Abstract

One of marginal area for oil palm cultivation is on hilly terrain, which pose various agro-management problems start from planting preparation, during oil palm growth/maintenance and up to the harvesting and transporting of the fresh fruit bunches. Geospatial technology was used to help designing road system with focuses on 1) road gradient of less than 7°, 2) road density of less than 200 m/ha and 3) carry distance of about 100m along the terraces. Commercial trial in Pelalawan Riau showed that the design can be implemented resulting average road gradient of 4.7°, road density of 234 m/ha and average carry distance of 143m. Geospatial technology was also used to help designing terraces where digital terrain model was used to produce suitable rajah line location. On planting point, improved Gawthorn and Violle method was introduced incorporating geospatial analysis in detection of potential etiolation areas. The method produced stand per ha of 142 palm/ha (and 145 in commercial) with minimized potential etiolation area to 6%.

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