You are on page 1of 47

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF

OIL PALM ON PEAT


UPBS Experience

SCOPE
Characteristics and classification
of peat
Constraints to oil palm cultivation
New plantings from jungle
Compaction of the peat
Replanting from oil palm
Planting density
Mechanisation

Nutrition
Drainage & water management
Susidence
FFB collection
Pests & diseases
Yield potential
Costings

Peat Hectarage in UPB


Shallow peat
(upto 1 m deep)

730 ha

Moderately deep peat


(1-2 m deep)

470 ha

Deep peat
(> 2 m deep)
Total

4,280 ha

5,480 ha

Classification of Peat
Criteria used include depth of organic layer, ash content, nature of
subsoil, salinity of ground water and stage of decomposition.
For tree crops like oil palm, depth of the organic layer is the most
important factor.
Shallow Peat

< 1 m deep

Moderately Deep Peat -

1-2 m deep

Deep Peat

> 2m deep

Constraints to Oil Palm Cultivation on Deep Peat

Low Bulk Density


- Subsidence & shrinkage of the peat
- Root exposure
- Leaning and lodging of palms
- Movements and access to palms difficult

High Amounts of Undecomposed Timber and Air-pockets in Profile

Low Nutrient Content

High Acidity

High Infrastructure Cost

Drainage and Watermanagement


- Good network of drains to remove excess water
- Watertable management

Pest and Disease Problems


- Termites and ganoderma are a major problem

Irreversible Drying of Peat


However, considerable progress has been made in United Plantations Berhad since the 1980s in overcoming most of
these problems and today yields comparable to good mineral soils are obtainable on deep peat.

FFB Yields of the Early Oil Palm Plantings on Deep


Peat in United Plantations Berhad
Year from Planting
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th

FFB Yield (t/ha.)


11.4
12.8
17.1
16.6
15.7
13.9
13.0
12.6
11.8
11.4
10.2
7.8

New Planting from Jungle


Sequence of Work in the Reclamation of Peat Swamps
for Oil Palm
Step 1

Construction of Perimeter Drain and Bund

Step 2

Construction of Main Drains

Step 3

Felling of Jungle

Step 4

Pruning of branches and windrowing of biomass

Step 5

Preparation of Field Roads, Secondary and


Field Drains

Step 6

Step 7

Compaction of the Peat (Planting Rows and


Harvesting Paths)
Planting

Perimeter Bund and Main Outlet Drains

Perimeter Drain & Bund

Bund & Watergate

Bund

New Plantings From Jungle

Compaction of the Peat

Excavator Compacting the Peat

Planting

Compacted Avenue

Effect of Compaction of the Peat on Bulk Density and


on Palm Performance
(Dec. 1980 Planting)
Parameters
Soil
Bulk Density (Gm/cc)
Yield
FFB (t/ha) (Jan.-Dec.85)
Av. Bunch Wt. (Kg.)
(Dec.85-Feb.86)

Uncompacted
Peat

Compacted
Peat

0.11

0.20

21.7
7.3

27.6
8.7

Replanting From Oil Palm

Shredding

Planting Along
Windrowed Biomass

Holing

Planting Along
Drain Side

Drain Dimensions
In Metres
Main Drains
Collection Drains
Field Drains

Top

Bottom

Depth

5.0
2.5
1.2

2.0
1.0
0.6

2.0
1.5
1.0

Nursery and Seedling Transport

Nursery on Peat
Soil Medium
1st choice
2nd choice
3rd choice
4th choice

Mineral Soil
Soil + Peat
Sand + Peat
Peat only
Soil

Peat

Sand

Peat Soil For Nursery


Remove larger pieces
of undecomposed
timber
Peat

Mix in Limestone dust,


Rock phosphate,
Copper and Zinc

- LSD, RP, Cu, Zn

+ LSD, RP, Cu, Zn

Planting Density
Shallow Peat
high & uniform rainfall areas 136 palms/ha.
low rainfall areas 148 palms/ha.
Moderately Deep
and Deep Peat

160 palms/ha.

Planting System
Compacted peat

planting at ground level

Uncompacted peat

hole-in-hole planting
160 PALMS/HA.

Young Plantings

Plant Nutrition
Nitrogen

There is an 8-15% response to N in the


early years, but with increased
mineralisation of the organic matter the
need for external N tends to decline with
age .
Commercially 0.5-1.5 kg. of urea/palm/year
is recommended

PHOSPHATE
For optimum growth and production phosphate is
essential. In trials a 20-40% response to P has
been obtained. It is applied as rock phosphate in
and around the planting hole at planting with
further annual dressings at 1.0-1.5 kg. per palm.
higher rates can reduce Cu uptake

Potassium
Peat is very deficient in K and large doses of potash are
required for optimum production. Usually 3-6 kg. of
MOP or its equivalent is required for mature palms.
Where bunch ash (40% K2O) is available, half the K is
applied as MOP and the other as bunch ash.

Copper
Cu is fundamental to the growth of oil palm on peat. Deficiency leads to
the condition known as mid-crown chlorosis. For proper establishment,
early application is essential. It is applied to the soil at planting with
further dressing at the end of the 1st and 2nd year. Thereafter, application
is based on leaf levels which should be maintained above 3 ppm and
closer to 5 ppm in frond 17

Zinc
Like Cu, Zn is also important in oil palm nutrition. Deficiency leads to the
condition known as peat yellows. Early application is recommended. The
method and rate being the same as Cu. Leaf levels in frond 17 should be
maintained above 12 ppm and closer to 15 ppm.
Replants are usually more prone to peat yellows. For rehabilitation, spraying
with ZnSO4 is necessary. Remission occurs within 3-6 months. In United
Plantations, spraying is done regularly over 4,000 ha., twice a year using a
fixed wing aircraft at 35 litres/ha. of a 18,000 ppm Zn solution.

Zinc

After Application

Before

After Application

Before

Aerial Application

Other Nutrients
Magnesium

No response obtained

Not commercially applied


except in cases of
imbalance due to very high
K application

Boron

Requirements similar to
mineral soils

Manganese & Iron

No response obtained

Nutrient imbalances N, K, B

Peat Acidity and Liming

PH of Peat 3.5
Liming is done in the first 2-3 years to correct acidity
and to promote better rooting.
Thereafter,
applications are made according to requirements.
Overliming can affect K uptake and micronutrient
availability. Where bunch ash is used routinely, lime
application can be reduced or eliminated

Water Management
Watertable Effect on Yield on Deep Peat
Watertable
Status

Water Level
(Mean for 8 Years)

FFBYield
(Mean for 8 Years)

Medium
Watertable
(Optimum)

80 cm
(21-165)

27.4 Tonnes (100%)

Low
Watertable

96 cm
(13-165)

23.1 Tonnes (84 %)

High Watertable

44 cm
(0-165)

23.3 Tonnes (85 %)

Subsidence
5-7 cm per year during initial years from jungle
clearing.
Thereafter, it settles down to around 2.5 cm per
year.

Leaning and Lodging of Palms

Irreversible Drying of Peat

Prevention
Avoid blanket weeding
Maintain ground vegetation
Maintain watertable at 60-80 cm

Water Holding Capacity of Different


Peat Conditions
Type of Peat

WHC
(Dry Weight Basis)

Virgin Jungle Peat


Irreversibly Dried Peat
Hard Clods

Jungle Peat

220 570 %
170 %
102 %

Irreversibly Dried Peat

Hard Clods

Road/Rail Infrastructure

FFB Collection and Transfer

Water Transport of FFB

Pest and Disease

Termites

Valanga

Oryctes

Proutista

Tirathaba

Ganoderma

Termites
Coptotermes curvignathus
Coptotermes sepangensis
Schedorhinotermes sarawakensis
Globitermes sulphures
Amiteres minor

Shallow
Peat

Deep
Peat

X
X

IPM

PROGRESS
PROGRESS IN OIL PALM YIELD ON DEEP PEAT
35

1990s Planting
1997 Planting

30

32
31

1999 Planting

29

28

28

28

27

27
26
25

25

25

25

24

28
26

25

24

24

FFB YIELD/HA

22
21
20

21

20

19

18
17

1980s Planting

17

16

15

16
14
13

13

13

11

12

11
10

10

1960s Planting
5

0
3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

AGE OF OIL PALM FIELD PLANTING

14th

15th

16th

17th

Biodiversity in Oil Palm Plantings on


Peat Soil in a Lower Perak Estate
PLANTS
Dicots
Monocots
Ferns, sedges and Brackens
ANIMALS
Arthropods
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Fish
MICRORGANISMS

No. of species
19
13
23

52
7
15
5
3
18

BIRDS

MAMMALS

REPTILES

Development and Immature Upkeep Cost


Development from Jungle (Year 0)
1. Jungle felling
2. Windrowing residual timber &
compaction of planting rows &
harvesting path
3. Drainage
4. Roads
5. Planting material & planting

RM/Ha.
355.00

960.00
380.00
300.00
1,020.00
3,015.00

First Year
1. LCC establishment & weeding
2. Manuring
3. Pest & disease
4. Upkeep roads, bridges & drains
5. Contingencies

RM/Ha.
450.00
850.00
150.00
50.00
50.00
1,550.00

Development and Immature Upkeep Cost


Second Year
Weeding
Manuring
Pest & Disease
Ablation
Pruning
Supplies
Upkeep roads, paths
& bridges
Upkeep drains
Contingencies

Third Year
RM/Ha.
250.00
1100.00
150.00
60.00
30.00
25.00
50.00

25.00
50.00
1740.00

Weeding
Manuring
Pruning
Pest & Disease
Supplying, census
& sundries
Upkeep drains
Contingencies

RM/Ha.
250.00
1200.00
40.00
100.00
10.00
50.00
50.00
1700.00

Development and Immature Upkeep Cost


Cumulative Cost to Maturity

Development
1st year
2nd year
3rd year
General charges
Total

RM/Ha.
3,015.00
1,550.00
1,740.00
1,700.00
2,500.00
10,505.00

Thank you

UP

You might also like