Palm Plantations Research Articles

Identify the Region's Flagship Products: Focused on the Sustainability of Resources and the Environment

The purpose of this research is to identify in Mak Teduh Village, where most of the area consists of peatland with oil palm, rubber, and acacia plantations, the local potential that can be developed into superior products for the village as a means to enhance the community's economy through development focused on the sustainability of resources and the environment. The identification method is applied by the OVOP (One Village One Product) criteria and SWOT analysis. The results of the research indicate several local potentials that can be developed into superior products, namely creative industries in the form of pandan leaf crafts and crafts from recycled plastic, fisheries such as salted fish, and livestock including acacia honey cultivation. In addition, there is also the potential for tourism that can be developed. Based on the OVOP criteria and SWOT analysis, the potential of the village that can be developed as a flagship product is in the cultivation of acacia honey. The availability of land and bee feed in acacia and palm plantations, as well as opportunities in national and international markets, means that acacia honey cultivation also provides a chance for communities to engage in sustainable businesses while enhancing public awareness of forest and environmental conservation. The cultivation of acacia honey also serves as a preventive solution to the cases of forest and peatland fires that frequently occur in Mak Teduh Village.

Performance enhancement of galloping wind energy harvesting via bio-inspired V-shaped blade

ABSTRACT Galloping wind energy harvesting has promising applications in future distributed self-powered low-power devices. A novel V-shaped blade is figured out from Palm leaf galloping. The enhancement of galloping oscillation from the bio-inspired V-shaped blade is evaluated. The galloping wind energy harvester (WEH) with a V-shaped blade is developed by electro-mechanical modeling, finite element simulation, ground vibration tests, and wind tunnel tests. It is found that the structural damping, effective electro-mechanical coupling coefficient, and V-shape included angle have big effects on the harvesting performance. The cut-in wind speed of WEH is below 3 m/s. With an included angle of 115° and a wind speed of 6.5 m/s, the output voltage is 4.48 V and the power density is 90.00 μW/cm3. The V-shaped blade harvester exhibits a 151.69% increase in output voltage and a 575.00% increase in power density compared to the traditional brick blade (square cross-section) harvester. Tests indicate that the output frequency remains stable at the structural resonant despite increasing wind speed. This study provides insights into enhancing galloping oscillation and wind energy harvesting efficiency by optimizing the aerodynamic shape of vortex shedding bluffs.

Enhanced Removal of Chlorpyrifos, Cu(II), Pb(II), and Iodine from Aqueous Solutions Using Ficus Nitida and Date Palm Biochars

This study explores the adsorption efficiency of biochar derived from palm trees and Ficus nitida for the removal of various contaminants, including Cu(II), Pb(II), iodine, and chlorpyrifos from aqueous solutions. Biochar was prepared using a two-step pyrolysis process for date palm biochar and single-step pyrolysis for Ficus nitida biochar. Characterization techniques such as SEM, EDX, and FTIR revealed a significant surface area and a variety of functional groups in both types of biochar, essential for effective adsorption. The date palm biochar exhibited superior adsorption capacities for Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions, achieving efficiencies up to 99.9% and 100%, respectively, due to its high content of oxygen-containing functional groups that facilitated strong complexation and ion exchange mechanisms. Conversely, Ficus nitida biochar demonstrated a higher adsorption capacity for iodine, reaching 68% adsorption compared to 39.7% for date palm biochar, owing to its greater surface area and microporosity. In the case of chlorpyrifos, Ficus nitida biochar again outperformed date palm biochar, achieving a maximum adsorption efficiency of 87% after 24 h of incubation, compared to 50.8% for date palm biochar. The study also examines the effect of incubation time on adsorption efficiency, showing that the adsorption of chlorpyrifos by date palm biochar increased significantly with time, reaching a maximum of 62.9% after 48 h, with no further improvement beyond 12 h. These results highlight the importance of biochar characteristics, such as surface area, pore structure, and functional groups, in determining adsorption efficiency. The findings suggest that optimizing pyrolysis conditions and surface modifications could further enhance the performance of biochar as a cost-effective and sustainable solution for water purification and environmental remediation.

Investigating the Impact of Palm Leaf Fibers onthe Crack Resistance of Hot Asphalt Mixtures

Investigating the Impact of Palm Leaf Fibers onthe Crack Resistance of Hot Asphalt Mixtures

Optimized pyrolytic synthesis and physicochemical characterization of date palm seed biochar: unveiling a sustainable adsorbent for environmental remediation applications.

This study focuses on the optimization and comprehensive characterization of biochar synthesized from date palm seeds (DPS), a prevalent agricultural waste in arid regions. Using response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD), we optimized the pyrolysis process by investigating the effects of time (1-3 h) and temperature (600-900 °C) on critical properties such as specific surface area, pore volume, and yield. The optimized biochar, produced at 828 °C for 1.7 h, demonstrated a high specific surface area of 654.8 m2/g and well-developed microporosity. Characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, and BET analyses, revealed an amorphous carbon structure with graphitic domains, diverse surface functionalities, and a heterogeneous porous microstructure. The biochar's point of zero charge at pH 7.58 indicates its potential for selective adsorption of charged contaminants. The close agreement between RSM-predicted and experimental values for specific surface area (652.1 m2/g vs. 654.8 m2/g) and micropore volume (0.191 cm3/g vs. 0.190 cm3/g) validates the effectiveness of the model in optimizing biochar properties. This research highlights the potential of DPS-derived biochar as a sustainable adsorbent for environmental remediation, opening avenues for valorizing agricultural wastes and contributing to circular economy principles.

Relationship analysis between Ganoderma boninense-derived Basal Stem Rot disease severity with multiple leaf physiology parameters in mature oil palm tree responses toward water use efficiency (WUE)

Relationship analysis between Ganoderma boninense-derived Basal Stem Rot disease severity with multiple leaf physiology parameters in mature oil palm tree responses toward water use efficiency (WUE)

Co-pyrolysis of biomass/polyurethane foam waste: Thermodynamic study using Aspen Plus

Due to the varieties and identical feature of solid waste, this research aims to consider the use of various feedstocks in pyrolysis process for liquid fuel production. The feedstock considered covers woody and non-woody biomass and plastic waste which are represented by sawdust (SD), palm leaf (PL) and polyurethane foam (PU) waste. In this research, both pure solid waste and the co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic wastes were determined based on thermodynamics study. The model of pyrolysis process developed through Aspen Plus simulator was implemented to study the product yield, higher heating value (HHV) and energy consumption with a wider range of pyrolysis temperature and blending weight ratio. The simulation results clearly showed the use of pure PU waste can provide the highest oil yield (∼44%wt.) which is corresponded to highest HHV (∼28 MJ/kg). The pyrolysis, operating at 400oC, can provide the most significant quantity of oil. For the co-pyrolysis, the results revealed that more PU waste blended in both biomasses can improve both oil yield and HHV while the energy consumption is lower. From the simulation results, the optimal blending weight ratio of biomass and PU waste at 25:75 can provide suitable oil yield (∼43%wt.), HHV (∼26 MJ/kg) and energy consumption (243kW).

Enhancing Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Resilience: Strategies Against Bayoud Spread in Moroccan Oases

Abstract “Bayoud”, a vascular disease caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa), is the principal enemy of palm trees that puts at stake the future of the date palm industry in Morocco. The parasite attacks the palms through the roots and colonizes the entire vascular system, leading to wilt and ultimately palm death. Effective disease management is a major step towards the success of all sustainable development projects in the oasis. This review delineates diverse strategies for managing Bayoud disease, including prophylactic measures, chemical and cultural controls, genetic selection for resistant varieties, and exploration of biochemical and molecular markers. An integrated management approach was proposed that underscores early detection, sustainable agricultural practices, genetic resistance, biological control, community involvement, and continuous research and development. To contain the disease in already-infested areas and prevent its spread to new date palm plantations in oases.

Repeated Tree Inventories of Pine Forests in South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve.

The natural forest ecosystems of South Florida, USA, support a high biodiversity of plant and animal species and provide valuable ecosystem services. However, these ecosystems remain poorly represented in global studies, primarily due to a paucity of standardized data. Here, we present previously unpublished data from 332 censuses of 54 permanent 1-ha tree inventory plots in the Racoon Point area of Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, including a total of nearly 100,000 measurements (diameter or height) of > 17,000 individual living trees and palms (with additional measurements of nearly 6000 dead pine snags) collected sporadically over a 19-year period (1993-2012). These data, which were originally collected as part of a project to investigate tree responses to different experimental burning regimes, provide unique insight into the diversity, composition, structure, and dynamics of South Florida's unique and endangered pine forest ecosystems. Data files include the species identity, size (dbh = diameter at breast height), and location of all trees ≥ 5 cm dbh in 54 individual tree plots. Additional data are provided about heights of palm trees, and the location and burn history of each plot. These data are freely available for noncommercial scientific use under a Creative Commons license; users are encouraged to cite this paper when using the data.

Maximizing Date Palm Yield: Automatic Extension Sprinklers for Enhanced Aerial Pollination

Abstract Date palms require pollen transfer from male to female palms in order to yield a fruitful harvest. The traditional method of accomplishing this artificial cross-pollination involved climbing each palm tree and physically putting male flower spikelets on female inflorescences. This process required a great deal of labor and was time-consuming. Due to developments in farming practices during the modern age, farmers have experimented with mechanical pollination systems. Recently, to pollinate date palms very quickly, safely, affordably, and with a minimum of risk of injury, agricultural drones have been used. In this research, experiments on drone dispersal pollination are conducted on three Omani date palm cultivars—Al Naghal, Al Khanezi, and Al Kasab. The applicability of this method is evaluated by comparing its fruit yield properties to those of the conventional method, which is commonly employed, and the less popular machine/hand pollination methods. The main limitations of drone dispersal pollination are, its inability to disperse exact amount of pollen to the target location of female inflorescences, especially in shorter palms; wastage of pollens and environmental pollution. The study recommends the use of a novel design of extendable pollen sprinkler for target-specific pollination in order to increase pollination efficiency and decrease DPP waste. The designed system comprises of a robotic arm extension with a remotely controlled sprayer mounted on a computer vision android device; that can shoot themselves out to the female flowers and disperse the required amount of pollens in the specific location. This unique spraying mechanism can overcome the drawbacks of aerial pollination and increase its effectiveness.

Middle-Level Fusion YOLO on Multispectral Image to Detect Unhealthy Oil Palm Trees

Abstract Locating the unhealthy oil palm trees is one of the essential things in precision agriculture. In several countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, Ganoderma disease often attacks oil palm trees. Detection techniques using leaf sample pieces, the possibility of biological changes in the leaf, and the collection process are too tricky. Detection techniques using image samples captured by the drone can be more accessible, but they need to provide complete information related to plant vegetation. This research proposes detecting unhealthy oil palms by capturing top-view images using drone. The drone has dual cameras (RGB and OCN bands) to get more information on plant vegetation. Middle-level fusion YOLO is used to recognize the unhealthy oil palm trees. The data was collected at the Oil Palm Plantation in Bogor, which contains over 100 unhealthy objects. Using multispectral images can improve performance compared to using only RGB images. The proposed method provides better performance than using only RGB images and OCN images with mAP (mean Average Precision) is 0.919. The proposed method provides better performance in detecting unhealthy oil palm trees.

The Use of the Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) Vegetation Index from Multispectral Cameras Mounted on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to Estimate the Nutrient Content in Oil Palm Leaves

This study aimed to develop a prediction model for the nutrient content of N, P, K, Mg, and Ca in oil palm leaves using the Normalized Difference RedEdge (NDRE) vegetation index derived from multispectral camera data. Data acquisition was carried out by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which was correlated to leaf sample analysis of the 17th frond number. Results showed that simple regression analysis successfully represented nutrient content (N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) based on NDRE values. Based on the MAPE and Correctness values, the nutrient content prediction model for N and P yields reliable results, while for K, Mg, and Ca, they are considered good, with Correctness values of 95.5%, 96.6%, 88.8%, 87.3%, and 90.0% for N, P, K, Mg, and Ca, respectively. The study found that the NDRE vegetation index can be used to predict the nutrient content of oil palm leaves with reliable results in accuracy for N and P, and good accuracy for K, Mg, and Ca. This is a promising finding, as it could lead to the development of a non-destructive and rapid method for monitoring the nutrient status of oil palm trees, with the validation models for N, P, K, Mg, and Ca are yN = 1.1089x - 0.2497, yP = 0.99x + 0.002, yK = 1.204x - 0.1576, yMg = 0.9149x + 0.0183, and yCa = 1.0418x - 0.0218. Keywords: Multispectral Cameras, Oil Palm, Leaf Nutrient Contents, Prediction.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from zygotic embryos of babassu (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng), a multi-purpose palm tree

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from zygotic embryos of babassu (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng), a multi-purpose palm tree

Optimizing Dielectric Constants of Epoxy Composites Infused with Palmyra Palm and Nano Fillers using Response Surface Methodology

The study focuses on Palm fruit Fibers (PF) extracted from the palmyra palm tree (Borassus flabellifer) treated with 5% alkali solution (NaOH). This treatment eliminates impurities from the fiber surface and enhances bonding with the epoxy matrix. Epoxy composites, reinforced with PF/nanofillers (h-BN, Al2O3 and MWCNT), are developed by using the box Behnken method (BBD) and dielectric constant is investigated under high-frequency and electrical field conditions. Dielectric constants (K) of the nanocomposites are determined using various capacitor terminal setups. The electrical properties of the Epoxy/PF nanocomposite, based on fiber content (Wt. %), fiber mesh size (μm) and nanofillers are evaluated using response surface methodology (RSM). Models, predicting nanocomposite dielectric constants, are established, fitting experimental values closely with R2 nearing 1 and residuals adhering to a normal probability plot. The optimized dielectric constant of 1.05 is achieved at 3 wt% palm fiber content, 150 μm fiber mesh size and 1 wt% nano h-BN.

Chemical characterization, neuroprotective effect, and in-silico evaluation of the petroleum ether extract of three palm tree species against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in rats

The burden of neurological disorders is growing substantially with limited therapeutic options, urging the consideration and assessment of alternative strategies. In this regard, we aimed to elucidate the phytochemical profile of the petroleum ether extract (PEE) of three palm tree species: Aiphanes eggersii Burret, Carpoxylon macrospermum H. Wendl. & Drude, and Jubaeopsis caffra Becc. (Family Arecaceae), and to evaluate their neuroprotective effect in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced excitotoxicity model for the first time. We identified a total of 48, 18, and 45 compounds in A. eggersii, C. macrospermum, and J. caffra, constituting 79.41 %, 60.45 %, and 76.35 % of the total detected compounds, respectively. A. eggersii extract was rich in the methyl esters of fatty acids (65.08 %) especially methyl dodecanoate (17.72 %). C. macrospermum was exclusively prolific by the triterpene 3β-methoxy-d:c-friedo-b’:a'-neogammacer-9(11)-ene (40.36 %), while J. caffra was noticeable by hydrocarbons (30.14 %) and lupeol derivatives (19.79 %). The biochemical and histopathological analysis showed that the tested extracts significantly reduced the oxidative stress, especially at the highest tested dose (1000 mg/kg). The extracts also reduced the activity of induced nitric oxide synthetase, Ca+2 level, and NR2B subunit expression and attenuated apoptosis and DNA damage. The docking results show that most active natural compounds bind to SOD-1 and NR2B-NMDARs, verifying the credibility of the biological findings. To sum up, the PEE of the three investigated palm tree species possessed a unique blend of lipophilic bioactive constituents that exert promising neuroprotective potential against MSG-induced excitoneurotoxicity. However, further preclinical investigation and pharmaceutical formulation are needed.

Clinical outcomes of retrograde intramedullary multiple pinning for proximal humeral fractures using a modified palm tree technique

BackgroundRetrograde intramedullary multiple pinning using a modified palm tree technique for proximal humeral fractures has attracted interest from surgeons because of its minimal invasiveness into the soft tissue around the shoulder joints. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of this procedure. MethodsThis retrospective study included 21 patients who underwent surgery using a modified palm tree technique for proximal humeral fractures between March 2010 and March 2022. Patients with two- and three-part proximal humeral fractures that could be reduced by closed manipulation under general anesthesia were included in this study. All patients were clinically evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scores. Postoperative radiographic findings, including fracture healing and signs of pinning-related complications, were evaluated. ResultsTwenty-one shoulders in 21 patients (9 men and 12 women) with mean age at surgery of 66.3 ± 19.3 years were evaluated. The mean period until bone union was 2.6 ± 0.7 months. The mean JOA and UCLA shoulder scores at the final follow-up were 84.8 ± 12.1 and 27.5 ± 5.4, respectively. Perforation of the humeral head by Kirschner (K) wires was observed in 9 of the 21 (42.9 %) shoulders. The JOA and UCLA shoulder scores at the final follow-up were not significantly different between the groups with and without perforations (p = 0.41 and 0.27, respectively). The oblique or Y-view detected significantly more wires with perforation of the humeral head than did the anteroposterior view (6 vs. 15 wires, p < 0.01). ConclusionsThe modified palm tree technique for proximal humeral fractures demonstrated good postoperative clinical outcomes and early fracture healing. However, modifications in postoperative management and surgical techniques should be considered to reduce the high rate of perforation of the humeral head by K-wires.

Experimental investigation on tensile strength and impact strength of palmyra palm leaf stalk – Sisal fiber reinforced polymer hybrid composite

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites are the most widely used materials and preferable in terms of biodegradability, cost production, recyclability, and low density. The main aim of this study is to conduct an experimental investigation on tensile strength and impact strength of palmyra palm leaf stalk fiber (PLSF) and sisal fiber reinforced polymer hybrid composite. The composite material was fabricated using hand lay-up techniques. The working parameters are mass fraction ratio of PLSF/sisal fiber and volume fiber fraction with the matrix. Tensile strength and impact energy resistance tests were experimentally conducted according to the ASTM standard dimensions. The results revealed that the addition of sisal fiber to PLSF enhanced the tensile strength by 12.850 %, 26.540 %, and 30.630 % respectively compared to pure Palmyra palm leaf stalk fiber reinforced composite (PPFRC). Whereas, the addition of PLSF to sisal fiber improved the impact of energy by 20.980 %, 13.610 %, and 11.880 % compared to pure sisal fiber reinforced composite (PSFRC). The tensile strength with 20 % fiber volume fraction is improved by 53.996 % and 12.188 % compared to 10 % and 15 % of fiber respectively. The impact strength was also enhanced by 24.931 % and 10.030 % compared to 10 % and 15 % of volume fiber fraction respectively. The tensile strength and impact energy of the treated fiber composite increased by 62.243 % and 22.478 % respectively compared to the untreated hybrid Palmyra palm leaf stalk and sisal hybrid fiber reinforced composite (UHPSFRC). Generally, the HPSFRC-2 (Palmyra palm leaf stalk/sisal fiber) (P/S ratio 50/50 % ratio with 20/80 % ratio of fiber/matric percentage reinforced polymer hybrid composite) has good tensile strength and impact energy. Therefore, the mechanical property of the (Palm/Sisal) hybrid composite can be used for the manufacturing of the automotive interior parts like door panel, dash board, seat back, and automotive roof.

An intelligent character segmentation system coupled with deep learning based recognition for the digitization of ancient Tamil palm leaf manuscripts

Palm-leaf manuscripts, rich with ancient knowledge in areas such as history, art, and medicine, are vital cultural treasures, making their digitization essential for preserving this heritage. Digitization of these organic and fragile manuscripts is required to safeguard the essential ancient data. This requires optimal character segmentation and recognition algorithms. A limited number of studies have been carried out in Tamil character recognition in literature. Handling row-overlapped characters, noise introduced due to lightning issues, and dirt, as well as the removal of punch holes, auto-cropping the content, filtering out noisy or improper segmentation, etc. are the essential concerns carried out in our proposed work. This work is executed as a four-step process (1) Palm Leaf Manuscript Acquisition (2) Pre-Processing (3) Segmentation of Tamil Characters and (4) Tamil Character Recognition. During acquisition, the scanners are used for recording palm leaf manuscripts from the Tamil Nadu-oriented manuscript library. In the Pre-processing step, the Fast Non-Local Means (Fast-NLM) method, paired with median filtering is used for Denoising the scanner output image. Later, the pixels that make the characters and borders (i.e., the foreground) are identified using Sauvola thresholding. The proposed methodology introduces efficient techniques to remove Punch hole impressions from the pre-processed image, and to crop the written content from the edges. After pre-processing, the Segmentation of Tamil Characters is performed as a three-step process (a) Manuscript (b) Line, and (c) character segmentation, which addresses conjoined lines, partially/completely empty segmentations that are not previously addressed by existing techniques. This work introduces an Augmented HPP line-splitting algorithm that accurately segments written lines, handling wrong segmentation cases that were previously not considered by existing techniques. The system achieves an average segmentation accuracy of 98.25%, which far outperforms existing techniques. It also proposes a novel Punch hole removal algorithm that can locate and remove the punch-hole impressions in the manuscript image. This algorithm, along with the automated content cropping technique, increases recognition accuracy and eliminates any manual labor needed. These features make the proposed methodology highly suitable for real-time archaeological and historical researches that include manuscripts. All 247 letters and 12 numeric digits are analyzed and separated into 125 distinct writable characters. In our work, characters are segmented and used for recognition of all 247 letters and 12 digits in Tamil using a multi-class CNN with 125 classes, which drastically reduces the complexity of the neural network compared to having 257 output nodes. It offered a notable performance of 96.04% accuracy. As compared with existing Tamil and other character recognitions, this work is effective in essence of considering real-time images and the increased number of characters used.

ANALISIS SIFAT FISIKA DAN SIFAT KIMIA GEL BIODIESEL DARI MINYAK BIJI PALEM PUTRI (Adonidia merrillii)

Biodiesel is an alkyl ester of long-chain fatty acids, the most common of which are methyl esters or ethyl esters. The manufacturing process involves esterification and transesterification. Traditional sources of biodiesel raw materials such as palm oil, soybeans, and jatropha have been widely studied. The princess palm, widely known as an ornamental plant, produces fruit containing seeds with quite high oil potential. This research aims to produce biodiesel and determine the physical and chemical properties from putri palm seeds. This research is experimental research with a quantitative descriptive approach. Putri palm seed oil is extracted using the soxhletation method with n-hexane solvent. The oil was then esterified using methanol with a catalyst of 1% sulfuric acid with a mole ratio of oil and methanol of 1:8 at a temperature of 60°C for 3 hours. The esterified oil is then transesterified using methanol and KOH with a methanol to oil ratio of 1:20 with KOH of 0.8% for 2 hours at a temperature of 60°C. This research has succeeded in making biodiesel from putri palm seeds. The biodiesel produced is in the form of a gel referred to as biodiesel gel with a yellowish brown color with a density of 1,236 gr/ml and a pour point of 36-38°C. The FFA/ALB value is 0.587%, the acid number is 1.177 mg KOH/g, the IOD number is 34.514 (g-I2/100 g), the saponification number is 63.19 mg KOH/g, the heating value is 48.088 MJ/Kg, and the cetane number 38,620. The IOD number, saponification number, and heating value meet the SNI standards for liquid biodiesel in general, while the cetane number and ALB value are close to SNI standards.

The Dual Role of Women in Employment in the Sinah Kasih Village Oil Palm Plantation

Indonesia is the countries with the largest palm oil producer in the world. Oil palm plants are one of the plantation crops that produce vegetable oil, which has become Indonesia's main and superior agricultural commodity. In the division of labor on plantations, there is still an imbalance between men and women. Women spend a lot of time in the garden and have to divide their time into housework. The dual roles experienced by women are very influential in the division of labor. This study presents the division of labor according to Harvard's division of labor. Women also work like men in oil palm plantations and women also play the role of housewives who take care of their husbands, children, and home. Meanwhile, men only work in industry, do not want to contribute to taking care of children and other household work, women do not get the same salary as men.