Maintaining soil health in oil palm cultivation

Publication date: 12/02/2018
Extent: 14 pages

Contributions by: Bernard Dubos and Didier Snoeck, CIRAD, France

Chapter synopsis: Many existing oil palm plantations were set up after clearing equatorial and tropical rainforests. In tropical forests, the topsoil is where the fertility lies due to its physico-chemical properties, developed through an accumulation of organic matter and intense biological activity. In the first four years after felling the properties of this topsoil change rapidly, but it has been reported that the topsoil then evolves towards a new, stable chemical state. A central challenge is therefore to ensure that this new stable state possesses the properties that enable high yields. In this chapter, we consider the key issues and challenges involved in maintaining soil health. We then review the effects of management practices in oil palm plantation on soil health, and consider the potential benefits of biomass recycling.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2017.0018.32