Oil Palm Male Flower

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Can BioEnrich resolve oil palm trees from producing male flower problem?

Today, there is a growing trend of oil palm tree producing male flower. This phenomenon is becoming more common and problematic. It caused a significant drop of yield and decreased farmers' income because male flower does not produce any fruit bunch. Over the past 40 years, this problem is not prevalent. Why this phenomenon is getting common? Is there any solution to counter this problem?

An oil palm tree produces more male flower for a simple reason. It does not get enough nutrients as needed. Tree is a living object, and it reacts according to the problems encountered. Since the tree cannot get sufficient nutrient from its current rooting system, soil condition or overall environment factor to produce fruit bunch, it will accordingly "give up" and starts producing male flower.

Male flower phenomenon happens in the situation stipulated as below:

i) Acidic and harden soil - While acidic soil can stop root development, harden soil will block root hair from nutrients intake. Furthermore, harden soil cannot keep water. As a result, trees are not getting adequate water and nutrients.

ii) Hilly land - Generally soil erosion is extensive in slopes and terrain compared to undulating and flat land. All fertilizer applied will easily flushed away by rain water if no measures are taken to prevent or control soil erosion at steeply sloping land. This caused the soil "unfertilized". Besides, slope land usually cannot retain water. The most important thing for an oil palm tree to grow healthy is the quality of soil and water where they are put in. If the tree does not get enough water for weeks or months, it will produce male flower.

iii) Good oil palm trees have big tree trunks and can generate higher yield. Unfortunately, when soil has already been depleted of its natural nutrients and micro-organisms, the tree will produce male flower. The problem arises not because of the species, but the soil condition. You must always set up a very good soil condition so that this "big eater" species can consume enough nutrients and produce more fruit bunch.

iv) Replanting land. Coconut and oil palm belongs to the same family and they require similar nutrients for growth. If the same crop or a similar type belonging to the same family is grown in the same land for a long period, it will suffer from the accumulated pests and diseases from the previous crop(s) and may not grow well. This will result in soil problems. When a tree lack of few essential trace elements, the tree growth will be affected and thus male flower is produced. This explained why all virgin land has no serious male flower issues.

Male flower is not a disease. It just a symptom reflected by the trees. When the quality of soil condition and water is improved, this phenomenon will subsequently diminish. The next generation is basic instinct of all living things in the world, a living will not simply sacrifice it ability for next generation provided the mother life is not in harm. This is just the rule of nature.

Conclusion: BioEnrich able to enhanced soil fertility and restoring soil ph naturally, thus is able to resolve oil palm from producing male flower.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4821741

Type of Soil & Fertilizer Suitable for Palm Oil Tree

Palm Fruits at a Glance

Species: Elaeis guineensis Type: Tenera (DXP) Planting density: 148 palm/ha Nursery period: 24 months Economic Life: 25 years

Bunch weight: 10-15 kg Fruitlets/bunch: 1000-3000 Oil/bunch: 22-25% Kernel/bunch: 4% Kernel production/year: 8kg Oil production/year: 42.5 kg

Bunch weight: 10-15 kg Fruitlets/bunch: 1000-3000 Oil/bunch: 22-25% Kernel/bunch: 4% Kernel production/year: 8kg Oil production/year: 42.5 kg

Oil Palm in Malaysia

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) was first introduced to Malaysia as an ornamental plant in 1870. Since 1960, planted area had increased at a rapid pace. In 1985, 1.5 million hectares were planted with palm tree, and it had increased to 4.3 million hectares in 2007. It has become the most important commodity crop in Malaysia. As of 2011, the total planted area was 4.917 million hectares.

The oil palm planted currently is the tenera hybrid which yields about 4.0 t of palm oil per hectare, together with 0.5 t palm kernel oil and 0.6 t palm kernel cake. Oil palm has an economic life of about 25 years. The harvesting of the palm could begin 30 months after field planting. 

The palm fruit is about the size of a small plum and is borne in large bunches weighing between 10 kg - 50 kg. A bunch can have up to 2000 fruits, each consisting of a hard kernel (seed) within a shell (endocarp) which in turn is surrounded by a fleshy mesocarp. The mesocarp is made up of about 49% oil and about 50% kernel.

The two oils (palm oil and palm kernel oil) have very different compositions. Palm oil (from the mesocarp) contains mainly palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1); the two most common fatty acids in natural oils and fats, and is about 50% saturated. Palm kernel oil is more than 80% saturated and contains mainly lauric acid (C12:0)

Is Biodiesel Made From Palm Oil Threatening ..?

Many environmental organisations and conservationists have been warning us that eating foods and using biodiesel made from palm oil is having a direct effect upon and threatening the survival of that much loved primate the Orangutan.

So what's all the fuss about?

Environmentalists have generally been largely supportive of the adoption of biodiesel because, apart from being biodegradable, it gives off fewer emissions when used in our vehicles. Not all biodiesel fuel is the same however, some are better than others in the way they are produced and environmental organisations have begun to question oil palm cultivation especially, in recent years, how large areas of natural rainforest have been cleared to make way for oil palm plantations. It is argued that apart from the loss of forest ecosystems, oil palm cultivation has become a major polluter on a local level due to indiscriminate use of petroleum based pesticides and fertilizers. This has lead to soils becoming so polluted over time that many previously fertile areas have become wastelands.

What has given rise to this deforestation?

Western governments have largely embraced the need to cut emissions and have set aggressive targets encompassing the use of so called first generation Biofuels made from food crops. The transportation sector has been singled out due to the fact it is a major volume source of carbon emissions. It could be argued that this has contributed directly to the rapid development of the Biofuels industry and marketplace. Also the rise in the cost of crude oil to record levels by mid 2008 meant palm oil has become an increasingly important agricultural crop in tropical countries with Malaysia and Indonesia seeing the opportunity for increased exploitation. These two countries account now for around 85% of palm oil production across the world. This area of the world is also the natural habitat of Orangutans and the increased deforestation is now a threat to their very existence.

But why is Palm Oil so important?

Quite simply oil palm is the most productive oil seed there is and it can produce over 10 times more crude oil per hectare than soybeans and over 20 times more than corn. Another factor making palm oil in increasing demand is apart from being used in Biodiesel production, it is also used as an ingredient in many other day to day household foodstuffs as well as cosmetics. Ironically, oil palm may be more ecologically friendly due its higher yield factor in theory requiring less land by a significant factor than traditional crops. Many environmental organisations, oil companies and western governments recognise this and are beginning to try to put the case to the local governments concerned.

But oil prices are going down now so will demand for palm oil drop?

Palm oil prices tend to move in step with the price of crude oil and during the second half of 2008 prices have fallen rapidly also as a result of the global recession demand for palm oil should slow down. Critically, does this mean we will see a slow down in the expansion of oil palm plantations? Supply and demand economics for palm oil suggest it should do, but the sceptics amongst us have maintained that oil palm development may in fact be a cover for something that is far more profitable - logging. In Indonesia millions of hectares of forest have been cleared for plantation development and plans are in place to double oil palm production over the next 15 to 20 years spilling over into Borneo. Logging is a much more profitable to both the logging companies and the local governments.

What of the Orangutans?
I'm not sure Orangutans understand the economics and politics in their region of the world. If they did then it is likely they would be putting pressure on the governments both locally and around the world to re-consider the plans they have for what is still the largest tropical rainforest in Asia. Perhaps the local agricultural ministers in question should look at the mounting pressure from the West, look to their conscience and re-evaluate all available information. Perhaps they would then realise that the long term survival of the regions biodiversity is not only crucial for local indigenous peoples but also our friendly Orangutans and who knows perhaps the very survival of our planet in the long term.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1723743

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