Oil Palm Seedling Production: Climatic Requirements, Soil Types - PDF

OIL PALM SEEDLING PRODUCTION BY DR. ELIZABETH TEMITOPE ALORI INTRODUCTION Palm oil is no longer a product of mere gathering by people who rely on rainforests for a living. Oil palm cultivation has turned into a lucrative and expanding business. Oil palm is the bes...

OIL PALM SEEDLING PRODUCTION BY DR. ELIZABETH TEMITOPE ALORI INTRODUCTION Palm oil is no longer a product of mere gathering by people who rely on rainforests for a living. Oil palm cultivation has turned into a lucrative and expanding business. Oil palm is the best oil-containing crop in terms of yield capacity. Growth and production of oil palm are popular in Nigeria, India, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Thailand, etc. Alongside Indonesia, vast oil palm plantations in Malaysia rank top among ECONOMIC GAIN FROM OIL PALM PRODUCTION In fact, the cost inputs during the first thirty months (prior to the first harvesting) are rewarded with up to 25 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per ha in mature trees. Plantations give about four tonnes of crude palm oil per ha, which is eight times more productive than sunflower oil yield Why Go into Oil Palm Plantations It yields well It sells well, too. The cultivation of the oil palm is spurred by the high demand for its product – palm oil, an ingredient of many daily-use items for multiple purposes. Indeed, its global production in plantations accounted only for 2 million metric tons in 1970. In the marketing year of 2020/2021, the figure jumped up to 72 million  The rise is explained with the expansion of its traditional applications in pharmaceutics, beauty, personal, and home care newly discovered possibilities from human nutrition to bioenergy technical use. Besides, kernel cake is suitable for cattle feeding, with high protein content and oil residues. Other extra agricultural benefits from Oil Palm Relatively high pest and weed resistance; Possibility of intercropping in cultivation; all-year-round harvesting in plantations; monthly income (during the fruit- bearing stage); absence of irrigation under sufficient rainfall condition. CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OIL PALM Subtropical and tropical latitudes, provide the best climate for the oil palm to thrive. stable-warm areas with sufficient soil moisture all year round. The optimal temperatures for the cultivation of oil palm are 30–32°C (86–89.6°F) for 80 days minimum. Temperatures below 20°C (68°F) and above 40°C (104°F) are critical for growing and adversely affect crop production  At least 5-6 hours of bright daily sunshine and 75-100% humidity. As for precipitations, the plant thrives under evenly distributed rainfalls of 2,500-4,000 mm per year. Under a lack or uneven distribution of rainfalls in plantations, it is necessary to ensure water supply with irrigation. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF OIL PALM Tree species, soil type, climatic conditions, oil palm plantation management, and cultivation practices. SPECIES OF OIL PALM The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) represents the Elaeis genus belonging to the Arecaceae family and originating from West Africa. There are three main crop types for cultivation in plantations: dura – with a thick shell (2-8 mm); pisifera – with no shell; tenera – a hybrid of the above two. Suitable Soils For Oil Palm Plantations The best soil types for the crop’s cultivation are loamy or alluvial well-drained earths: at least one meter deep for root development; rich in organic matter; with pH 4.0 to 6-8.0; SOIL CONDITIONS NOT GOOD having sufficient soil moisture. FOR OIL PALM PRODUCTION Soil salinization, alkalinization, or waterlogging are negative for oil palm tree growth. Since soil conditions matter, farmers are advised to perform soil testing to check area eparation Of Seeds In Oil Palm Cultivatio Oil palms for plantations are typically propagated with seeds taken from fruits. Seed treatment is a responsible stage in oil palm cultivation and management because improperly prepared seeds will germinate after a couple of years due to long dormancy time. Dried for about 2.5 months in stable hot rooms (40°C) and soaked for 4-5 days in daily changed water, seeds are supposed to germinate in about 12 days (3-3.5 months after extraction).  Immediately after germination, sprouts are planted into plastic (polyethylene) bags or containers with equal ratios of topsoil, sand, and properly decomposed cattle manure. Sprouts for cultivation remain in the bags for about 4-5 months (until they develop a bifid leaf). Then, bifid-leaved sprouts continue in a plantation nursery, where they grow further for about a year. Finally, seedlings with about twelve- fifteen leaves and at least one meter high are mature enough and ready for growing in palm oil plantations. DIFFERENT PRODUCTION /AREA OF VALUE CHAIN IN OIL PALM Seed production Sprouted nut Seedling production Oil palm plantation Oil production