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Download: [http://intothefield.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Module-4-3rd-edition-2016-08.pdf Module 4: Fertiliser Application]
===Background===
Fertilisers can make up 60 percent of the total costs of producing palm oil so it is important to apply fertilisers efficiently.
Different fertilisers have different concentrations of nutrients. To know how much fertiliser to apply, it is necessary to know the nutrient concentration of the fertiliser (see Table 3).
<font color="#72CDFF>Table 3: Nutrient content of the most important fertilisers</font>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" | Fertiliser
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" | Nutrient content (%)
|-
|colspan="2"|'''Nitrogen (N)'''
|-
|Urea
|46
|-
|Ammonium nitrate (AN)
|34
|-
|Sulphate of ammonium
|20.6
|-
|colspan="2"|'''Phosphorus (P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>)'''
|-
|Triple super phosphate (TSP)
|45—47
|-
|Rock phosphate (RP)
|30—34
|-
|Diammonium phosphate (DAP)
|46
|-
|SP-36 (Indonesia)
|36
|-
|colspan="2"|'''Potassium (K<sub>2</sub>O)'''
|-
|Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl)
|60
|-
|colspan="2"|'''Magnesium (MgO)'''
|-
|Kieserite
|26
|-
|Dolomite
|10—18
|-
|Langbeinite
|18
|}
===General fertiliser recommendations===
In Table 4 to Table 7, general recommended fertiliser application rates are shown. Recommendations depend on palm age and current yields and include:
* Mature palms on mineral soils (see Table 4) <ref name="field handbook3">I.R. Rankine, T.H. Fairhurst, Field Handbook: Oil Palm Series, Volume 3 – Mature, second ed., Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), Singapore, 1999.</ref>;
* Mature palms on peat soils (see Table 5);
* Immature palms on mineral soils (see Table 6);
* Immature palms on peat soils (see Table 7) <ref>H.R.v. Uexküll, T. Fairhurst, Fertilizing for High Yield and Quality. The Oil Palm, IPI Bulletin, 12 (1991) 1—77.</ref>.
If you are not certain about how much fertiliser to apply, the tables below can be used as a guide. Recommended doses should give a good yield in most circumstances, but it is important to get local information and not to rely on the tables only.
<font color="#72CDFF>Table 4: Fertiliser recommendations for mature palms (> 3 years after planting) in mineral soils, in kilo per palm per year. FFB = fresh fruit bunches</font>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2" | Fertiliser type
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" colspan="2" | Recommendation (kilo per palm per year)
|-
|style="background:#efefef;" |Yield: 18—24 t/year FFB
|style="background:#efefef;" |Yield: > 24 t/year FFB
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Nitrogen* <ref name="field handbook3" />'''
|-
|Urea
|1.2 – 1.5
|1.5 – 2.0
|-
|Ammonium nitrate
|1.6 – 2.0
|2.0 – 3.0
|-
|Sulphate of ammonium
|2.4 – 3.0
|3.0 – 4.0
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Phosphorus** <ref name="field handbook3" />'''
|-
|Triple super phosphate
|0.5 – 0.8
|0.8 – 1.2
|-
|Rock phosphate
|1.0 – 1.5
|1.5 – 2.0
|-
|Diammonium phosphate
|0.5 – 0.8
|0.8 – 1.2
|-
|SP-36 (Indonesia)
|0.6 – 1.0
|1.0 – 1.5
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Potassium <ref name="field handbook3" />'''
|-
|Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl)
|1.8—2.5
|2.5—3.0
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Magnesium <ref>I. Rankine, T.H. Fairhurst, Management of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in mature oil palm, Better Crops International, 13 (1999) 6.</ref>'''
|-
|Kieserite
|0.5—1.0
|1.0—1.2
|-
|Dolomite
|1.0—1.5
|1.5—2.0
|-
|Langbeinite
|1.0—1.5
|1.5—2.0
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Boron'''
|-
|Borax
|0.05—0.1
|0.05—0.1
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Young mature palms (4—6 years after planting) need 50—100 percent more N than the amounts given here, to develop a large and healthy canopy. <br>
<nowiki>**</nowiki> Tropical soils are often very poor in P so the application of extra P is beneficial.
<font color="#72CDFF>Table 5: Fertiliser recommendations for mature palms (> 3 years after planting) in peat soils, in kilo per palm per year. FFB = fresh fruit bunches.</font>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2" | Fertiliser type
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" colspan="2" | Recommendation (kilo per palm per year)
|-
|style="background:#efefef;" |Yield: 18—24 t/year FFB
|style="background:#efefef;" |Yield: > 24 t/year FFB
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Nitrogen <ref>I. Comte, F. Colin, J.K. Whalen, O. Grunberger, J.P. Caliman, Agricultural practices in oil palm plantations and their impact on hydrological changes, nutrient fluxes and water quality in Indonesia: a review., Advances in Agronomy, Vol 116, 116 (2012) 71—124.</ref>'''
|-
|Urea
|1.2—1.5
|1.5—2.0
|-
|Ammonium nitrate
|1.6—2.0
|2.0—3.0
|-
|Sulphate of ammonium
|2.4—3.0
|3.0—4.0
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Phosphorus* <ref>Gurmit Singh, Sustainable development of oil palm on peat – UPB’S Experience, in.</ref>'''
|-
|Rock phosphate
|1.0—1.5
|1.5—2.0
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Potassium** <ref>K.H. Lim, S.S. Lim, F. Parish, R. Suharto, RSPO Manual on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Existing Oil Palm Cultivation on Peat., RSPO, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2012.</ref>'''
|-
|Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl)
|2.5—3.0
|3.0—4.0
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Magnesium*** <ref>E. Mutert, T.H. Fairhurst, H.R.v. Uexküll, Agronomic Management of Oil Palms on Deep Peat, Better Crops International, 13 (1999) 22-27.</ref>'''
|-
|Kieserite
|0—0.5
|0—0.5
|-
|Dolomite
|0—1.0
|0—1.0
|-
|Langbeinite
|0—0.8
|0—0.8
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Boron'''
|-
|Borax
|0.05—0.1
|0.05—0.1
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Copper'''
|-
|Copper sulfate (CuSO<sub>4</sub>)
|0.1—0.2
|0.2—0.4
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Zinc'''
|-
|Zinc sulfate (ZnSO<sub>4</sub>)
|0.1—0.2
|0.2—0.4
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> To reduce the soil acidity it is best to apply phosphorus as rock phosphate. <br>
<nowiki>**</nowiki> On peat, a K to N ratio of > 3 is needed, so it is best to apply three times more K<sub>2</sub>O than N. <br>
<nowiki>***</nowiki> Mg application on peat is usually needed only when deficiency symptoms are observed.
<font color="#72CDFF>Table 6: Fertiliser recommendations for immature palms (1—3 years after planting) in mineral soils, in kilo per palm per year. </font>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="3" | Fertiliser type
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" colspan="3" | Recommendation (kilo per palm per year)<ref name="field handbook2"> I. Rankine, T. Fairhurst, Field Handbook: Oil Palm Series, Volume 2 – Immature, second ed., Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), Singapore, 1999.</ref>
|-
|style="background:#efefef;" colspan="3" align="center"|Years after planting:
|-
|style="background:#efefef;" align="center" |1
|style="background:#efefef;" align="center" |2
|style="background:#efefef;" align="center" |3
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Nitrogen'''
|-
|Urea
|0.6—1.0
|1.3—1.7
|1.3—2.2
|-
|Ammonium nitrate
|0.8—1.5
|1.7—2.4
|1.7—2.9
|-
|Sulphate of ammonium
|1.2—2.0
|2.6—3.4
|2.6—4.4
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Phosphorus'''
|-
|Triple super phosphate
|0.6—1.1
|0.8—1.3
|1.0—1.5
|-
|Rock phosphate
|0.9—1.5
|1.2—1.9
|1.5—2.2
|-
|Diammonium phosphate
|0.6—1.1
|0.8—1.3
|1.0—1.5
|-
|SP-36 (Indonesia)
|0.8—1.4
|1.0—1.6
|1.3—1.8
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Potassium'''
|-
|Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl)
|0.8—1.3*
|2.5—3.5**
|2.5—3.5
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Magnesium'''
|-
|Kieserite
|0.7—1.1***
|0.7—1.5***
|0.7—1.5
|-
|Dolomite
|1.4—2.1
|1.4—2.8
|1.4—2.8
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Boron'''
|-
|Borax
|0.05
|0.10
|0.10
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> 0.5 kg/palm on coastal clays and K-rich volcanic soils. <br>
<nowiki>**</nowiki> 2.0 kg/palm on coastal clays and K-rich volcanic soils. <br>
<nowiki>***</nowiki> No application needed on coastal clay soils.
<font color="#72CDFF>Table 7: Fertiliser recommendations for immature palms (1—3 years after planting) in peat soils, in kilo per palm per year.</font>
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="3" | Fertiliser type
! width="25%" style="background:#efefef;" colspan="3" | Recommendation (kilo per palm per year)<ref name="field handbook2/>
|-
|style="background:#efefef;" colspan="3" align="center"|Years after planting:
|-
|style="background:#efefef;" align="center" |1
|style="background:#efefef;" align="center" |2
|style="background:#efefef;" align="center" |3
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Nitrogen'''
|-
|Urea
|0.8
|0.8
|1.5
|-
|Ammonium nitrate
|1.2
|2.0
|2.0
|-
|Sulphate of ammonium
|1.6
|1.6
|3.0
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Phosphorus'''
|-
|Rock phosphate*
|1.1
|1.4
|1.7
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Potassium'''
|-
|Muriate of potash (MOP, KCl)
|1.6
|2.5
|4.0
|-
|'''Magnesium'''
|Not needed
|Not needed
|Not needed
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Boron'''
|-
|Borax
|0.05
|0.10
|0.10
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Copper'''
|-
|CuSO<sub>4</sub>
|0.1—0.2
|0.05—0.1
|0.05—0.1
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Zinc'''
|-
|ZnSO<sub>4</sub>
|0.1—0.2
|0.05—0.1
|0.05—0.1
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> To reduce soil acidity it is best to apply phosphorus as rock phosphate.
===Exceptionally rich soils===
On almost all mineral soils found in Indonesia, the application of N and P is required. However, there are some special soils which are very rich in K and/or Mg, and in these soils the application of K and/or Mg fertilisers is not required, or only required in small quantities. There are no exceptionally rich peat soils.
If soil analysis has not been carried out, then the presence of exceptionally rich soils in the plantation needs to be deduced from other factors. The following steps can be followed:
{| style="border: 1px solid #72CDFF" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|width="15%" valign="top"|'''Step 1.'''
|Discuss with the farmers in the plantation area about their manuring practices.
|-
|width="15%" valign="top" style="background:#f0f8ff;" |'''Step 2.'''
|style="background:#f0f8ff;" |Visit a number of plantations in the area which have been manured poorly and check for the presence of deficiency symptoms (Section 4) in the lower leaves:
* Potassium deficiencies are very commonly observed and indicate that sufficient application of K fertilisers is likely to be required on the soil type in the plantation area.
* Magnesium deficiencies are less commonly observed, but can still be found regularly in poorly manured plantations or in palms planted on eroded slopes. Presence of Mg deficiency symptoms indicates that Mg fertiliser application is likely to be required on the soil type in the plantation area.
* Boron deficiencies are commonly observed and the application of B fertilisers is usually required.
|-
|width="15%" valign="top"|'''Step 3.'''
|In case of doubt, check the number of black bunches in the plantations, as well as the bunch size, and discuss the yields of the plantations with the farmers. The presence of leaf deficiency symptoms in combination with poor yields is a good indicator that application of sufficient fertiliser is required.
|-
|width="15%" valign="top" style="background:#f0f8ff;" |'''Step 4.'''
|style="background:#f0f8ff;" |The absence of deficiency symptoms combined with high productivity, even though certain nutrients were not applied or applied in small amounts during several years, may indicate that the soils are exceptionally rich in these particular nutrients. In such cases the application of these nutrients is not required. This can be temporary, as soils can get depleted after several years of high productivity.
|}
===Fertiliser application and lack of money===
If not enough money is available to buy all the recommended fertilisers, do '''not''' leave out the more expensive fertilisers but follow these recommendations:
* Apply fertilisers correctly and in several rounds, so that losses are as small as possible.
* If there are any deficiency symptoms, give priority to applying the fertilisers which are needed to correct the deficiency.
* Do not save on potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) fertiliser, as these nutrients are most important for oil palm and do not stay in the soil for long.
* Magnesium (Mg) is important, but as long as there are no deficiency symptoms, you may decide to reduce application or apply the cheapest fertiliser type (e.g. dolomite).
* If enough phosphorus (P) was applied in the past, it is acceptable to apply less for one year, or to use a cheaper fertiliser type (e.g. rock phosphate).
* If the palms do not show deficiency symptoms, it is acceptable not to apply boron (B) for one year. However, in the next year application will be necessary again, especially in plantations with good production.
* Keep in mind that '''if too little fertiliser is applied now, yield will go down two to three years later'''. Fertilisers are a necessary investment and buying them should be a priority.
===References===
<references/>
===Acknowledgements===
The material from ''Fertiliser recommendations'' is sourced from Smallholder Oil Palm Handbook and put together by Lotte Suzanne Woittiez ([http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/wageningen-university.htm Wageningen Universit]) and Haryono Sadikin, Sri Turhina, Hidayat Dani, Tri Purba Dukan, and Hans Smit ([http://www.snv.org/ SNV]) in August 2016. See [http://intothefield.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Module-4-3rd-edition-2016-08.pdf Module 4: Fertiliser Application] for more information.
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