Soil acidification under oil palm: rates and effects on yield

Abstract

Field experiments in Papua New Guinea have shown strong effects of fertilizer type and placement on soil acidification in oil palm plantations—a potential degradation issue that may eventually have an adverse effect on yields. However, measurements at four sites in Indonesia show that relatively high yields are possible on soils with a low pH, and that best management practices can actually increase pH at low values. It is concluded that current pH levels in major growing areas of oil palm in Southeast Asia can be managed such that they do not prevent relatively high oil palm yields.