Oil Palm Plantations Research Articles

The palm oil industry in Indonesia continues to face serious problems related to environmental degradation and small farmers limited access to information on sustainable cultivation practices. To address these challenges, this study developed EduSawit, an Augmented Reality (AR)-based educational application that supports the implementation of environmentally friendly palm oil cultivation practices. The application was designed using the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) method, which consists of six main stages: concept formulation, design, material collection, assembly, testing, and distribution. Its main feature is interactive 3D visualization that displays important processes such as site selection, provision of superior seeds, mixed planting patterns, use of organic fertilizers, water management, biological pest control, and palm oil waste management. Validation was carried out using Black Box testing to ensure that all functions, including AR marker scanning, 3D object display, and information panels, worked as expected. The research results show that EduSawit is a technically reliable and pedagogically relevant learning medium, with the potential to improve farmers understanding of sustainable cultivation practices. The next step is a field trial with smallholder farmers to assess the application's effectiveness in increasing knowledge, confidence, and adoption of environmentally friendly practices.

This study explores how Depo Lestari, a woman-led, community-based hub in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, has emerged as a grassroots response to economic and cultural displacement caused by palm oil plantation expansion. Indigenous Banjar communities have experienced land dispossession and urban migration, leading to a breakdown in traditional livelihoods and social cohesion. Banjar women, in particular, face layered challenges—economic marginalization, gendered labor roles, and exclusion from mainstream development programs. Using a feminist qualitative methodology that includes in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, this research investigates how Depo Lestari functions as more than a retail outlet. It has become a learning space that facilitates informal economic education, emotional solidarity, and self-sufficiency for displaced women. The store embodies local values of halal, dignity, and reciprocity, offering a sustainable model of economic resilience rooted in ethnic identity and mutual aid. The findings illustrate how cultural rootedness, faith-based ethics, and informal knowledge networks can counter structural exclusion without reliance on formal institutions or external aid. The case contributes to broader debates on inclusive economic empowerment, post-extractive economies, and feminist development models. It suggests the importance of recognizing and supporting locally embedded solutions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Palm oil is a significant product, predominantly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and is included in many products. However, oil palm (OP) plantations have been associated with deforestation and destruction of peat soil, tending to increase CO2 in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. The growth of OP may be affected detrimentally by climate change. Also, OP is susceptible to basal stem rot (BSR) caused by the fungus Ganoderma boninense. Previous CLIMEX-modelled scenarios have indicated decreases in suitable climate for growing OP in the future, and narrative models suggest increases in BSR. However, the climate maps show regions in Malaysia and Indonesia that were previously unsuitable, which have become highly suitable climate (HSC) areas and were previously unreported. These areas include the higher altitudes of (a) the west coast of Sumatra, (b) areas between Sarawak, Sabah, and Kalimantan, (c) the central region of Sulawesi, (d) northern West Papua, (e) and the Titiwangsa Mountains of Peninsular Malaysia. These trends are remarkable per se. The incidence of BSR will likely be low because the palms would experience HSC, making them more resistant to infection. For example, HSC is projected to increase from 0% at present to 95% by 2100, while BSR is projected to increase from 0% at present to 30% over the same time period in Sumatra. In Borneo, HSC is projected to increase from 0% at present to 95% by 2100, while BSR is projected to increase from 0% to 7% over the same time period. Higher CO2 fertilisation may occur which would increase OP vigour again leading to greater resistance to BSR. However, many of the regions may be biodiverse and it would be unreasonable to replace them with plantations and whether these areas would be suitable for growing OP requires careful consideration. This report of increasing areas of HSC for growing OP is unique.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the color of the trap light on the imago of bagworms (Mahosena corbetti) in the oil palm plantation of PTPN IV Tanah Raja. The study was conducted This study was conducted in the oil palm plantation at PTPN IV Tanah Raja which is located in two (2) sub-districts, namely Sei Rampah Sub-district and Teluk Mengkudu Sub-district, Serdang Berdagai Regency with a distance of ± 56 km from Medan city and ± 30 km from Tebing Tinggi which was carried out in Afdeling V in July - August 2024. The study is a type of quantitative descriptive research, namely by using survey and experimental methods. The results of the study show that the yellow light can catch 159 individuals/plot, the white light obtained the number of imago catches of 64 individuals/plot, while the use of green light color 0 individuals/plot. To see the difference in the number of bagworm imago catches, a t-test with two paired samples was carried out. The t-test results showed a t-value of 10.46 greater than the t-table of 2.78 with a significance value of 0.000 0.05, so the number of catches in the yellow light was significantly more than the white light. It can be concluded that yellow light can be used as an effective catcher in controlling the bagworm population in oil palm plantations.

The peat swamp forest of the Kampar Peninsula in Riau, Indonesia, is one of Southeast Asia’s most critical tropical peatland ecosystems, playing a vital role in carbon storage, hydrological regulation, and biodiversity conservation. However, in the past two decades, this area has undergone severe degradation due to socio-economic activities, particularly land conversion for oil palm and acacia plantations, canal drainage development, and frequent peat fires. This study aims to identify the impacts of these activities on the peatland ecosystem and evaluate the effectiveness of current restoration strategies. A mixed-methods approach was used, including field observations, satellite imagery analysis, in-depth interviews, community surveys, and focus group discussions (FGDs). Findings indicate that peatland degradation has led to significant ecological damage, such as forest cover loss, increased carbon emissions, and disrupted water regulation functions. Additionally, socio-economic impacts include declining household incomes, land tenure conflicts, and greater vulnerability to smoke-related disasters. Restoration efforts, such as rewetting and revegetation, have yet to achieve optimal results due to technical limitations, weak institutional coordination, and insufficient community involvement. The study recommends a holistic, community-based restoration approach supported by integrated policy frameworks to ensure sustainable peatland management in the region.

ABSTRACT Recent scholarship explores the links between food security and the life-making strategies of rural populations. This study extends the analysis to a centre of Southeast Asia's oil palm plantation complex. It examines the social reproduction processes that facilitate the generation of substantial profit margins alongside patterns of deep nutritional insecurity. Drawing on fieldwork in Sumatra and integrating perspectives from agrarian change, social reproduction, and food system analysis, this study unravels the interconnections between the plantation economy, gendered life-making practices, and poor nutritional outcomes. This research argues that the confluence of migratory patterns, relational dynamics governing land and labour in the oil palm economy, food system transformations, and the exploitation of low-income women's labour coalesces into a critical nexus of climate precarity and nutritional deficiency. Policies to tackle food and nutritional insecurity and stunting need to address the processes that deplete opportunities for life-making among low-income families in oil palm landscapes.

Oil palm plantations have reconfigured the territory in the Montes de María region, especially the landscape and way of life of Black peasant communities in the area. While researchers have focused on the resistance of these communities to the expansion of oil palm, in this article, I elaborate on how workers understand and resist plantation work and exploitation. Here, the concept of body-territory-land from community feminists and Marxist approaches to body and labor support my analysis of the material I collected through field interviews and participant observation. With this conceptual apparatus, I point out how understanding plantation work requires an account of the relations that configure the territory. Land occupation practices of local Black communities, capital-labor relations expressed in the work conditions, and conditions of contracted production that shape the territory allow Black workers to understand their labor in the palm plantation and resist exploitation.

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) in agricultural landscapes presents significant socio-economic and ecological challenges, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions like Malaysia. This study examines the dynamics of HWC in oil palm plantations in Johor and Sabah, focusing on conflict types, key interaction points, and associated impacts. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through focus group discussions with stakeholders, including smallholders, plantation managers, conservation organizations, and government agencies. Thematic analysis identified three major conflict types: human–elephant, human–carnivore, and human–primate conflicts. Among these, human–elephant conflicts were the most prevalent, causing extensive crop destruction and economic losses. Carnivore-related conflicts, particularly involving Malayan tigers in Johor and clouded leopards in Sabah, were primarily linked to livestock predation, while human–primate conflicts, involving orangutans and proboscis monkeys, contributed to crop losses. The study further identified three primary conflict points: damage to oil palm trees, destruction of plantation infrastructure, and impacts on labor conditions. The economic burden on smallholders and plantation operators, coupled with shifting community perceptions toward wildlife, underscores the urgency for sustainable mitigation strategies. This study contributes novel insights by providing a comparative analysis of HWC across two ecologically distinct regions. Findings emphasize the need for integrative policies, including habitat restoration, improved land-use planning, and financial compensation mechanisms for affected stakeholders. Future research should explore multi-disciplinary approaches, incorporating geospatial analysis and economic modeling, to develop adaptive conflict management strategies. Addressing HWC through evidence-based solutions is crucial for balancing agricultural development with biodiversity conservation in Malaysia and other tropical regions.

Tropical peatlands, which store 20% of global peat carbon, are increasingly threatened by conversion to alternative land-uses such as oil palm plantations, pulp wood plantations, crop growth or other economic activities. This transformation involves peatland drainage, which lowers water tables, exposes peat to oxygen, and alters greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes while reducing methane (CH4) emissions from soils. However, drainage ditches created in the process may become significant sources of CH4 due to anoxic conditions. This study quantified GHG fluxes from drainage ditches in Sarawak, Malaysia, through spatial sampling conducted during the daytime in the transitional period between the drier and wetter seasons using portable trace gas analyzers. Median fluxes were 0.19 g CH4 m−2 d−1, 17.1 g CO2 m−2 d−1, and − 0.12 mg N2O m−2 d−1. Physical water parameters such as pH, oxygen concentration, temperature, and oxidation–reduction potential were found to be significant drivers of GHG fluxes. The median emissions from ditches in one hectare of land were 5.84 kg CO2 ha−1 d−1, 2.78 kg CH4 as CO2 eq ha−1 d−1, and − 0.001 kg N2O as CO2 eq ha−1 d−1. These findings underscore the role of drainage ditches as CH4 sources in tropical peatland agriculture, highlighting the need for further research into GHG management in these modified landscapes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-21094-3.

Rethinking exploitation and control in migrant labour regimes: The case of Filipino workers in a Malaysian oil palm plantation

Over the last decade, there has been a significant growth in life cycle assessment (LCA) research on oil palm production around the world, with an emphasis on the stages of the life cycle from oil palm plantation to crude palm oil (CPO). However, there is still a research shortage in the downstream section, which includes CPO and cooking oil production. This study addresses the gap by utilizing LCA to evaluate the environmental impacts using recent field data collected from selected sites in Sumatra. The study aims to examine the environmental impacts associated with the quality of palm cooking oil and compare them with those of other vegetable cooking oils. The system boundary is defined as cradle-to-gate, comprising land preparation, plantation, CPO production, and refinery of cooking oil. The results indicate that higher-quality palm cooking oil with iodine value (IV) 60 is associated with increased environmental impacts across several categories, including global warming, eutrophication, acidification, ozone layer depletion, and marine ecotoxicity. Furthermore, palm cooking oil with IV 56, which represents the most often consumed quality level, has a lower carbon footprint than cooking oils made from rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, peanut, canola, coconut, and maize. These findings provide useful information for consumers, industry, and politicians seeking to reduce the environmental effects of vegetable cooking oil.

Malang District, East Java, presents significant potential for the development of oil palm plantations due to its favorable climate and land conditions. Indonesia, as the world's largest producer of palm oil, benefits from this industry, which contributes notablyto its GDP and job creation. Despite this, the sector faces challenges, including environmental degradation, social conflicts, and economic risks associated with price volatility. This study aims to provide a comprehensive development plan for oil palm inMalang District, incorporating environmental, economic, and social considerations. A participatory, data-driven approach was employed, combining field surveys, stakeholder interviews, and GIS mapping to assess land suitability, market dynamics, and environmental risks. The study's findings highlight the potential for enhancing oil palm productivity while addressing environmental and social concerns through sustainable practices and certifications like ISPO and RSPO. Economic analysis demonstrates the profitability of integrated oil palm management, with recommendations for improving operational efficiency, waste management, and market access. The research advocates for strengthening smallholder capacity, promoting sustainable certifications, and improving infrastructure to ensure the long-term viability of the palm oil industry in the region

The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is cultivated in Benin Republic for its economic importance. However, since 2016, it has been heavily attacked by Trabanta rusfiquamata (Notodontidea Lepidoptera), a defoliating caterpillar. The present study aimed to study producers’ perceptions on this new oil palm pest in Benin. Informations were provided on pest recognition, the damage caused and its impact as well as the control methods used by producers for it management. A survey was conducted in southern Benin in the agricultural development pole (PDA) 6 and 7 representing oil palm production areas in Benin. A total of 120 oil palm producers randomly selected from the municipalities of Adja-Ouèrè, Sakété and Pobè (PDA 6), and 110 producers from the municipalities of Allada, Toffo and Bonou (PDA 7), were individually surveyed. As results, 76% of the producers surveyed recognised the pest T. rufisquamata as the main defoliator of oil palms. An estimate of the oil palm plantations defoliated between 2016 and 2022 in Bonou and Adja-Ouèrè indicated a high presence of this pest with average defoliated areas of 23.21 ha and 11.33 ha respectively. Chemical control has been widely used by producers for the pest control. About 46.91% of producers used chemical products, compared to 48.14% of producers who have taken no action. Various registered and non authorised synthetic chemicals (pesticides) with main active ingredients are: Emamectin Benzoate, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Acetamiprid and Lambda-Cyhalothrin were used with. This study has shown the need of improving producers’ knowledge in the different development stages of T. rufisquamata in other to develop appropriate control methods while improving production in the oil palm sector in Benin.

Indonesia’s palm oil plantations have an irreplaceable role in Indonesia’s economy, contributing to job creation, rural poverty reduction, export revenue, and gross domestic product. Although such exploitation of its natural resources is within Indonesia’s permanent sovereignty, developed countries have expressed environmental concerns over Indonesia’s surge in palm oil expansion, which has brought about deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. This research will analyze whether Indonesia can navigate economic growth and sustainability in its palm oil sector, amidst such conflicting interests. Utilizing a normative legal research methodology with a statute approach, relevant laws, regulations, and practices will be used to identify whether Indonesia can achieve a sustainable palm oil industry that aligns with national development goals while also adhering to global environmental standards, ensuring both economic growth and sustainability.

The transition from cocoa farming to oil palm cultivation in Southeast Sulawesi, particularly in Mondoke Village, is attributable to technical factors. Oil palm is regarded as more lucrative, more manageable, and more resilient to pests and diseases than cocoa. The objective of this study is to ascertain the technical factors involved in the conversion of cocoa farming land to oil palm in Mandoke Village, Lambandia Subdistrict, East Kolaka Regency. The informants for this study consisted of farmers who were members of farmer groups and agricultural extension workers. The study's informant pool comprised a total of nine individuals, including eight farmers and one agricultural extension worker. The data collection techniques employed in this study encompassed observation, documentation, and interviews guided by a structured interview protocol. The present study centered on the technical factors that precipitated the conversion of agricultural land. The collected data was then subjected to qualitative analysis. The findings of the study indicate that the technical factors associated with the conversion of cocoa farmland to oil palm plantations, undertaken by farmers in Mondoke Village, are as follows: farmers possess the knowledge necessary for the cultivation of cocoa, yet they recognize that cocoa necessitates more intensive care than oil palms. Regular fertilization and pruning are essential to maintain the health of cocoa trees and prevent overgrowth, which can lead to increased susceptibility to pests such as PBK and Helopeltis. In contrast, oil palm maintenance is less complex, necessitating only the pruning of aged fronds to facilitate harvesting and deter pests. The management of pests, such as caterpillars and rats, in oil palm plantations can be effectively addressed through the implementation of controlled measures, including the application of pesticides and the maintenance of sanitation. Furthermore, the yield of old cocoa trees (over 20–25 years old) is lower, while oil palms demonstrate a longer and more stable production period throughout the year.

Palm oil plantations in recent years have grown rapidly in almost all parts of Indonesia. The existence of palm oil mills has positive and negative impacts. The negative impact for the community is liquid waste, But can utilized for agricultural purpose such as by using liquid waste fertilizer from palm oil mills. Sweet Corn is one of the commodities favored by the people of Indonesia because it tastes good and sweet, and contains many vitamins. However, the productivity of Sweet Corn in Bangka Belitung Islands is decreasing. This study aims to produce optimal Sweet Corn growth, by using from palm oil mills. This study used a split plot Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 replications. The main plot is sweet corn variety (V) consist of, V1= Super sweet variety, V2= Bonanza variety, V3= Paragon variety, and the subplot is the interval of application of palm liquid waste (P) consist of, P0= Control, P1= Interval once every 10 days, P2= Interval once every 20 days, P3= Interval once every 30 days. The results of statistical analysis showed that different varieties of sweet corn gave a significant effect on harvest age, cob diameter, cob weight with clobber, cob weight without clobber and yield per plot. Giving different intervals gives a significant effect on stem diameter and cob diameter. Bonanza variety is the best variety in sweet corn growth and production. Once every 10 days is the best interval for sweet corn growth and production. The interaction of paragon variety and interval of 10 days give the best result for the parameter of age of female flowering in sweet corn. Key words: Interval pemberian, Pupuk organik, Limbah cair kelapa sawit, Jagung manis

The soil aggregate stability index is one of the critical indicators of soil physical quality, primarily related to the soil's ability to absorb water into the soil and the soil's resistance to rainwater splashing and surface flow erosion in the soil erosion process. The study aimed to determine the soil aggregate stability index class criteria using the dry and wet sieving methods on the OSK 10701 sieve type and to identify the stability of soil aggregates on agricultural land, plantations, and forests around the IPB Dramaga campus. The transformation of the soil aggregate stability class criteria from the conventional sieve to the OSK 10701 sieve types gave excellent results with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.89. The soil aggregate stability index differs significantly between soil types and land uses. Podsolic Jasinga has a higher aggregate stability index than Podsolik Dramaga, Regosol Dramaga, and Latosol Dramaga in the upper layer (0-20 cm) and the lower layer (20-40 cm). Forests have a better aggregate stability index than conservation agricultural land, conventional agricultural land, rubber plantations, and oil palm plantations. The difference in stability index between land uses is closely related to soil organic matter contents. Although the soil is denser/more compact, the soil in oil palm and rubber plantations has a lower stability index and is classified as unstable.

Ultisol is one type of soil available for the development of oil palm plantations in Indonesia. Oil palm development is faced with negative perceptions due to the degradation of soil and regional hydrological functions. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of the application of biopores filled with various types of oil palm waste on the hydrological function of Ultisols with oil palm plantations. This research used an experimental method designed by creating eight experimental plots consisting of seven plots with biopores filled with various types of oil palm waste and one plot without biopores. The research data included organic carbon content, bulk density, porosity, permeability, infiltration, and water retention of soil. Data were obtained through analysis of soil samples in the laboratory and field measurements. Data were analyzed descriptively and by regression analysis with a confidence level of 95% (? = 0.05). The research results showed that the application of biopores with various oil palm wastes was able to improve soil characteristics and hydrological functions of Ultisols in oil palm plantations. The application of biopores with a combination of Mucuna bracteata, empty oil palm fruit bunches, oil palm pruning leaves, and oil palm shell biochar showed the best effect on improving soil characteristics and hydrological functions. Improvement of soil characteristics was correlated with improvement of hydrological function in Ultisols. Therefore, biopores filled with oil palm waste can be recommended as an integrative soil and water conservation technology for controlling the hydrological functions of Ultisols in oil palm plantations.

PT. Incasi Raya Pangian is a company engaged in oil palm plantations with a land area of 6,890 hectares, located in Nagari Sinamar, Asam Jujuhan District, Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra Province. One of the main problems in oil palm cultivation is the presence of weeds that can reduce productivity by up to 20% through competition in the absorption of water, light, and nutrients. This research aims to identify the types of weeds that grow in oil palm plantations and compile them in the form of popular scientific books as an educational medium for the community and educators. The research was carried out in two stages. The first stage was carried out to obtain research weed data using the 10-meter transect method with five plots measuring 1 m x 1 m which were arranged alternately in the plantation area of PT. Incasi Raya Pangian, Nagari Sinamar, Dharmasraya Regency. The second stage is the preparation of popular scientific books, where weed samples are collected, preserved, and identified using botanical literature at the Botanical Laboratory of the University of PGRI West Sumatra. The results showed that there were 33 species of weeds from 27 families, consisting of 28 species of the Spermatophyta Division and 5 species of the Pteridophyta Division. Some common species include Ageratum conyzoides, Clidemia hirta, and Cyperus rotundus. The popular scientific books produced have the potential to be a source of practical information for the community, as well as support sustainable weed management in oil palm plantations.

Preliminary molecular detection and characterization of Bartonella in small mammals from Malaysian oil palm ecosystems