scholarly journals Herbicide weed control increases nutrient leaching as compared to mechanical weeding in a large-scale oil palm plantation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greta Formaglio ◽  
Edzo Veldkamp ◽  
Xiaohong Duan ◽  
Aiyen Tjoa ◽  
Marife D. Corre
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Cation Leaching ◽  
Fertilization Rates ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation

Abstract. Nutrient leaching in intensively managed oil palm plantations can diminish soil fertility and water quality. There is a need to reduce this environmental footprint without sacrificing yield. We quantified nutrient leaching in a large-scale oil palm plantation on Acrisol soil with factorial treatment combinations of two fertilization rates (260 N, 50 P, 220 K kg ha−1 yr−1 as conventional practice, and 136 N, 17 P, 187 K kg ha−1 yr−1, equal to harvest export, as reduced management) and two weeding methods (conventional herbicide, and mechanical weeding as reduced management). Each of the four treatment combinations was represented by a 2500 m2 plot, replicated in four blocks. In each plot, soil-pore water was collected monthly at 1.5 m depth for one year in three management zones: palm circle, inter-row, and frond-stacked area. In the palm circle, nutrient leaching was low due to low solute concentrations and small drainage fluxes, resulting from large plant uptake. Conversely, in the inter-row, nitrate and aluminum leaching losses were high due to their high concentrations, large drainage fluxes, low plant uptake, and acidic pH. In the frond-stacked area, base cation leaching was high, presumably from frond litter decomposition, but N leaching was low. Mechanical weeding, even with conventional high fertilization rates, reduced leaching losses of all nutrients. Mechanical weeding with reduced fertilization had the lowest N and base cation leaching whereas its yield and economic gross margin remain comparable with the conventional management practices. Herbicide weed control decreased ground vegetation, and thereby reduced efficiency of soil nutrient retention. Our findings signified that mechanical weeding and reduced fertilization should be included in the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture program for precision farming (e.g. variable rates with plantation age), particularly for large-scale plantations, and in the science-based policy recommendations, such as those endorsed by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil association.

scholarly journals Herbicide weed control increases nutrient leaching compared to mechanical weeding in a large-scale oil palm plantation

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 5243-5262
Author(s):  
Greta Formaglio ◽  
Edzo Veldkamp ◽  
Xiaohong Duan ◽  
Aiyen Tjoa ◽  
Marife D. Corre
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Fertilization Rates ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation ◽  
Four Blocks

Abstract. Nutrient leaching in intensively managed oil palm plantations can diminish soil fertility and water quality. There is a need to reduce this environmental footprint without sacrificing yield. In a large-scale oil palm plantation in Acrisol soil, we quantified nutrient leaching using a full factorial experiment with two fertilization rates (260 kg N, 50 kg P, and 220 kg K ha−1 yr−1 as conventional practice and 136 kg N, 17 kg P, and 187 kg K ha−1 yr−1, equal to harvest export, as reduced management) and two weeding methods (conventional herbicide application and mechanical weeding as reduced management) replicated in four blocks. Over the course of 1 year, we collected monthly soil pore water at 1.5 m depth in three distinct management zones: palm circle, inter-row, and frond-stacked area. Nutrient leaching in the palm circle was low due to low solute concentrations and small drainage fluxes, probably resulting from large plant uptake. In contrast, nitrate and aluminum leaching losses were high in the inter-row due to the high concentrations and large drainage fluxes, possibly resulting from low plant uptake and low pH. In the frond-stacked area, base cation leaching was high, presumably from frond litter decomposition, but N leaching was low. Mechanical weeding reduced leaching losses of base cations compared to the conventional herbicide weeding probably because herbicides decreased ground vegetation and thus reduced soil nutrient retention. Reduced fertilization rates diminished the nitrate leaching losses. Leaching of total nitrogen in the mechanical weeding with reduced fertilization treatment (32±6 kg N ha−1 yr−1) was less than half of the conventional management (74±20 kg N ha−1 yr−1), whereas yields were not affected by these treatments. Our findings suggest that mechanical weeding and reduced fertilization should be included in the program by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture for precision farming (e.g., variable rates with plantation age), particularly for large-scale oil palm plantations. We further suggest including mechanical weeding and reduced fertilization in science-based policy recommendations, such as those endorsed by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil association.

Does temperate agroforestry reduce nutrient leaching losses compared to cropland monocultures?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Schmidt ◽  
Marife D. Corre ◽  
Xiaohong Duan ◽  
Florian Heinlein ◽  
Edzo Veldkamp
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Temperate Agroforestry ◽  
Wide Range

<p>Over the past decades, excessive use of fertilizers in cropland monocultures in combination with a decrease in fertilizer use efficiency, have led to an increase in nutrient leaching losses, especially for nitrate. Consequently, ground water pollution is widespread and starting to be recognized and potentially sanctioned by the European Union. Unfertilized tree rows alternating with crop rows (e.g. alley-cropping agroforestry) are hypothesized to act as a safety net by taking up excess nutrients below the crop-rooting zone. Here, we measured leaching losses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) during two growing seasons in agroforestry systems and adjacent monocultures at three sites in Germany, representing a wide range of soil characteristics. Leaching losses of N, P and K were generally lower under agroforestry tree rows at all sites compared to agroforestry crop rows or crop monocultures. Overall, agroforestry reduced nitrate leaching losses by up to 82% compared to monocultures, but showed comparable losses of P and K. Nutrient leaching losses were high in the agroforestry crop rows close to the tree rows where crop productivity is lowest due to resource competition with trees. An adjusted management, e.g. reduced fertilizer inputs close to the tree rows, may counteract these losses. Our results suggest that agroforestry has the potential to reduce nutrient leaching losses through the trees and the application of fertilizer should be reduced in the agroforestry crop row close to the trees. The reduction in nutrient leaching losses in agroforestry indicates an increase in the soil function of water filtration. In order to achieve large-scale implementation of temperate agroforestry, its environmental benefits need to be financially valued for farmers to adapt this widely applicable land use alternative. The presented project, SIGNAL (Sustainable intensification of agriculture through agroforestry) is part of the German research initiative BonaRes (Soil as a sustainable resource).</p>

Nutrient leaching from Acerrubrum leaves by experimental acid rainfall

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S. Potter
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Tree Leaves ◽  
Field Site ◽  
Nutrient Pools ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory ◽  
Acid Rainfall

Freshly collected Acerrubrum L. leaves from a regenerating forest stand at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina, were washed with experimental acid rainfall (pH 4.6). Nutrient leaching rates from undamaged leaves were significant for SO42−, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, whereas NO3−-N was absorbed from rainfall. Significantly greater leaching of SO42−, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, and significantly greater absorption of NO3−-N and NH4+-N, occurred in artificially damaged leaves than in undamaged leaves. Comparisons between leaching transfers and foliar nutrient pools showed that base cation (K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) leaching losses account for up to 25% of foliar pools, whereas absorption of NO3−-N and NH4+-N from precipitation can increase total foliar N by almost 2%. Projected growing season cation leaching losses (expressed as a percentage of foliar pools) from damaged leaves were in agreement with previously reported whole-canopy leaching fluxes based on analysis of throughfall at the field site. These results suggest that nutrient leaching losses from young, rapidly growing tree leaves are lower than previously published leaching fluxes for more mature forest stands.

scholarly journals Effect of weeds management toward understorey species diversity and soil fertility under oil palm plantation

2021 ◽  
Vol 306 ◽  
pp. 05013
Author(s):  
Miswarti ◽  
Andi Ishak ◽  
Wahyuni Amelia Wulandari ◽  
Jhon Firison ◽  
Siti Rosmanah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation ◽  
Understorey Plants

The objectives of this study was to determine soil fertility and types of plants in understorey ecosystems in oil palm plantation stand which are managed in different ways. The data collection method was a direct observation on smallholder oil palm plantation at 15 years of age with different management, namely: 1) weed control using herbicides, 2) without management, and 3) used for beef cattle grazing. The data consisted of soil fertility and identification of understorey species in each management. The soil samples were taken in a composite manner and analyzed in the laboratory, while the plant species samples were gathered using the 1x1 m2 method and identified using an identification manual. From the results, weed control in oil palm plantation with cattle grazing has a positive impact on soil fertility compared to the use of herbicides and without control. The diversity of understorey species in cattle grazing locations is less, namely, as much as 11 species compared to the use of herbicides (15 species) and without control (22 species). Weed management by grazing cows in the oil palm plantation increased land fertility and the dominance of understorey plants as a source of animal feed.

Lahan Perkebunan Terlantar Di Sumatera : Faktor-Faktor Penyebab Dan Potensi Kerugian

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Rahmat Purbo Nurcahyo ◽  
Mandala Manurung
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Other ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Abandoned Land ◽  
Potential Losses ◽  
Land Using

<p align="center"><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p><em>One of the rapidly-growing subsectors in the agriculture sector in Sumatra is plantation. Increase in output of this plantation subsector encourage expansion of large scale plantations. On the other hand, many of the plantations were abandoned. This study aimed to find the cause, progression and potential losses from abandoned land, using descriptive and quantitative methods. This study resulted that the increase in the plantation subsector output contribution, increase in plantation subsector productivity, encourage the expansion of plantations and increasing the area of abandoned land. Plantation land from forest areas and oil palm plantation land also showed a tendency to be abandoned.</em></p><p align="center"><em>ABSTRAK</em></p><p>Salah satu sub sektor yang tumbuh dengan cepat di sektor pertanian di Sumatera adalah perkebunan. Peningkatan output subsektor perkebunan ini mendorong ekspansi perkebunan skala besar. Di sisi lain, banyak perkebunan yang ditinggalkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan penyebab, perkembangan dan potensi kerugian dari lahan terlantar, menggunakan metode deskriptif dan kuantitatif. Penelitian ini menghasilkan bahwa peningkatan kontribusi keluaran subsektor perkebunan, peningkatan produktivitas subsektor perkebunan, mendorong perluasan perkebunan dan meningkatkan luas lahan terlantar. Plantation tanah dari kawasan hutan dan lahan perkebunan kelapa sawit juga menunjukkan kecenderungan untuk ditinggalkan.</p>

scholarly journals Conversion of tropical forests to smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations impacts nutrient leaching losses and nutrient retention efficiency in highly weathered soils

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (16) ◽  
pp. 5131-5154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syahrul Kurniawan ◽  
Marife D. Corre ◽  
Amanda L. Matson ◽  
Hubert Schulte-Bisping ◽  
Sri Rahayu Utami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Retention Efficiency ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Land Use Conversion ◽  
Jungle Rubber

Abstract. Conversion of forest to rubber and oil palm plantations is widespread in Sumatra, Indonesia, and it is largely unknown how such land-use conversion affects nutrient leaching losses. Our study aimed to quantify nutrient leaching and nutrient retention efficiency in the soil after land-use conversion to smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations. In Jambi province, Indonesia, we selected two landscapes on highly weathered Acrisol soils that mainly differed in texture: loam and clay. Within each soil type, we compared two reference land uses, lowland forest and jungle rubber (defined as rubber trees interspersed in secondary forest), with two converted land uses: smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations. Within each soil type, the first three land uses were represented by 4 replicate sites and the oil palm by three sites, totaling 30 sites. We measured leaching losses using suction cup lysimeters sampled biweekly to monthly from February to December 2013. Forests and jungle rubber had low solute concentrations in drainage water, suggesting low internal inputs of rock-derived nutrients and efficient internal cycling of nutrients. These reference land uses on the clay Acrisol soils had lower leaching of dissolved N and base cations (P= 0.01–0.06) and higher N and base cation retention efficiency (P < 0.01–0.07) than those on the loam Acrisols. In the converted land uses, particularly on the loam Acrisol, the fertilized area of oil palm plantations showed higher leaching of dissolved N, organic C, and base cations (P < 0.01–0.08) and lower N and base cation retention efficiency compared to all the other land uses (P < 0.01–0.06). The unfertilized rubber plantations, particularly on the loam Acrisol, showed lower leaching of dissolved P (P=0.08) and organic C (P < 0.01) compared to forest or jungle rubber, reflecting decreases in soil P stocks and C inputs to the soil. Our results suggest that land-use conversion to rubber and oil palm causes disruption of initially efficient nutrient cycling, which decreases nutrient availability. Over time, smallholders will likely be increasingly reliant on fertilization, with the risk of diminishing water quality due to increased nutrient leaching. Thus, there is a need to develop management practices to minimize leaching while sustaining productivity.

scholarly journals Formulating Oil Palm Investment Decision in Tidal Wetlands of South Sumatra, Indonesia

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Wildayana
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Land Suitability ◽  
Tidal Wetlands ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation ◽  
Plantation Development ◽  
Fresh Fruit Bunches ◽  
Input Amount

<p>The research aimed to formulate an investment decision for oil palm plantation in tidal wetlands of PulauRimau, Banyuasin South Sumatra Indonesia. The research summarized that Land productivity and input amount will determine some differences of each soil suitability (S<sub>1</sub>, S<sub>2</sub> and S<sub>3</sub>). The more land suitability level is, the more Fresh Fruit Bunches of Oil Palm (FFB) productivity per ha is produced and the less input is given.  Net B/C Ratio, NPV and IRR for all land suitability classes are financially feasible for oil palm plantation development, however the most feasible and the most Expected Rate of Return (IRR) is in tidal wetlands with S<sub>1</sub> land suitability (very suitable), followed by S<sub>2</sub> (suitable) and S<sub>3</sub> (marginally suitable). Sensitivity analysis to feasibility for three land suitability is still economically feasible to build and to develop oil palm plantation, especially in large scale, thus its decision for capital investment is suitable.</p>

scholarly journals The Agrarian, Structural and Cultural Constraints of Smallholders’ Readiness for Sustainability Standards Implementation: The Case of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil in East Kalimantan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2611
Author(s):  
Arya Hadi Dharmawan ◽  
Dyah Ita Mardiyaningsih ◽  
Faris Rahmadian ◽  
Bayu Eka Yulian ◽  
Heru Komarudin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palm Oil ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation ◽  
East Kalimantan ◽  
The Government ◽  
Sustainability Standards

The expansion of oil palm plantation has caused adverse impacts on the ecosystem. It has been associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, disturbances to environmental services and livelihood change. The government of Indonesia has made an effort to control the negative effects by issuing relevant policies. One of the policies is Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO)’s sustainability standards to which large-scale plantations and smallholders are obliged to adhere. This study assesses the readiness of two types of smallholders, namely, the nucleus–plasma scheme and independent smallholders to adopt ISPO standards. Using a case study research approach in two oil palm plantation villages in East Kalimantan, the study found out a number of ISPO implementation challenges, grouped into structural and socio-cultural challenges, which make smallholders less ready to adhere to this mandatory policy. Coping with these challenges, this study proposed that land and business legality programs be expedited to strengthen property rights, and that training and education programs be intensified to enhance awareness, knowledge and capacity of smallholders to enable them to comply with sustainability standards.

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