Effect of Calcium Carbonate Application on Initial Vegetative Growth of Oil Palm Planted on Deep Peat

Abstract

The main challenge of planting oil palm on deep peat is naturally acidic soil pH which affects rooting development and activity and uptake of nutrients. Considering one life cycle of oil palm can be up to ≥20 years, ensuring optimum growth of palms since its initial planting is essential. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) application is a standard practice to increase soil pH, including on peat soils. However, the effective rate and effects of its application to palm growth are still lacking. This trial is aimed to see the effect of CaCO3 application on the vegetative growth of oil palms planted on deep peat in the initial years of planting. The trial was conducted in an oil palm plantation in Pangkalan Kerinci-Riau with a split-plot randomized complete block design. Basal application of CaCO3 for the first three consecutive years of planting with three different rates and additional rates of CaCO3 and liquid lime per palm basis were the main and sub-treatments of this trial. Significant differences were found in frond length, leaf area, leaf area index, and frond dry weight at the immature stage in which palms treated with basal CaCO3 showed better growth. At the young mature stage, significant differences were found only in leaf area, leaf area index, and the number of green fronds. A significant difference for sub-treatment was found only in the leaf area index. The result indicated that application of CaCO3 as basal application during immature stage could improve palm’s growth whereas additional CaCO3 per palm basis may not necessarily result in better growth.