Management of soil water retentation through use of organic materials for enhancing performance of oil palms on inland soils

Lim K.H., . and Chuah J.H., . and Ho C.Y., . (1997) Management of soil water retentation through use of organic materials for enhancing performance of oil palms on inland soils. [Proceedings Paper]

The clayey coastal soils in Peninsular Malaysia generally support high oil palm yields due mainly to their high water holding capacity and groundwater table. However increasing hectares of oil palm will be planted on poorer soils with sub-optimal soil moisture regime as a result of rapid conversion of rubber areas in the country. To investigate on ways to improve availability of soil moisture for enhancing palm performance a number of trials were carried out through applications of large amount of organic materials biomass from the oil palm system namely palm trunk chips PTC empty fruit bunches EFB and palm oil mill effluent POME through surface and sub-surface planting hole treatments. It was found that buried PTC EFB and POME sludge cake greatly enhance growth of immature palms grown on a poorly structured Kedah soil series. Surface mulching with palm trunk chips about 200 kg/palm was found to give better growth than mulching using EFB at the same rate. This is due to the slower breakdown of the trunk chips compared with EFB resulting in a longer water conserving effect. Application of treated POME through a flatbed system significantly increased organic matter content and water holding capacity of the soil. Cost of mulching immature palms with the in-situ trunk chippings was estimated to be about 50 lower than EFB mulching mainly due to saving in transportation cost of EFB from the palm oil mill to the application site.

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Abstract

The clayey coastal soils in Peninsular Malaysia generally support high oil palm yields due mainly to their high water holding capacity and groundwater table. However increasing hectares of oil palm will be planted on poorer soils with sub-optimal soil moisture regime as a result of rapid conversion of rubber areas in the country. To investigate on ways to improve availability of soil moisture for enhancing palm performance a number of trials were carried out through applications of large amount of organic materials biomass from the oil palm system namely palm trunk chips PTC empty fruit bunches EFB and palm oil mill effluent POME through surface and sub-surface planting hole treatments. It was found that buried PTC EFB and POME sludge cake greatly enhance growth of immature palms grown on a poorly structured Kedah soil series. Surface mulching with palm trunk chips about 200 kg/palm was found to give better growth than mulching using EFB at the same rate. This is due to the slower breakdown of the trunk chips compared with EFB resulting in a longer water conserving effect. Application of treated POME through a flatbed system significantly increased organic matter content and water holding capacity of the soil. Cost of mulching immature palms with the in-situ trunk chippings was estimated to be about 50 lower than EFB mulching mainly due to saving in transportation cost of EFB from the palm oil mill to the application site.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
AGROVOC Term:	ELAEIS GUINEENSIS
AGROVOC Term:	OIL PALMS
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL WATER RETENTION
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL STABILIZATION
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL AMENDMENTS
AGROVOC Term:	ORGANIC MATTER
AGROVOC Term:	ORGANIC WASTES
AGROVOC Term:	BIOMASS
AGROVOC Term:	PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16195

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