeding programmes Oil palm can be cloned from these ex-plants:
Young leaf Inflorescence Root

Ortet selection:
FFB yield > 200 kg/palm/year Oil/bunch > 28%
Sampling of leaf cabbage from selected ortet

Oil Palm Tissue Culture Process


1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Ortet sampling Callus initiation in explants Embryoid formation (embryogenesis) in callus Embryoid maturation and multiplication Shoot regeneration Rooting Plantlets transplanting

Leaf cabbage

Embryoid Shoot multiplication

Rooting Plantlets in polybags

Timeframe in Oil Palm Cloning


Production stage Explants to callus Callus to embryoids Polyembryogenic (PE) to shoots Shoot development Rooting/ transplanting/ acclimatization Pre nursery Main nursery and Field planting Average duration Cumulative (months) (months) 6 6 9 24 2 4 3 10 15 39 41 45 48 (4 yrs) 58 (ca.5 yrs)

Note: Seed production from pollination to planting is 22 months

Nursery
Objectives
to provide planting

materials of the highest quality for field planting

Pre-nursery

Two types of nursery


One-stage Two-stage
Main nursery

One-stage nursery
Involves the main nursery only Polybags
500gauge (0.12mm thick) x 38 x 51cm filled with top soil two weeks before arrival of germinated seeds arrangement 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9m triangular

Main nursery

Germinated seeds sown 1.8cm below soil surface Make sure not sown upside down

Two-stage nursery
Pre-nursery Main nursery

Involves pre- and main nurseries Pre-nursery Polybags 15 x 23cm Advisable to arrange polybags 10 x 10 for easy management May require shades to protect seedlings against heat from sunlight 3-month old seedlings are transplanted to big polybags in the main nursery

Watering
Water twice daily, morning and late afternoon
Initially, seedlings require 0.5 litre of water a day Later (11 months), 2.5 litres

Watering methods
Manually: watering-can, water hose Irrigation system: sprinklers, lay-flat tubes

Fertilizer application
Age of seedling (months) 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Application per month 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 Amount (g) 14:13:9:2:2 14 28 42 56 70 84 Amount (g) 12:12:17:2 28 42 56 70 84 -

Weeding
Weeding once a month
between polybags inside the polybags

Between polybags
contact herbicides may be used but not hormonal-type herbicides (causes disorders)

Inside polybags
manual weeding

Pest & disease control


Insecticide and fungicide sprays only necessary when there is outbreak However, it is always beneficial to have monthly routine to avoid outbreaks

Culling of seedlings
Selection / culling are done when seedlings are
3 months 7-8 months 12 months, just before field planting

Seedlings to be culled, examples


Twisted leaves Grassy leaves Juvenile Chimeras

Establishment and Maintenance of Plantation

Land Clearing
From jungle, rubber, coconut, oil palm areas Mechanised using Chipping of old oil palm stand for replanting bulldozers, chain saws Zero burning is emphasised environmental friendly If need to burn (e.g. disease) get permit from authority
Burning 6-8 weeks after felling

Plant with cover crop to avoid erosion

Land Preparation Schedule


Activities Under brushing/weed spraying Felling Chipping/stacking/partial burning (if applicable) Lining Road construction Terracing Drainage Planting Cover crop Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X

X X

Roads and Drains


Roads Good road system essential Road maintenance for easy transportation during development and subsequent operations Drains
Most needed in swampy and

low-lying areas
Weeds on road shoulders
Drainage system

and surface are maintained by chemical sprays

Lining
Lining after land clearing is completed Rows in North-South direction for max sunlight Planting distances
Inland soil (less fertile): 8.8m triangular (148 p/ha) Coastal soil (more fertile): 9.0m triangular (136 p/ha)

Biodiversity
Biodiversity and its conservation given attention in plantations:
conservation of flora and fauna

Oil palm palm plantations:


Rich in dicotyledons, monocotyledons, sedges, ferns and brackens, anthropods, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians

Plantation industry plays an important role in the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in the oil palm environment
Source: Khairudin Hashim et al., (2005)

Field Planting
Carried out at beginning of wet season Seedlings attained age of 11-14 months Planting holes prepared 2 weeks earlier 300g phosphate fertilizer applied in planting hole to promote root development Polybags removed before planting Planting holes filled-up and soil is firmed

Cover Crops
Objectives
To control erosion and nutrient losses To improve nutrient status from leguminous covers To stabilise soil moisture To improve soil structure and aeration To prevent weeds Mucuna spp.
Cover crop

Calopoganium mucunoides Pueraria phaseoloides Calopoganium caeruleum

2.8 kg/ha 2.3 kg/ha 0.6 kg/ha

Weed Control
Objectives
To be free of breeding ground of insect pests and agents of diseases To prevent competition between weeds and crop To facilitate loose fruit collections, fertilizer applications, control of pests and diseases

Weed Control Schedule


Age of palms (years) 01 23 46 7 10 > 10 Intervals between rounds (days) 30 45 60 90 120 No. of rounds per year 12 8 6 4 3

Maintenance of inter-rows, palm circles and low-lying areas


Should be free from noxious weeds, woody plants and their regenerations Palm circles are clean-weeded 1.5m radius All low-lying areas, planted or not, are to be maintained fairly clean:
Managing drainage system Breeding grounds for pests and diseases Hide-outs for mammalian pests, e.g. wild boars

Upkeep of Harvesting Paths


The path used by harvesters to access palms and evacuate crops Paths are alternate between planting row Paths are maintained to allow passage to harvesters Paths are maintained by chemical sprays

X = oil palm Harvesting path X Frond pile X X X X X X X Frond pile X X Harvesting path X X X X X Frond pile X X X X Harvesting path X

Harvesting Paths and Frond Piles

Frond pile

Frond Pruning
The removal of dead, old and drying fronds
Involves cutting, then stacked neatly in frond pile

Objectives
To facilitate weeding and fertilizer applications, especially in young palms To speed up harvesting collection of bunches To facilitate collection of loose fruits

Timing
First pruning 6 months before first harvest Progressive pruning during harvesting Annual pruning also carried out

Fertilizer Requirements
A major cost in plantation operation
Correct and timely application has impact on yield production and economic return Large quantity of N, P, K, Mg fertilizer requirements

Fertilizer recommendations
Depends on age of palm, soil type, field conditions Based on soil and foliar analyses

Fertilizers are applied within the palm circles

Fertilizer Application Schedule Young Palms


Fertilizer NPKMg SA MOP CIRP Kieserite Rate of application (kg/p/yr) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 6.0 6.5 3.0 3.0 1.75 1.0 Rounds/yr 4 2 1 1 1

Fertilizer Application Schedule Matured palms


SA MOP CIRP Kieserite 3.5 3.5 1.75 1.5
Fertilizer spreader

Fertilizer Rate of application (kg/p/yr) Rounds/yr 2 2 1 1

Nutrient Recycling 1
Empty fruit bunches (EFB)
EFB mulching

Fertilizer equivalent of 1 tonne EFB 8kg Urea, 2.9kg CIRP, 18.3kg MOP, 4.7kg Kieserite

Palm oil mill effluent (POME)


Fertilizer equivalent 360-5500 litres of POME 2-3kg Urea, 1.8-2.8kg CIRP, 1.5-2.2kg MOP, 2.3-3.5kg Kieserite

Nutrient Recycling 2
Pruned fronds
Fertilizer equivalent 1 tonne dried fronds 59.8kg Urea, 14kg CIRP, 39.8kg MOP, 27.8kg Kieserite

Palm residues (zero burning land-clearing)


Fertilizer equivalent of trunk and fronds per hectare 737.9kg Urea, 92.1kg CIRP, 707.1kg MOP, 281.4kg Kieserite

Pests and Disease


Pests
Bagworm

Bagworms and nettle caterpillars


Controls: IPM, trichlorfon, Bacillus thurigiensis (bacteria)

Rhinoceros beetle

Rhinoceros beetle
Controls: carbofuran, pheromone traps, Metarhizium (fungus)
Control of rhinoceros beetle using Metarhizium Cassia cobanensis

Disease
Ganoderma BSR

Parasitoid

Controls: avoidance/ sanitation, surgery, hexaconazole, tolerant palms

Ganoderma

Harvesting
Starts bearing at 2 to 3 years after field planting
Harvest when some, say 2 loose fruits on the ground

Harvesting schedule
2 3 times a month (10 to 15 day round in a month) 7 am to 12 noon

Harvesting tools
Chisel for young palms Sickle for older palms

Harvesting
Locate ripe bunches Remove obstructing fronds Harvest FFB Pruned fronds stacked neatly in frond pile Bunch stalk cut to at least 2.5cm Loose fruits collection, put in sacks Evacuate FFB and loose fruits to platform by the roadside

Harvesting
For high oil in bunches
No unripe bunches harvested (zero unripeness policy) No ripe bunches left unharvested Minimise damage to fruits
during harvesting, loading, transportation

Minimise contamination by earth and soil Keep bunch stalk as short as possible stalks absorb oil in milling process

Transportation of FFB
Palm

Platform

Ramp

Mill

From palms to platforms manual, wheel-barrow, bicycles, buffaloes, motorcycle-trailer, mini tractors, etc. From platforms to ramp by tractors on the same day From ramp to mill by lories either on the same day or the following day

Tractor and grabber used by plantations

Motorcycle-trailer used by smallholders

Cost of Production
Cost item General upkeep Fertilizers Harvesting & transportation Maintenance & supervision Depreciation & maintenance of facilities R&D and advisory Others % of total cost Approx. range (%) 12 22 34 10 3 1 18 8 16 12 32 22 46 7 13 1 15 Wide 1 27

Cost of Production (estimates)


Immature palms Cost items 1st year (RM/ha) 70% 20% 10% 4,800 2nd year (RM/ha) 65% 35% 2,600 3rd year (RM/ha) 50% 50% 2,400 Mature palms (RM/ha) 10% 50% 20% 20% 2,500 (RM/ tonne FFB) 15% 45% 20% 20% 300

Non-recurrent Costs Upkeep and Cultivation Fertilizer Harvesting FFB Transportation Total
USD1 = RM3.3

Conclusions
Oil palm is the highest oil-bearing plant Main products are PO and PKO Important factors in OP cultivation
Suitable land High yielding planting materials/ clones Labour Mechanization

Conclusions
Oil palm cultivation and yield production in environmental friendly manner:
Biodiversity Conservation of riparian areas, slopes, swamps Zero-burning Recycling of biomass Soil conservation Use of leguminous covers crops Integrated pest management (IPM)

Plantations adopt
Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Codes of Practice (COP)

Terima Kasih
kushairi@mpob.gov.my

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