Darby;s experiences in water management of coastal soils for oil palms

Chuah Joo Hor, . and Lim Kim Huan, . and Khoo Kee Meng, . and Ho Chai Yee, . (1993) Darby;s experiences in water management of coastal soils for oil palms. [Proceedings Paper]

Sime Darby;s coastal oil palm estates are situated along the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A large part of these coastal soils are acid sulphate in nature with fluctuating water-table depending on rainfall tidal influence elevation and DID;s activities. In a coastal estate in Perak where the water table is generally high throughout the year but without problem of flooding an average yield of about 30 tonnes fresh fruit bunches /ha/annum has been achieved. In some Sime Darby;s Selangor coastal estates situated within the Barat Laut Drainage Project an over-drained situation is created due to construction of several deep DID drains across the estates. High acidity due to the oxidation of the acid sulphate soils and soil cracking during dry seasons resulted in significantly lower oil palm yields. DID is now aware of this over-drainage problem and is assisting by more timely closing and opening of DID watergates thus improving the water levels and restoring oil palm yields. In an estate located in the Krian District in Perak silting up of the river bed and DID;s project on irrigating the surrounding padi fields have resulted in severe flooding lasting about 3-4 months annually during rainy seasons. Poor drainage and frequent flooding hindered palm growth harvesting and collection of fruit bunches resulting in lower yields. An effective bund system aroung the estates coupled with several flood pumps are needed to minimise these problems. The DID in this case has assisted by desilting/degrassing the canals more regularly thus minimising the adverse effects of the annual flooding. In another estate in Selangor which is also subjected to annual flooding DID has assisted by constructing a drain and watergate to minimise the problem. The paper reports the various approaches of water management on coastal soils practised by Sime Darby Plantations and discusses how DID;s involvement/cooperation could further improve them.

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Abstract

Sime Darby;s coastal oil palm estates are situated along the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A large part of these coastal soils are acid sulphate in nature with fluctuating water-table depending on rainfall tidal influence elevation and DID;s activities. In a coastal estate in Perak where the water table is generally high throughout the year but without problem of flooding an average yield of about 30 tonnes fresh fruit bunches /ha/annum has been achieved. In some Sime Darby;s Selangor coastal estates situated within the Barat Laut Drainage Project an over-drained situation is created due to construction of several deep DID drains across the estates. High acidity due to the oxidation of the acid sulphate soils and soil cracking during dry seasons resulted in significantly lower oil palm yields. DID is now aware of this over-drainage problem and is assisting by more timely closing and opening of DID watergates thus improving the water levels and restoring oil palm yields. In an estate located in the Krian District in Perak silting up of the river bed and DID;s project on irrigating the surrounding padi fields have resulted in severe flooding lasting about 3-4 months annually during rainy seasons. Poor drainage and frequent flooding hindered palm growth harvesting and collection of fruit bunches resulting in lower yields. An effective bund system aroung the estates coupled with several flood pumps are needed to minimise these problems. The DID in this case has assisted by desilting/degrassing the canals more regularly thus minimising the adverse effects of the annual flooding. In another estate in Selangor which is also subjected to annual flooding DID has assisted by constructing a drain and watergate to minimise the problem. The paper reports the various approaches of water management on coastal soils practised by Sime Darby Plantations and discusses how DID;s involvement/cooperation could further improve them.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. S494.5 W3N277 1993 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	Coastal soils
AGROVOC Term:	Oil palm
AGROVOC Term:	Acid sulphate soils
AGROVOC Term:	Rainfall
AGROVOC Term:	Water management
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11670

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