The Effect of Different Planting Densities on Yield Trends in Oil Palm

Abstract

SUMMARYSixteen years' yield and growth data from an oil palm planting experiment, comparing 56, 110, 148 and 186 palms ha−1, and additional records from a progeny experiment, were used to study the effect of palm age and planting density on carbohydrates incorporated in total above-ground dry matter production per palm (TDMc) and its components: fruit bunch yield (Yc) and vegetative growth (VDMc). The canopy efficiency (e), the amount of carbohydrate incorporated in dry matter production per unit of absorbed radiation per hectare, decreased from the fifth to eighth year then levelled off, but increased once crown expansion was completed. The decrease in e paralleled the expansion of the intercepting leaf surface, and might therefore be linked to an increase in maintenance respiration losses. These losses were apparently not compensated for by an increase in photosynthetic production. The subsequent increase in e in older palms appears to have been due to improved light distribution as a result of an increase in light penetration. The effects of changing levels of light interception and distribution on e were more pronounced at higher density, and resulted in marked differences in changes of TDMc with age between densities. Corresponding differences occurred with Yc, so that the optimum density for current yield decreased until 12 to 13 years from planting, then markedly increased. These findings are discussed in relation to the measures which might be used to increase yield per unit area.