Best Management Practice for Maximum Economic Yield in Oil Palm (BMP-OP II)

This research project was started to implement, test, and refine the Best Management Practice (BMP) concept for yield intensification in order to increase productivity, profitability, and sustainability of palm oil production. BMPs were implemented in five full-size management blocks in six collaborating plantations in Sumatra (North, South) and Kalimantan (West, Central, and East) in existing mature plantings by IPNI and its plantation partners. Results from BMP implementation were compared with those achieved under standard plantation practices in five reference blocks.

Yield advantages with BMPs were significant at all project sites except one, where current yield is probably close to the site yield potential. Bunch yield with BMPs averaged 3.4 t/ha (+15%) higher due to +9% more and +6% heavier bunches. Crop recovery BMPs, including a short harvest interval, are important for high bunch yield in the short term, while other agronomic BMPs related to canopy and nutrient management are important for sustained or enhanced yield in the longer term. Cost per unit area was higher with implementation of BMPs, but higher yields with BMPs improved profitability at the farm gate. In the final year of the project (2013), oil and kernel yields are being estimated. Early indications are that oil extraction rate (OER) with BMPs are slightly lower as more frequent harvests result in overall lower number of detached fruits per bunch in the harvested crop. This decrease in OER is, however, not enough to offset the higher bunch yield with BMP harvesting, so oil yield with BMPs is still projected to be higher. Presentations from this research data were made at two key industry conferences, one in Malaysia and one in Colombia. Analyses will be continued in 2013 with the University of Goettingen in Germany, University of Western Australia, at a Malaysian university, and with plantation partner companies. At least two peer reviewed publications and a master's thesis will be generated from this project. SEA–03