Report on the mission to PRESCO oil palm estates (Nigeria), 4 to 10 December 2006
In mineral nutrition trial PR CP 01, the absence of any response of palm yields to potassium chloride applications is confirmed. For leaf contents, a significant palm response to KCI applications is confirmed, but it remains low and limited to a range of contents probably compressed by the pressure of calcium contents. Upkeep in density trial PR CP 02 is very good, with uniform young palm growth. However there was substantial damage caused by grasscutter attacks in 2006, meaning that numerous replacements will have to be made in 2007. In order to protect the replacement palms from grasscutters, the most vigorous nursery plants will have to be planted and surrounded by wire or bamboo guards. At Obaretin, the plots fertilized with EFB are performing just as well (leaf contents and yields) as the plots fertilized with potassium chloride. At Cowan and Obaretin, leaf K contents remain stable, at generally satisfactory levels compared to trial PR CP 01. In 2006, the recommended mineral fertilization was effectively applied, but over too long a period: from February to November. For 2007 the time will have to be shortened (e.g. March to September). 12-12-17-2 compound fertilizer has been confirmed as the right fertilizer for immature palms, whilst the MOP fertilizer schedule for adult palms has been revised downwards, to take into account the relatively low sensitivity of the oil palms to potassium nutrition seen in reference trial PR CP 01, and in the commercial plots. For three years now, substantial savings have been made in potassium fertilizer on mature palms, for an identical yield potential, thanks to the results obtained in trial PR CP 01. The soil profiles observed at Ologbo show high compaction of the upper horizons right from the beginning of the dry season, which explains why the young palms at Cowan and Obaretin are already showing water stress symptoms, one month after the start of the dry season.
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Format: | monograph biblioteca |
Language: | eng |
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CIRAD-PERSYST
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Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/538181/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/538181/1/ID538181.pdf |
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