To maintain good productivity, oil palm as a perennial plantation crop has a high requirement for major nutrients. However, in practice P fertilizers are applied in much smaller amounts relative to other nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. With the current planting of high yielding palms, improved agro-management practices, and increase in the use of N and K fertilizers, the requirements for P nutrient is increasing. This is more important in new areas being developed for oil palm cultivation particularly where inherent soil P is low.

Main Researcher: Zin Z. Zakaria