sustainable peat

7/25/2019 sustainable peat

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF

OIL PALM ON PEAT

UPBS Experience


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SCOPE

Nutrition

Drainage & water management

Susidence

FFB collection

Pests & diseases

Yield potential

Costings

Characteristics and classification

of peat

Constraints to oil palm cultivation

New plantings from jungleCompaction of the peat

Replanting from oil palm

Planting density

Mechanisation


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Peat Hectarage in UPB

Shallow peat 730 ha(upto 1 m deep)

Moderately deep peat 470 ha

(1-2 m deep)

Deep peat 4,280 ha

(> 2 m deep)

Total 5,480 ha


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Classification of Peat

Criteria used include depth of organic layer, ash content, nature of

subsoil, salinity of ground water and stage of decomposition.

For tree crops like oil palm, depth of the organic layer is the most

important factor.

Shallow Peat - < 1 m deep

Moderately Deep Peat - 1-2 m deep

Deep Peat - > 2m deep


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Constraints to Oil Palm Cultivation on Deep Peat

Low Bulk Density

- Subsidence & shrinkage of the peat

- Root exposure

- Leaning and lodging of palms

- Movements and access to palms difficult

High Amounts of Undecomposed Timber and Air-pockets in Profile

Low Nutrient Content

High Acidity

High Infrastructure Cost

Drainage and Watermanagement

- Good network of drains to remove excess water

- Watertable management

Pest and Disease Problems

- Termites and ganoderma are a major problem

Irreversible Drying of Peat

However, considerable progress has been made in United Plantations Berhad since the 1980s in overcoming most ofthese problems and today yields comparable to good mineral soils are obtainable on deep peat.


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FFB Yields of the Early Oil Palm Plantings on Deep

Peat in United Plantations Berhad

Year from Planting5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

FFB Yield (t/ha.)11.4

12.8

17.1

16.615.7

13.9

13.0

12.611.8

11.4

10.2

7.8


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New Planting from Jungle

Sequence of Work in the Reclamation of Peat Swamps

for Oil PalmStep 1 : Construction of Perimeter Drain and Bund

Step 2 : Construction of Main Drains

Step 3 : Felling of Jungle

Step 4 : Pruning of branches and windrowing of biomass

Step 5 : Preparation of Field Roads, Secondary and

Field Drains

Step 6 : Compaction of the Peat (Planting Rows and

Harvesting Paths)

Step 7 : Planting


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Perimeter Bund and Main Outlet Drains

Perimeter Drain & Bund Bund

Bund & Watergate


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New Plantings From Jungle


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Compaction of the Peat

Excavator Compacting the Peat Compacted Avenue

Planting


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Effect of Compaction of the Peat on Bulk Density and

on Palm Performance

(Dec. 1980 Planting)

Parameters Uncompacted

Peat

Compacted

Peat

Soil

Bulk Density (Gm/cc)

Yield

FFB (t/ha) (Jan.-Dec.85)Av. Bunch Wt. (Kg.)

(Dec.85-Feb.86)

0.11

21.77.3

0.20

27.68.7


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Replanting From Oil Palm

Shredding Holing

Planting Along

Drain Side

Planting Along

Windrowed Biomass


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Drain Dimensions

In Metres

Top Bottom DepthMain Drains

Collection Drains

Field Drains

5.0

2.5

1.2

2.0

1.0

0.6

2.0

1.5

1.0


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Nursery and Seedling Transport


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Nursery on Peat

Soil Medium

1st choice - Mineral Soil

2nd choice - Soil + Peat

3rd

choice - Sand + Peat4th choice - Peat only

Soil

SandPeat


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Peat Soil For Nursery

Remove larger pieces

of undecomposed

timber

Mix in Limestone dust,

Rock phosphate,

Copper and Zinc

Peat

- LSD, RP, Cu, Zn ++ LSD, RP, Cu, Zn


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Planting Density

Shallow Peat

high & uniform rainfall areas 136 palms/ha.

low rainfall areas 148 palms/ha.

Moderately Deepand Deep Peat

160 PALMS/HA.

160 palms/ha.

Planting SystemCompacted peat - planting at ground level

Uncompacted peat - hole-in-hole planting


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Young Plantings


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Nitrogen

There is an 8-15% response to N in the

early years, but with increasedmineralisation of the organic matter theneed for external N tends to decline withage .

Commercially 0.5-1.5 kg. of urea/palm/yearis recommended

Plant Nutrition


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PHOSPHATE

For optimum growth and production phosphate is

essential. In trials a 20-40% response to P has

been obtained. It is applied as rock phosphate inand around the planting hole at planting with

further annual dressings at 1.0-1.5 kg. per palm.

higher rates can reduce Cu uptake


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Potassium

Peat is very deficient in K and large doses of potash arerequired for optimum production. Usually 3-6 kg. of

MOP or its equivalent is required for mature palms.

Where bunch ash (40% K2O) is available, half the K is

applied as MOP and the other as bunch ash.


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Copper

Cu is fundamental to the growth of oil palm on peat. Deficiency leads tothe condition known as mid-crown chlorosis. For proper establishment,

early application is essential. It is applied to the soil at planting with

further dressing at the end of the 1st and 2nd year. Thereafter, application

is based on leaf levels which should be maintained above 3 ppm and

closer to 5 ppm in frond 17


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Zinc

Like Cu, Zn is also important in oil palm nutrition. Deficiency leads to the

condition known as peat yellows. Early application is recommended. The

method and rate being the same as Cu. Leaf levels in frond 17 should be

maintained above 12 ppm and closer to 15 ppm.

Replants are usually more prone to peat yellows. For rehabilitation, spraying

with ZnSO4 is necessary. Remission occurs within 3-6 months. In United

Plantations, spraying is done regularly over 4,000 ha., twice a year using afixed wing aircraft at 35 litres/ha. of a 18,000 ppm Zn solution.

Zi


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Zinc

Before

Before

Af ter Applicat ion

After Applicat ion

Aer ial Applicat ion


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Other NutrientsMagnesium - No response obtained

- Not commercially applied

except in cases of

imbalance due to very high

K application

Boron - Requirements similar tomineral soils

Manganese & Iron - No response obtained


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Nutrient imbalances N, K, B


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Peat Acidity and Liming

PH of Peat 3.5

Liming is done in the first 2-3 years to correct acidityand to promote better rooting. Thereafter,

applications are made according to requirements.

Overliming can affect K uptake and micronutrient

availability. Where bunch ash is used routinely, lime

application can be reduced or eliminated

W t M t


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Water Management

Watertable Water Level FFBYield

Status (Mean for 8 Years) (Mean for 8 Years)

Medium

Watertable 80 cm 27.4 Tonnes (100%)

(Optimum) (21-165)

Low 96 cm 23.1 Tonnes (84 %)

Watertable (13-165)

High Watertable 44 cm 23.3 Tonnes (85 %)

(0-165)

Watertable Effect on Yield on Deep Peat


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Subsidence

5-7 cm per year during initial years from jungle

clearing.

Thereafter, it settles down to around 2.5 cm per

year.


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Leaning and Lodging of Palms

I ibl D i f P


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Irreversible Drying of Peat

Prevention

Avoid blanket weeding

Maintain ground vegetation

Maintain watertable at 60-80 cm


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Water Holding Capacity of Different

Peat Conditions

Type of Peat W H C(Dry Weight Basis)

Virgin Jungle Peat 220 570 %

Irreversibly Dried Peat 170 %

Hard Clods 102 %

Jungle Peat Irreversibly Dried Peat Hard Clods


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Road/Rail Infrastructure


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FFB Collection and Transfer


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Water Transport of FFB


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Pest and Disease

Termites Valanga Oryctes

Proutista Tirathaba Ganoderma


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Termites

Shallow Deep

Peat PeatCoptotermes curvignathus

Coptotermes sepangensis

Schedorhinotermes sarawakensis

Globitermes sulphures X

Amiteres minor X


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IPM


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21

25

16

20

24

28

29

28

2525

27 28

26

24

22

21

1918

24

27

31

28

26

11

13

1717

16

14

1313

1211

10

8

25

28

32

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th

AGE OF OIL PALM FIELD PLANTING

FFBY

IELD/HA

1999 Planting

1997 Planting

1960s Planting

1980s Planting

1990s Planting

PROGRESS

PROGRESS IN OIL PALM YIELD ON DEEP PEAT


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Biodiversity in Oil Palm Plantings on

Peat Soil in a Lower Perak Estate

PLANTS

Dicots

Monocots

Ferns, sedges and Brackens

ANIMALS

Arthropods

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Fish

MICRORGANISMS

No. of species

19

13

23

52

7

15

5

3

18


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BIRDS


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MAMMALS


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REPTILES


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Development and Immature Upkeep Cost

Development from Jungle (Year 0)

RM/Ha.

1. Jungle felling 355.002. Windrowing residual timber &

compaction of planting rows &

harvesting path 960.00

3. Drainage 380.00

4. Roads 300.00

5. Planting material & planting 1,020.003,015.00

First Year

RM/Ha.

1. LCC establishment & weeding 450.002. Manuring 850.00

3. Pest & disease 150.00

4. Upkeep roads, bridges & drains 50.00

5. Contingencies 50.00

1,550.00


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Second YearRM/Ha.

Weeding 250.00

Manuring 1100.00

Pest & Disease 150.00

Ablation 60.00Pruning 30.00

Supplies 25.00

Upkeep roads, paths 50.00

& bridges

Upkeep drains 25.00Contingencies 50.00

1740.00

Third Year

RM/Ha.

Weeding 250.00

Manuring 1200.00

Pruning 40.00Pest & Disease 100.00

Supplying, census

& sundries 10.00

Upkeep drains 50.00

Contingencies 50.00

1700.00


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Cumulative Cost to Maturity

RM/Ha.

Development 3,015.00

1st year 1,550.00

2nd year 1,740.00

3rd year 1,700.00

General charges 2,500.00

Total 10,505.00



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Thank you

UP

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sustainable peat