Density effects in the oil palm.
1992
Rao V. | Rajanaidu N. | Kushairi A. | Jalani S.
The first and most obvious effect of close spacing the oil palm to a point where mutual shading occurs is an increase in frond length. This is followed by a drop in the rate of frond production. The size of leaflets may increase especially their width but their number in each frond is unchanged. Similarly petiole width and depth are not influenced. Closely spaced palms are etiolated. There is drastic reduction in FFB yield with increasing density due to reduced bunch number, because of lower production of female inflorescences and their preferential abortion and, at high densities, reduced bunch weight from fewer, smaller spikelets. There is a slight increase in male inflorescence production. Pollination is better at higher densities giving higher oil and especially kernel content in the bunch. There is an increase in linoleic acid at the expense of oleic acid in the oil from palms at high densities.
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