Abstract

ABSTRACT Optimum fertilization is not only proposed for obtaining desireable quality and quantity of the plant, but also to avoid excess fertilizer causing toxicity and environmental damage. The objective of this research was to study and to determine an optimum rate of organic and NPK compound fertilizers for immature oil palm. The experiment was carried out at IPB-Cargill Oil palm Teaching Farm, Jonggol, from March 2013 to March 2014. The treatments was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor was organic fertilizer, i.e. 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg organic fertilizer plant-1, and the second was NPK compound fertilizer, i.e. 0, 0.65, 1.3, 1.95 and 2.6 kg NPK compound fertilizer plant-1. The result showed that vegetative growth increases with fertilizer application. The height and stem girth of plant were significantly affected by interaction between organic and NPK compound fertilizers, however there was no significant effect on frond production, frond length and leaf area. N, P leaf content of plant were affected by interaction between organic and NPK compound fertilizers, however there was no effect on K leaf content, chlorophyll and number of stomata. Based on the height and stem girth regression equation, the optimum recommendation rate of organic and NPK compound fertilizers for immature first year oil palm are 40.7 kg organic fertilizer plant-1 and 1.9 kg NPK compound plant-1 Keywords: inorganic fertilizers, nutrient level, stem girth, vegetative growth

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call