1.What is the common nutrient requirement for a fruiting oil palm?

• According to research, the nutrients required by each fruiting oil palm are estimated around 0.8-1.1kg of Nitrogen, 0.3-0.4kg of Phosphorus (oxide,P2O5), and 1.5-2.0kg of Potassium (oxide, K2O)per year.
• The golden ratio of NPK is approximately 2 : 1 : 4 (between 2-3 : 1 : 4-5).

• The are few factors to consider when selecting a suitable fertilizer for fruiting oil palms, such as:
  • Initial level of nutrient for leaf and soil.
  • Optimum nutrient ratio.
  • Site potential yield.
• Solution:
  • The convenient approach is to use fertilizer with proper formulated nutrient which match the fruiting oil palm requirement and ratio.

• Produced from factory which is ISO-certified, automated production, and has a high standard of control.
  • The product is laboratory analyzed and all granules have a definite fertilizer composition analysis as declared.
  • Innovative fertilizers which include SULKA, a natural ingredient sourced from the UK and certified organic.
  • Including sulphur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and boron, and features complete dissolution and slow release.
  • Double-packed design to prevent leakage, convenient to use and easy to store.
  • The particle size is uniform and stable, easy to apply and spread evenly, saving manpower and time.

2. Is Sulphur an essential nutrient to oil palm?

• Sulphur is an essential constituent of proteins; it is required for the synthesis of the amino acids which make up proteins. Sulphur is involved in oil synthesis and increases the oil production.
• Early research on oil palm nutrition in Malaysia did not reveal the need for Sulphur supply due to the widely use of ammonium sulphate as N source which provides Sulphur nutrition to palms also. However, recent findings indicate Sulphur input has diminished from continuous Sulphur removal due to crop harvesting and leaching.
• Sulphur is important for the formation of oil in oil palm. Deficiency in Sulphur leads to a decrease in oil formation, affecting oil yield.
• Solution:
  • SULKA is a soluble source of sulphur, potassium, magnesium and calcium, all in sulphate form and with low chloride content.
  • It is recommended to apply SULKA during the wet season to allow for the gradual release of nutrients and a continuous supply of S, K, Mg and Ca during a longer period of crop growth, increasing their assimilation potential.
  • SULKAPALM 10-5-20+2MgO+3CaO+8SO3+TE and SULKAMAX 10-5-23+2MgO+3CaO+8SO3+TE contain SULKA that provide both convenience and benefits from SULKA.

3. Is organic matter important for oil palm?

• Organic matter is important for maintaining soil health for all crops including oil palm. It helps to increase nutrient and water use efficiency, so organic matter levels should be improved to a satisfactory level.
• Organic matter will derive from cleared vegetation in new plantings, from the return of fronds, male inflorescences, old roots in existing stands and from felled palms in replants. Organic matter levels can be improved by adding waste biomass, such as empty fruit bunches, mill effluent and decanter solids, palm shell and fibre.
• Long term deterioration in soil structure and fertility may result from compaction, particularly with mechanisation and from changes in soil pH (especially in acid sulphate soils).
• Economic sustainability requires the use of fertilisers on most soils. Ideally, fertilizer contains certain organic matter can be introduced to enhance soil health and the efficiency of use fertilizer.

• Solution:
  • BIONOKA Series of compacted compound fertilizers stimulate nutrient efficiency by including additional 30% organic matter and amino acid.
  • By using BIONOKA, it helps to increase the nutrient retention inside soil with higher cation exchange capacity (CEC). It also improves soil structure by reducing crusting, encourages better root development, prevents compaction, and improves water holding capacity.

4.Is soluble Phosphorus important to oil palm?

• Phosphorus is important for root development and flower initiation, increse fruit number, and bunch weight/yield.
• The chemistry of P in soil is complex and is influenced by many factors, making the it difficult to manage.
• Common Causes of P Deficiency are lost of top soil, insufficient phosphate fertilizer applied (especially water-soluble phosphate), and P fixation in low pH and acidicf soil.
• Phosphorus inside fertilizer can be in the form of water-soluble form or non-water-soluble form (citrate-soluble). The non-water-soluble form of Phosphorus are strongly bound by soil minerals, therefore become less available to the plant’s uptake.
• Because P isn’t mobile in soils, selecting phosphate fertilizers is a major management decision in oil palm production, a selection of fertilizer with higher percentage of water-soluble Phosphorus is preferable to improve the fertilizer use efficiency.
• Solution:
  • NIFOSK Series; contain 60-80% of water-soluble Phosphorus, among the highest compared to other compound fertilizers that available in market.
  • AGRO Series; contain minimum 40% of water-soluble Phosphorus.