First results from an oil palm clone x fertiliser trial.
1996
Donough C.R. | Corley R.H.V. | Law I.H. | Ng M.
An experiment was established in 1982 to see if different clones would respond differently to nitrogen (N) fertiliser. There were differences in the amount of N fertiliser needed to maximise fresh fruit bunch (FFB), oil and kernel yields in the four different clones used. This is an important aspect to consider in the cost-effectiveness of different clones. One clone 54A, was derived from an ortet selected for high FFB yield on low N input in a fertiliser trial. This clone yielded better than the others in zero-N plots and showed good response to N. This raises the possibility of producing clonal material requiring lower fertiliser inputs. Progeny trials designed to allow superimposition of fertiliser treatments will allow this idea to be tested further. Increasing N fertiliser rates reduced oil to bunch (O/B) ratio. The effect was not enough to offset the strong positive response of FFB yield, so oil yield also responded positively. Kernel to bunch (K/B) ratio was increased by N fertiliser. These changes in O/B and K/B resulted from a reduction in mesocarp content in favour of kernel with increasing N fertiliser. There were significant clonal differences in leaf content of nutrients. This, and the observed clonal differences in response to N fertiliser, indicate that fertiliser inputs may have to be clone-specific to maximise yields if clones are commercially planted in future. Experiments such as the one reported here will be increasingly important as more outstanding clones suitable for commercial planting become available.
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