The oil palm industry is experiencing a chronic labour shortage, and is therefore trying to mechanize its operations. Field transport of harvested fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to the roadside for collection, fertilizer application and pesticide spraying are all operations that can be mechanized. Weed control is one of the major tasks in the plantation requiring […]

Volunteer oil palm seedlings (VOPs) are becoming a serious weed problem in oil palm plantations, especially in newly replanted and mature areas. Uncontrolled VOPs will hinder fi eld operations such as harvesting, collection of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and fertilizer application. This article reports on use of glyphosate monoammonium and other herbicides for controlling VOPs. […]

Basal stem rot (BSR) caused by some species of Ganoderma, is the most destructive disease of oil palm in Southeast Asia (Turner and Gillbanks, 2003). The disease can infect oil palm at all stages of its growth. Infected, immature palms normally die within 6-24 months of the first foliar symptoms, while mature palms may survive […]

The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. major is highly effective in controlling the rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros. It has been mass produced and formulated into a powder bio insecticide (Ramle et al., 2006), and field application of it to rotting oil palm residues significantly reduced the larvae, pre-pupa and pupae populations of the insect (Ramle et […]

Bagworm control with broad-spectrum contact insecticides has often disrupted the balance between the insect and its natural enemies – its predators, parasitoids and microbial pathogens. Most chemical insecticides also affect non-target organisms, and their residues often persist in the environment. The insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are very target specific. Active ingredients of Bt […]