Abstract
Replanting posed a heavy cost that offsets profits from productive areas, due to the period with no income, as well as the actual cost. Good agronomy has reduced the immature period of oil palms in recent decades. Further possibilities have been investigated in a series of six trials reported here, which concern optimum idposal of the old stand, underplanting, and the field planting of more advanced planting materials (APM). A land clearing trials showed that leaving felled old palms on site costs only about a third of breaking them up mecanically, with or without burning. No disadvantage in growth of young palms nor in accessibility, was found. In an underplanting trial, underplanted palms grew slower, in correlation with the time and proportion of the old stand reamining. In all treatments the old stand completely felled within two years, and after 1 1/2 years of yielding production of the new palms was equalising. Total yield from both old and new stand was greater with retention of part of the old stand. With care, felling the old stand didn't damage the new. Longer retention in conventional nurseries in the older materials trial did not much improve speed to maturity. In the APM trial giant nuersey polybags and winder spacing gave bigger palms for field planting. At 6 months in the field, they have bunches in the best treatments. In transplanting feasibility and optimun age for transplanting trials, a special machine transplanted young field palms, offering possibilities of strategically locative advanced field nurseries. Work is proceeding to optimises this. Land preparation may rule out underplanting, but not use of APM. Pests and diseases generally appear not be limiting, but a precaution against Ganoderma, complete unearthing of the role of the old palms is recommended.The economics favour these techniques, which lead to other possible options, such as a shorter planting cycle.9 ref.Replanting posed a heavy cost that offsets profits from productive areas, due to the period with no income, as well as the actual cost. Good agronomy has reduced the immature period of oil palms in recent decades. Further possibilities have been investigated in a series of six trials reported here, which concern optimum idposal of the old stand, underplanting, and the field planting of more advanced planting materials (APM). A land clearing trials showed that leaving felled old palms on site costs only about a third of breaking them up mecanically, with or without burning. No disadvantage in growth of young palms nor in accessibility, was found. In an underplanting trial, underplanted palms grew slower, in correlation with the time and proportion of the old stand reamining. In all treatments the old stand completely felled within two years, and after 1 1/2 years of yielding production of the new palms was equalising. Total yield from both old and new stand was greater with retention of part of the old stand. With care, felling the old stand didn't damage the new. Longer retention in conventional nurseries in the older materials trial did not much improve speed to maturity. In the APM trial giant nuersey polybags and winder spacing gave bigger palms for field planting. At 6 months in the field, they have bunches in the best treatments. In transplanting feasibility and optimun age for transplanting trials, a special machine transplanted young field palms, offering possibilities of strategically locative advanced field nurseries. Work is proceeding to optimises this. Land preparation may rule out underplanting, but not use of APM. Pests and diseases generally appear not be limiting, but a precaution against Ganoderma, complete unearthing of the role of the old palms is recommended.The economics favour these techniques, which lead to other possible options, such as a shorter planting cycle.