TT No. 347: Maximizing the potential of Posphate Fertilizers for Increasing Mature Oil Palm Yield
Malaysian soils, like most tropical soils, are highly weathered, acidic and inherently low in phosphorus (P) but with high P-fi xing capacities. High rates of P fertilizers are required to overcome the P-fi xation, mainly due to high Al and Fe oxides and hydroxides in the clay fraction (Ng, 1986). P is one of the major plant nutrients required for good growth and production of oil palm. Studies have shown that P has synergistic effects with nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) on oil palm yield. In oil palm fertilizer trials in Peninsular Malaysia, testing high rates of fertilizers, large responses to N and K fertilizers were obtained but the full responses were only obtained with adequate P fertilization (Foster et al., 1988). This article will serve as a guide to the importance of applying the optimum rates of P fertilizer together with N and K fertilizers and the technique used to maximize the potential of the P fertilizer to increase FFB yield in mature (7-20 years old) oil palm replants, particularly on inland and coastal soils of Malaysia.
Main Research: Dr. Zin Zawawi Zakaria