Nutrients for oil palm: A question of balance

摘要

Adequate nutrition is essential during the growth and development stages of the oil palm since nutrient uptake establishes the plant's production potential. EVERY CROP HAS essential nutrient requirements for proper growth and development, and oil palm, in spite of its tough and robust appearance, is no exception. An insufficient amount of a specific nutrient will arrest growth, reduce yield and in acute circumstances cause deficiency symptoms. Plant nutrition is all about balance. A specific nutrienthas to be supplied at a particular level, not only in its own right but also in relation to other nutrients. For instance, soils with an excess of iron may limit the availability of sulphur. Oil palm clearly requires more nitrogen than aluminium but ifthe aluminium becomes available in just moderate amounts, it will lead to phototoxicity and crop damage.