First things first: Widespread nutrient deficiencies limit yields in smallholder oil palm fields

• Autores: Sugianto, Hendra; Monzon, Juan Pablo; Pradiko, Iput; Tenorio, Fatima A.; Lim, Ya Li; Donough, Christopher R.; Rahutomo, Suroso; Agus, Fahmuddin; Cock, James; Amsar, Joni; Farrasati, Rana; Iskandar, Ridho; Rattalino Edreira, Juan Ignacio; Saleh, Shofia; Santoso, Heri; Tito, Antonius P.; Ulfaria, Nadib; Slingerland, Maja A.; Grassini, Patricio
• Año de publicación: 2023
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: oil palm
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

CONTEXT Indonesia is the most important oil palm producing country. Nearly 40% of planted area is managed by smallholders, with yields well below the potential. Efforts to increase productivity have focused on the source of planting material, with little attention paid to plant nutrition. OBJECTIVE To assess the degree to which current productivity in smallholder oil palm fields is limited by nutrients in scenarios with distinct sources of planting material. METHODS We collected detailed data on leaf nutrient concentration from 30 fields to derive minimum sampling size needed to diagnose nutrient status. Subsequently, we collected data on yield and palm type from 973 smallholder fields to assess the importance of nutrient status and planting material in the determination of yield. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Potassium (K) deficiency was widespread (88% of fields) and often severe. Nearly two thirds of fields were also deficient for nitrogen (N) and boron (B), half were phosphorous (P) deficient, and one third were magnesium (Mg) deficient. Nutrient imbalances, especially between K and N, were also common. Fields with sufficient N, P, and K levels yielded 47% more (equivalent to 1.2 t oil ha−1) than deficient fields across the entire range of planting materials. We conclude that improved plant nutrition increases fresh fruit yields in smallholder fields irrespective of the source of planting material. The advantage of certified planting material is reflected in the higher oil extraction rates. SIGNIFICANCE Increased smallholder oil palm yields on existing plantations through improved plant nutrition offers the opportunity to improve smallholder profits and livelihoods, whilst at the same time increasing total oil production without bringing new areas into cultivation.
Fil: Sugianto, Hendra. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos
Fil: Monzon, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos
Fil: Pradiko, Iput. Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute; Indonesia
Fil: Tenorio, Fatima A.. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos
Fil: Lim, Ya Li. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos
Fil: Donough, Christopher R.. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos
Fil: Rahutomo, Suroso. Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute; Indonesia
Fil: Agus, Fahmuddin. Research Center for Horticultural and Estate Crops; Indonesia
Fil: Cock, James. No especifíca;
Fil: Amsar, Joni. No especifíca;
Fil: Farrasati, Rana. Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute; Indonesia
Fil: Iskandar, Ridho. No especifíca;
Fil: Rattalino Edreira, Juan Ignacio. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Saleh, Shofia. World Resources Institute-Indonesia; Indonesia
Fil: Santoso, Heri. Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute; Indonesia
Fil: Tito, Antonius P.. No especifíca;
Fil: Ulfaria, Nadib. No especifíca;
Fil: Slingerland, Maja A.. University of Agriculture Wageningen; Países Bajos
Fil: Grassini, Patricio. Universidad de Nebraska - Lincoln; Estados Unidos