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Project Details:
Justification.
The best agronomic management practices in palm are not always implemented. The current yield in most plantations of Ecuador is about 10 t/ha with reported maximums of 30 t/ha, part of the yield gap is related with an imperfect management of the plants (harvest timing, pruning and weeding). As the rest of the tasks are improved, we expect that the efficiency of fertilizer used in the plantation will be higher and there will be a marked improvement in economic returns.
Objectives.
Develop a system of ecological intensification of oil palm production based on the best management alternatives for crop and nutrients.
Material and Methods.
This experiment is located in a plantation of the OLEPSA group, located in the region known as Las Golondrinas. The plantation is located at an elevation of 120 m and with an average precipitation of 2600 mm/yr. Most of the soils are sandy, of alluvial origin but also influenced by volcanic depositions. Organic matter is very high (about 10%). The Tenera hybrid “CIRAD code 2501” was used in the experimental lots; the plants were five years old at the moment that the treatments were initiated. Each experimental unit consisted of 100 plants, and the total area was of 14 ha. The treatments were as follow: 1) “Control” (operations as usual); 2) “Pruning” (at least two older leaves pruned every six months); 3) “Pruning plus weekly harvest; 4) Pruning, weekly harvest and balanced nutrition, that is, more frequent N splitting when weather permits, and additional K and Mg; 5) All the previous plus chemical control of weeds with glyphosate.
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