The effect of NPK fertiliser on oil palm coefficient as a baseline water management during the nursery phase

Abstract

The Indonesian government views the oil palm industry as a promising sector for poverty alleviation. The germination process of seeds is influenced by water, requiring careful management. This study investigated the impact of NPK application and NPK fertiliser on the crop coefficient value of Tenera variety oil palm seedlings. The entisol soil used had a sandy clay texture, with sand comprising 81.00% of the soil composition. The soil texture, organic matter, bulk density, particle density, porosity, evapotranspiration, potential evaporation, percolation, moisture content at field capacity, and oven-dried root weight were measured with and without fertiliser to 50 oil palm trees at 3 to 6 months of age. The results show that NPK application has affected oil palm’s crop coefficient and growth. The highest dry root weight and plant coefficient obtained without fertiliser and with fertilisers at six months were 24.76 gr and 33.89 gr, 0.626 and 0.65, respectively. Root biomass, a sign of plant health and nutrient uptake, shows fertilization’s long-term effects. Six-month-old plants, especially fertiliser ones, have more extensive root dry weights, indicating persistent nutrition uptake and long-term resistance. Nutrient management is crucial to agricultural productivity, affecting the current crop and future growth phases.