Drip irrigated Oil Palm
Drip irrigated Oil Palm.
Some Facts:
- World production of OILS & FATS in 2005 was 142 million tons, of which 80% was used for Food and 20% for non-food purposes
- Two oils & fats sources determine the market i.e., Palm Oil & Soybean oil, of which is Palm Oil accounts 33.52 million tons per annum
- Palm Oil supplies at least 20.1% of the global demand for oils & fats
- About 50% of the global export trade depends on Palm Oil
- About 50% of the Palm Oil produced in the world is equally used equally by 4 big players viz., EU, China, India & Indonesian domestic market
- Major Cash crop for Malaysia & Indonesia; and Forex earner
- Rural development and employment generation (political importance in Malaysia)
- Carbon sequestration
Drip Irrigation benefits for Palm Oil:
- Significant yield increases in response to irrigation
- Yield increased averaged about 6 tons FFB/ha/year
- Irrigation @ 4 ? 5 mm/day significantly increased the bunch number/plant
- Irrigation methods viz., Furrow, sprinkler, micro sprayer showed quadratic Response over 240 L/palm/day
- Drip gave a linear response up to 360 L/palm/day registering an yield of 26.6 tons FFB/ha/year
- Yield response averaged 0.10, 0.13 & 0.18 tons FFB/ha/year at an irrigation Rate of 120, 240 & 360 L/palm/day, respectively
- Increase in irrigation rate improved stomata conductance
- Profitability of drip irrigated oil palm will be IRR 16% even at lowest palm oil Price US$ 300/ton considered in the analysis
