Waris Selesa Palm Oil Mill, Sabah, Malaysia

Oil Palm Male Flower

-->

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

Golden Oil from Green Agriculture, Malaysian Palm Oil

-->

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

Exports of Palm Oil & Palm Kernel Oil

Palm oil is the most traded oil in the world. In 2011, its exports reached almost 39.04 million tonnes of which Malaysia’s share was 46%. To add value to crude palm oil and make it ready for human consumption, Malaysian manufacturers have installed the most extensive and efficient refining and fractionation facilities. This had been most successful during the years of 1974 to 1999, when the exports of processed palm oil grew from 0.9 to 8.9 million tonnes. In 2011, Malaysia’s export of palm oil rose to 17.99 million tonnes, after reaching a high of 16.66 million tonnes in 2010. Similar trend in export of palm kernel oil was seen in the same period, with the volume reaching 1.17 million tonnes in 2011.

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

Profit & Environmental Protection

Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer but critics say it is harmful and unsustainable. Can the palm oil industry strike a balance between profits and environmental protection? 

 

In-field Mechanization, Fresh Fruit Bunch Transporter

In-Field FFB Transporter

Investing in a Palm Oil Plantation Business

Palm oil is native to West Africa. Nigeria used to be the world's largest producer of oil palm before the oil boom era, but Malaysia has now taken the leading position. Oil palm plantation and allied industries is now the main stay of the Malaysian economy. The palm tree can be used in various ways: the leaves are used in making brooms and for roofing materials (in the rural areas). The bark of the fond can be peeled and woven into baskets, the main trunk can be split like sawn timbers and used as part of building materials, while palm wine can also be obtained from the palm tree, as well as red palm oil, which is readily obtainable from the fresh fruit bunches.

When the fruit is processed, however, the residue obtained can be used as fuel (for cooking and fertilizer to improve soil nutrient).

Red palm oil is used in cooking, making soap, candle and margarine. Palm kernel oil can be extracted from the nut, while the residue obtainable in the process of palm kernel oil extraction, otherwise called palm kernel cake, is used as livestock feed.

Palm kernel oil is used in vegetable oil and soap making, and the shells are useful as energy source. The uses to which oil palm can be made seem non-exhaustive. This clearly indicates that investment made in the establishment of oil palm plantation is nothing but a wise one.

The market is guaranteed for all the products of oil palm plantation in this era of global food crisis.

Technical Information

To establish palm oil plantation, involves getting a good site where rich, well-drained acidic soils are abundant. The soil should have adequate quantities of potassium, magnesium and nitrogen. Soil tests should therefore be carried out to determine the nutrient status of the land. It is usually better to use the early maturing variety called 'tenera,' which bears fruits as from the fourth year.

Other requirements include seedlings procurement, which can be obtained from reputable nurseries. Prospective investors must engage the services of agricultural experts in the course of establishing this project.

Other cultural practices are planting, regular weeding, pruning and fertilizer application.

Financial Aspect

We are recommending 50 hectares for a start. 20 hectares oil palm plantation can conveniently service a palm oil mill that will be established by the owner when the plantation starts to bring fruit. To establish 50 hectares of plantation, the sum of N10, 500,000 will be required and this is broken down as follows:

Pre-investments: N300, 000
Land acquisition: N4, 000,000
Land clearing/preparation: N3, 000,000
Seedlings procurement: 120/ha(2400 @ N500): N1, 200,000
Other cultural practices @N100, 000/ha: N2, 000,000
Total N10, 500,000

Income Analysis

A mature plantation will start to give an investor five tons of red palm oil annually from the fourth year per hectare. 100 metric tons of oil can be obtained annually from 20 hectares of plantation.

A ton of red palm oil is a minimum of N150, 000, while gross revenue of N15 million is obtained from red palm oil.

We can also get three metric tons of palm kernels per hectare, which gives us 60 tons from 20 hectares. This translates to annual income of N4.2 million. Total income realisable is about N19.2 million, while the annual operating expense is put at N5.8 million.

This leaves us with net income of N13.4 million annually for the investor for the rest of his/her life. Serious-minded investors can be assisted in realising this worthwhile investment.