Report on the mission to GOPDC oil palm estates (Ghana), 10 to 15 December 2006

Organic fertilization experiment GH ES 02 has produced 10.3 tonnes FFB/ha on average in the fourth year after planting: an excellent result, with a slight advantage for the Flanamat treatments, without any effect of split applications. The protocol will be modified in 2007 (urea will become the control without fertilizers, and PKC will be replaced by Sulpomag), keeping the same statistical design. In trial GH ES 03, testing Sulpomag natural mineral fertilizer, young palm growth is excellent and uniform, without any treatment effects for the moment, in a particularly suitable zone: fertile soils, in a wide valley bottom not liable to flooding. The first leaf analysis showed good K uptake by the young palms from Sulpomag, along with good Cl uptake from NaCl. Two new trials are to be set up in 2007: - GH CP 03 at Kwae, testing gypsum application techniques and subsoiling before planting to improve unsuitable soils on slopes. - GH ES 04 at Okumaning, testing increasing Flanamat rates on young palms, given that Flanamat has proved its good quality as a fertilizer in trial GH ES 02. Half of the replicates will be planted in a valley bottom, the other half on a slope. In the Nucleus, 719 ha of old palms have been felled in 2006, 234 ha of which have been replanted, the second phase of replanting involving 485 ha is scheduled for 2007. 703 ha of Nucleus extension taken from former smallholder plots were planted in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Immature palm growth there has been retarded by poor soil quality and low rainfall, combined with too infrequent upkeep. At Okumaning, there has not been any replanting in 2006. 119 ha are scheduled to be planted in 2007. Manual eradication of Panicum is well under way in the 2002 and 2003 plantings. Upkeep frequency in the weeded circles is generally still below requirements. The Outgrowers have still not received any fertilizers in 2006. K contents are continuing to fall regularly. Flanamat is proving to be a good fertilizer on young oil palms. The logistics of transporting large volumes of Flanamat need to be ensured (4 to 5 times more than KCI, for the same K content), so that all the palms receive the complete recommended rate. NaCl should be applied to palms with a chlorine deficiency in hilly zones.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Bonneau, Xavier
Format:	monograph biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	CIRAD-PERSYST
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/538185/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/538185/1/ID538185.pdf
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