Indonesian Plantation Research Articles

Assessing Pruning Intensity to Improve the Tea Productivity in Tropical Plantations by Multispectral Image Classification Model Using K-Means Algorithm

Tea (Camellia sinensis) plays a crucial role in the Indonesian economy, but its production has witnessed a decline over the last two years. The majority of tea plantations in Indonesia have historical roots from the Dutch East Indies colonial government, underscoring the importance of monitoring pruning practices in tea plantation management. However, manual monitoring methods prove ineffective, prompting the exploration of precision farming principles using satellite imagery and machine learning to address this challenge. This study was conducted on a 231-hectare tea plantation south of the Tangkuban Perahu Volcano in West Bandung Regency, Indonesia. Sentinel-2B imagery from June to October 2019-2023 was utilized to calculate Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) values and assess tea productivity. Employing the K-Means algorithm, productivity values were grouped, and pruning intensity was categorized into three classes, revealing spatial dynamics influencing tea tree productivity. Our results illustrate distinct spatial patterns of pruning intensity across the 231-hectare tea plantation, identifying three classes: less pruned, moderately intensive pruned, and intensively pruned. We show that proposed model of pruning intensity from K-Means algorithm has overall accuracy of 0.57, with highest precision in less pruned class, while the lowest in moderately intensive pruned class. Notably, consistently higher productivity was observed in less pruned tea trees, while an increase in productivity in intensively pruned trees occurred after the second pruning in 2022. These findings highlight the potential of satellite imagery and machine learning for enhancing precision monitoring in tea plantations, offering a practical approach for long-term plantation management. Emphasizing the significance of pruning strategies, our study suggests that optimizing tea productivity amidst environmental and management challenges is achievable through informed monitoring and strategic pruning practices.

PENGARUH EKSPOR, IMPOR KOPI DAN PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI TERHADAP NERACA PERDAGANGAN INDONESIA TAHUN 2003-2018

This research analyzes the impact of coffee exports, imports, and economic growth on Indonesia's trade balance in 2003-2018. The multiple linear regression analysis method tests the relationship between these variables. Data obtained from Indonesian Plantation Statistics for Coffee Commodities (2019). The research results show that coffee exports significantly negatively impact the trade balance, which means that an increase in coffee exports can cause a decline in the trade balance. On the other hand, coffee imports have a significant negative impact, indicating that increasing coffee imports can contribute to the trade balance deficit. The importance of policies that support increasing the competitiveness of coffee exports, controlling imports, and sustainable economic development to achieve a better trade balance. Further research can explore in-depth micro and macroeconomic aspects to produce more specific policy recommendations.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Production Forecasting in Lampung Province with the Double Exponential Smoothing Method

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is one of the Indonesian plantation commodities which can be processed into cacao and chocolate products which contain natural antioxidants. In Lampung, the cacao commodity is very superior because every year it has significantly increased and cocoa production is one of the plantation commodities that has contributed to the export development of Lampung Province. In this case, forecasting can be used to estimate that cacao production will always experience an increase or decrease. Another function is to provide information for farmers and the government. Forecasting uses the Double Exponential Smoothing method because the technique is suitable for forecasting with trend patterns and for the long term. The results and discussion of this research is that cacao production has increased in forecasting for 10 years with good MAPE criteria, namely 10.81484. From the discussion above, forecasting cocoa production using the Exponential Smoothing method, namely the Double Exponential Smoothing technique assisted by R software, is suitable for use because it produces good forecasts and a low forecasting accuracy value.

The effectiveness of the mixture of basil and betel leaves methanol extracts to suppress Colletotrichum acutatum, the causal agent of anthracnose disease on postharvest cayenne chili

Abstract. Nasahi C, Ramadhanty S, Sudarjat S, Kurniadie D, Bari IN, Subakti-Putri SN. 2023. The effectiveness of the mixture of basil and betel leaves methanol extracts to suppress Colletotrichum acutatum, the causal agent of anthracnose disease on postharvest cayenne chili. Biodiversitas 24: 5513-5522. Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, is a major disease in the cultivation of chili plantations in Indonesia. It is usually controlled by farmers using synthetic fungicides with many adverse effects. Therefore, botanical fungicides are applied as alternative control techniques. This research aimed to examine the effect of mixed methanol extract of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and betel leaves (Piper betle) against C. acutatum on cayenne chili (Capsicum annuum). The method used was a randomized block design (RBD) with thirteen treatments and three replications. The results showed that combining basil and betel leaf methanol extracts suppressed C. acutatum. Furthermore, the most effective treatment was a mixture of 1.5% of each of the extracts, which suppressed the development of the disease at 62.07%. The GC-MS profiling of the basil and betel leaf methanol fraction indicated the presence of bioactive compounds that have antifungal effects against anthracnose.

Paying for forest carbon: Cost‐effectiveness of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) remuneration scheme

AbstractForests play an essential role in climate change mitigation by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon in biomass. Carbon sequestration can be increased by the extension of rotation cycles in existing plantation forests. This study examines the cost‐effectiveness of the remuneration scheme employed by Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), a commonly used carbon accounting method based on the average amount of carbon stored in the forest. We compare the net present value of carbon remuneration under VCS with that of a scheme that remunerates actual carbon storage in each year which we call “current carbon accounting.” We use data for an Acacia mangium plantation in Indonesia where the forestry sector is expected to contribute more than half of the reductions of carbon emissions according to Indonesia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. For our baseline scenario, we find, first, that the payments needed to incentivise additional carbon storage under VCS are considerably higher than under current carbon accounting. Second, the inefficiency is more pronounced at lower discount rates. Third, recent prices reported for VCS forest credits are not sufficient to incentivise forest managers to lengthen the forest rotation in Indonesian plantation forests.

Analisis Sifat Fisiologi Dalam Daun Sebagai Bahan Seleksi pada Beberapa Klon Kopi Arabika (Coffea Arabica L.)

The coffee plant (Coffea) is one of the main types of plants in Indonesian society. Coffee plantations in Indonesia are very influential on the national economy. Several types of Arabica coffee clones began to be developed in order to have certain resistance to overcome attacks by various OPT which had a considerable impact on harvest success. The existence of resistance genes in plants, suitability with virulent genes and environmental influences become obstacles in making coffee clones that are resistant to certain pests. The physiological properties of coffee plants will affect the rate of growth and development of plants so that it will have an impact on their production. Selection of plant varieties is carried out to obtain certain superior characters with high yield potential. An analysis of the physiological properties must be carried out to identify and determine the desired selection criteria. This research was conducted at the Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jember in June – end, using a single factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD), namely several Arabica coffee clones. Arabica coffee clone consists of 15 clones. Each clone was repeated three times, so that in this experiment there were 45 experimental units. Observational data obtained were analyzed using variance. If there is a significant difference between the treatments then proceed with Duncan's multiple range test at the 5% level. Based on the data and discussion of the research that has been done, it can be concluded that the fifteen arabica clones have different characteristics. The best Arabica coffee clone is the Sigararutang coffee clone which has a high value with (76.76 mg/g) chlorophyll content, (4.15 mg/g) flavonoid content, (7.07 mg/g) phenol content, ( 0.89 mg/g) dissolved protein content and (86.94 mg/g) antioxidant content.
 
 Keywords: Coffee clones, chlorophyll, flavonoids, phenols, soluble proteins, antioxidants

Factors that Influence the Farming Business of Cocoa Farmers (Theobroma Cacao L) in Negeri Sepa, Amahei District, Central Maluku Regency

Plantations in Indonesia are dominated by smallholder plantations. This is a challenge as well as an opportunity for investors and farmers to develop their businesses and achieve greater added value from cocoa agribusiness. Negeri Sepa is located in a coastal area with the scope of village communities who mostly have a livelihood as farmers. Workers working in agriculture earn income that is used to make ends meet and improve household welfare. This study aims to determine the physical and non-physical factors of cocoa in Sepa Country, Amahai District, Central Maluku Regency. The method used in this study is quantitative descriptive to explain the Factors That Affect Cocoa Farmer Farming in Sepa Country. Data analysis in this study used a Frequency Table. The results of frequency tabulation show that the factors that affect cocoa farming in Sepa Country, Amahai District, Central Maluku Regency are Physical Factors (Climate, Soil & Topography) and Non-Physical Factors (Cocoa Farm Management, Capital, Number of Workers, Transportation, Marketing, Credit Facilities and Technology)

Exchange Rate Volatility and Leading Export Commodities of Plantations in Indonesia: The Gravity Model Approach

AbstractThe plantation sector is a sector that has an important and strategic role in development. This is reflected in the role of the plantation sector as a provider of employment opportunities, meeting the domestic industry's needs for consumption and raw materials and achieving added value through increased competitiveness. This study aims to analyze the effect of the real exchange rate and volatility on Indonesia's leading plantation export commodities to trade partner countries from 1997 to 2016. The research method used is the estimated gravity model with fixed or random effects. The results showed that the exchange rate and volatility positively and negatively affected plantation exports. Thus, the Government must adopt policies to increase the competitiveness of domestic products and anticipate competition between domestic exporters. In addition, exchange rate stabilization policies are needed to control volatility to reduce uncertainty's impact on Indonesia's plantation exports.Keywords: Exchange Rate, Leading Estate Crops, Export, Panel Data, Gravity Model

Development of Few Significant SNP Markers from Transcriptomic Data for Selection of Sengon (Falcataria falcata (L.) Greuter & R. Rankin) Resistant to Boktor Stem Borer and Gall Rust Disease

Sengon (Falcataria falcata (L.) Greuter & R. Rankin) plantations in Indonesia are threatened by attacks from Boktor stem borers and gall rust disease. Controlling pests and diseases is difficult; therefore, planting resistant trees obtained from tree selection programs is necessary. Currently, genomic breeding often incorporates GWAS, which uses thousands of SNP markers to identify markers with significant associations with the traits studied. This study aimed to bypass such expensive studies by identifying and developing SNP markers from sequences of putative resistance genes to Boktor stem borer and gall rust disease, identified from sengon transcriptomic data analysis. A total of 496,194 putative SNP sites were identified from transcriptomic sequences using the SAMtools and BFCtools programs, of which 119 SNP sites were associated with resistance genes. Of the 101 non-synonymous SNPs selected, only 12 were located in the conserved domain of each gene and were used for primer design. Of the 13 primers designed, only 10 were successfully amplified. Validation of 10 developed SNP markers on 100 sengon accessions using the HRM method confirmed a significant association between SNP markers and resistance traits, with a -log 10 (P-value) between 10.49 and 16.63. A few SNPs markers developed from putative resistance gene sequences are associated with resistance traits in sengon. Therefore, the SNP markers could be applied in selection programs for sengon trees resistant to Boktor stem borers and gall rust disease.

Pengaruh Bakteri Pelarut Fosfat terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Kedelai pada Pertanaman Kelapa Sawit TM-I

Wide space among oil palm Mature Stage I (MS I) plantations has a potential to be planted with soybean by using intercropped system. One type of soil in oil palm plantations in Indonesia is Inceptisol which generally has low P availability. Efforts possible to increase P availability are the applications of inorganic P fertilizer and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB). This study aims to learn the effects of various inorganic P fertilizer and PSB doses on the growth and yield of soybean in oil palm MS I plantation and determine the effects of intercropping soybean on the growth and physiology of oil palm MS I. The research was conducted at Ciparanje Experimental Field, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, from February to May 2023. The study used randomized block design with seven treatments and four replications. Treatment consisted of different doses of Bacillus sp. and SP36 which included: 100% SP36, 50 kg/ha PSB + 25% SP36, 50 kg/ha PSB + 50% SP36, 50 kg/ha PSB + 75% SP36, 75 kg/ha PSB + 25% SP36, 75 kg/ha PSB + 50% SP36, and 75 kg/ha PSB + 75% SP36. Results showed PSB and P fertilizer had a significant effect on the dry weight of 100 seeds and leaf chlorophyll index of soybean. Dose of 50 kg/ha PSB + 50% SP36 increased the dry weight of 100 seeds by 3,99% and leaf chlorophyll index by 15,35%.

Effect of various packaging on the quality of Gayo arabica coffee processed using full-washed method

Gayo Arabica coffee is known as one of the best quality coffees in the world. This study examined physical and chemical properties of Gayo Arabica coffee which was processed using the full-washed method after being stored for 4 months in several types of packaging (Grain Pro, Aluminum Foil, Plastic sack, Cloth sack, and Ramie sack). The parameters analyzed were moisture content, ash content, lipid content, protein content, caffeine content, total phenol, pH along with color and specific volume. After being stored for 4 months at room temperature, different type of packaging gave a significant effect on moisture, ash, lipid, protein, caffeine, total phenol and pH of the coffee. In addition, various packaging carried out in this experiment did not change the color and specific volume of the bean. Coffee plantations in Indonesia are very wide, so that the plants will certainly have a positive impact on the surrounding environment and support biodiversity. Further research is continued by extending stored period of the green bean and knowing the impact of packaging on the coffee quality.

Variations in species diversity and the role of butterflies in oil palm agroecosystems at PT BSM South Sumatra

Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and controlling pests/chemical diseases is one of the prerequisites for the realization of sustainable oil palm plantation management. In line with that, the paradigm of green economic development requires optimizing the utilization of biodiversity in various aspects of managing oil palm plantations in Indonesia. Therefore, research is needed that can describe the variation and role of biodiversity (one of which is butterfly taxa) in the agro-ecosystem of oil palm plantations. This study aims to identify variations in species diversity and the role of butterflies in the agro-ecosystem of oil palm plantations. Observation of butterfly species diversity was carried out on seven types of oil palm plantation land cover at PT BSM. The method used is pollard transect (2 km with a width of 10 m) and trapping. The role of various types of butterflies is carried out through a literature search. The results showed that there were 163 individuals from 30 species and consisted of 4 families namely Papilionidae, Pieridae and Lycaenidae. The highest diversity and richness index values were found in smallholder plantations 1 (H′=2.42) and (Dmg=4.01), while the lowest were found in young oil palm areas (H′=0.87) and (Dmg=0. 99). The highest evenness index value was found in shrubs (E=1) while the lowest was in young oil palm land cover (E=0.54). Butterfly species that have potential as environmental bioindicators are Tanaecia pelea, Neptis hylas, Cupha erymantis, Neptis ida, Danaus affinis, Junonia atlites, Leptosia nina, Catopsilia pyranthe, Rapala iarbus, Papilio memnon, Losaria coon, Papilio polytes, Spindiasis lohita and Eurema hecabe. While the pollinators are Ypthima baldus, Catopsilia pyranthe, Hypolimnas bolina, Papilio polytes, and Neptis hylas.

The roles of high conservation value area to support biodiversity conservation in Indonesia

Oil palm plantations are often considered as one of the causes of the decline in biodiversity. Conversion of forest land to oil palm is the main factor. However, legally, land conversion can be carried out and oil palm plantation companies have also protected areas that have high conservation value, including important animal habitats. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of high conservation value areas in the conservation of biodiversity. The study was conducted on several oil palm plantations in Indonesia by conducting a literature review of high conservation value documents on several oil palm plantation companies. High conservation value areas in oil palm plantations are determined based on the presence of endangered and protected animals such as proboscis monkeys and orangutans. With the stipulation of the area as a HCV area, the presence of these animals becomes more concerned because the company has the responsibility to monitor the presence of these animals. In addition, the company also conducts socialization to the community and workers to take care of these animals. The existence of the HCV area also indirectly supports the government’s program in this case is the establishment of an Essential Ecosystem Area that functions to protect important animals outside the conservation area.

The role of Leguminosae plants for soil fertility in oil palm plantations

The greatest and most lucrative plantation product in Indonesia is palm oil. The availability of nutrients in the soil affects how oil palm plants grow and develop. To overcome the low availability of nutrients in the soil to meet the needs of plants, fertilization operations are required. The concept of a green economy necessitates that the palm oil industry limits its usage of chemical fertilizers as well as chemical pest and disease management. Oil palm plants require a variety of fertilizers that are rich in macronutrients (N, P, and K), secondary nutrients (Ca and Mg), and micronutrients (B, Zn, and Cu). The potential use of biodiversity as a soil fertility agent, such as Leguminosae plants, must be researched. The purpose of this study is to define the function of Leguminosae plants in oil palm farms’ soil fertility. Several scientific papers that were pertinent to the research issue were studied for literature as part of the data collection process. Oil palm plantations in Indonesia have implemented the planting of legume cover crops (LCC). Planting LCC suppresses weed growth, protects the soil from direct sunlight and raindrops, reduces surface runoff, maintains soil moisture, and increases soil fertility. Neustanthus phaseoloides var. javanicus, Calopogonium caeruleum, C. mucunoides, Mucuna bracteata, M. pruriens var. utilis, and Centrosema pubescens are a few Leguminosae plants that can be used as cover crops. In addition to these species, planting Parkia timoriana, P. speciosa, and Archidendron pauciflorum trees can help improve soil fertility. Oil palm plantations with legumes have a higher clay texture, an average pH of 6.0, and high levels of N-total, P, K, and C-organic, whereas non-legume oil palm plantations have a sandy texture and high dust, an average pH of 5.3, and very low levels of N-total, P, K, and C-organic. Legumes, in addition to being a cover crop, can also be used as animal feed and to increase nutrient levels in plants. Planting LCC in oil palm plantations can affect the nutrient content of forages that grow under oil palm trees because the root nodules of LCC contain rhizobium bacteria that function to fix nitrogen from the air and are converted by the nitrogenase enzyme into ammonium and nitrate as a source of N for the LCC. The concept of integrated plantations can be applied to oil palm plantations by using LCC, which has hampered the growth of oil palm plants as animal feed, and P. timoriana, P. speciosa, and A. pauciflorum trees as economically valuable food plants.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) utilization for mapping the health of oil palm plants (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

The increasing development and expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia cause monitoring management to be increasingly difficult to manage a plantation and currently requires technological innovation that is faster and more accurate in providing information, one of which is using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), often called a drone, a flying machine. Which is controlled remotely using a remote control from outside the vehicle, this is used for monitoring and calculating the number of healthy and diseased plants in a large plantation area that can be covered. The purpose of this research is to map the health of oil palm plants using drone technology. The research method is using drones and oil palm application (OPA) software to calculate the number of oil palm stands followed by plant verification with a plant census using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine the distribution of healthy and diseased oil palm plants. The result of the research is a map that displays information on plant health and the number of plants characterized by colour.

Physical and Magnetic Properties of Sengon (Falcataria moluccana Miq.) Impregnated with Synthesized Magnetite Nanoparticles

Sengon is one of the fast-growing wood that dominates Indonesian plantation forests and has been used as industrial raw material, fuel, and construction material. To enhance the physical characteristics of sengon wood, it needs technology of wood quality improvement, such as impregnation method by using Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Beside to enhance the quality of sengon wood, this technology can also expand the utilization of fast-growing wood. The presented research aims to examine the effects on physical and magnetic properties of sengon wood after being treated by magnetite nanoparticles impregnation. Magnetite nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation method with a precursor solution of iron ions mixture and weak base (NH4OH). The treatments of the magnetic wood consisted of 3 different concentrations that is untreated, 1% and 5% magnetite nanoparticles impregnation solution with demineralized water as a dispersant. Dimensional stability parameters, such as weight percentage growth, bulking impact, and effectiveness against swelling are increasing along the increase of concentration. Characterization tests such as SEM–EDX analysis showed the existence of Fe deposition in the wood cell membranes and pores of the wood. XRD analysis showed the appearance of magnetic peaks in the diffractogram in accordance with the decreased of crystallinity while the concentration increased and FTIR analysis showed Fe-O functional groups. Sengon wood magnetic was identified based on the VSM study, as a superparamagnetic components with mild magnetic characteristics.

Climate change and its adaptation strategies on tea plantation in West Java, Indonesia

Climate change, i.e., changing rainfall refers to drought and excess rainfall, is known to affect the growth and yield of tea production in many regions. However, research on the impact of climate change on tea plantations in Indonesia is still limited. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of changing rainfall on the productivity of tea plantation at Cianjur, West Java. The data was collected from interviews, field data, and company records from April to July 2022. The results showed that changing rainfall of both limited rainfalls during El Nino and excess rainfall during La Nina affected the tea production. Annual tea productivity declined during both climatic events. Shortage of water during El Nino primarily reduced crop growth, while excess rainfall during La Nina reduced the capacity of tea pickers and increased labor for crop maintenance. Failure to adapt to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change could contribute to declining tea production in Indonesia. Thus, comprehensive action is needed including capacity building in human resources, water management, and microclimate adaptation such as shading plants and tolerant clones to sustain tea production under climate change events.

An overview of black pepper: cultivation and challenges

Black pepper, renowned for its strong taste and medicinal properties, is a widely traded spice worldwide. This article provides an overview of black pepper farming, highlighting the challenges it faces and suggesting sustainable solutions. The pungent flavor comes from its main chemical component, piperine, typically present in concentrations below 9%. Over time, the plant trade that historically originated from India has experienced significant growth, with Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, India, and Malaysia emerging as major global producers. However, despite the expansion of pepper plantations in Indonesia, there has been a decline in both production value and productivity growth. This can be attributed to factors such as the use of subpar seeds, limited availability of suitable land, pest and disease infestations, less intensive farming methods, farmers' limited knowledge, and pesticide residues from excessive chemical pesticide use. To overcome these challenges, farmers can collaborate through groups, adopt intensive cultivation methods, grow pest and disease-resistant varieties, incorporate refuge plants, employ biopesticides for pest control (particularly for major pests like Lophobaris piperis, Dasynus piperis, Diconocoris hewetti, and Thrips sp.), use chemical pesticides sparingly and responsibly, and ensure effective post-harvest processing.

Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Produktivitas Tenaga Kerja Penyadap Karet PT Melania Indonesia Mas Estate (Studi Kasus di PT Melania Indonesia Mas Estate Desa Mainan, Kecamatan Sembawa, Kabupaten Banyuasin, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan

Factors Affecting Labor Productivity of Rubber Tapping PT. Melania Indonesia Mas Estate (Case Study at PT Melania Indonesia Mas Estate Toy Village, Sembawa District, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra)
 This study aims to determine the productivity of the tapping labor force and the factors that influence the productivity of the rubber tapping workforce of PT Melania Indonesia. This analysis uses independent variables, namely wages, work experience and incentives. The dependent variable is the productivity of tapping labor. The sample of this research is the rubber tapper workers of PT Melania Indonesia as many as 78 respondents. Statistical method using Multiple Linear Regression Analysis using SPSS 24 program, with hypothesis testing statistical test t. The results of the analysis of data from the t test showed that the wage variable (X1) had a positive and significant effect on productivity with a Sig value of 0.009 <0.05, the work experience variable (X2) and incentives (X3) also had a positive and significant effect on productivity with a Sig value. 0.000 < 0.05 and 0.000 < 0.05. The magnitude of the coefficient of determination R2 is 0.950. This means that the tapping labor productivity variable is influenced by the variables of wages, work experience and incentives by 95%. The conclusion of this study is that the variables of wages, work experience and incentives are factors that affect the productivity of rubber tappers in PT Melania Indonesia's plantation. In this case, plantation companies are expected to pay attention to stability in the provision of wages, work experience and incentives, this is because these variables are the driving factors that affect the workforce in achieving company goals.

Temporal variation in nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes from an oil palm plantation in Indonesia: An ecosystem‐scale analysis

AbstractThe rapidly growing areal extent of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations and their high fertilizer input raises concerns about their role as substantial N2O sources. In this study, we present the first eddy covariance (EC) measurements of ecosystem‐scale N2O fluxes in an oil palm plantation and combine them with vented soil chamber measurements of point‐scale soil N2O fluxes. Based on EC measurements during the period August 2017 to April 2019, the studied oil palm plantation in the tropical lowlands of Jambi Province (Sumatra, Indonesia) is a high source of N2O, with average emission of 0.32 ± 0.003 g N2O‐N m−2 year−1 (149.85 ± 1.40 g CO2‐equivalent m−2 year−1). Compared to the EC‐based N2O flux, average chamber‐based soil N2O fluxes (0.16 ± 0.047 g N2O‐N m−2 year−1, 74.93 ± 23.41 g CO2‐equivalent m−2 year−1) are significantly (~49%, p < 0.05) lower, suggesting that important N2O pathways are not covered by the chamber measurements. Conventional chamber‐based N2O emission estimates from oil palm up‐scaled to ecosystem level might therefore be substantially underestimated. We show that the dynamic gas exchange of the oil palm canopy with the atmosphere and the oil palms' response to meteorological and soil conditions may play an important but yet widely unexplored role in the N2O budget of oil palm plantations. Diel pattern of N2O fluxes showed strong causal relationships with photosynthesis‐related variables, i.e. latent heat flux, incoming photosynthetically active radiation and gross primary productivity during day time, and ecosystem respiration and soil temperature during night time. At longer time scales (>2 days), soil temperature and water‐filled pore space gained importance on N2O flux variation. These results suggest a plant‐mediated N2O transport, providing important input for modelling approaches and strategies to mitigate the negative impact of N2O emissions from oil palm cultivation through appropriate site selection and management.