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Managing Oil Palm Nursery: IOI's Experience

Article · November 2010

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 Managing· Oil Palm ursery: IOI's Experience*
MATHEWS, J, TAN T H, YONG, K K, CHONG KM, NG, S K AND IP, WM.
10/ Research Centre, 73309 Batang Melaka, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia

This paper presents information on the measures adopted and the improvements carried out in managing
double stage oil palm nursery in 101 Group. It includes studies involved and experiences encountered to
adjustments made to keep the nursery operation up to date. Nursery site selection, introduction ofpot-tray
system to the pre nursery, continuous testing of new fertiliser products through experiments, minimising
use of agro-chemicals in pests and diseases control and the chemical after effects on seedling, culling and
selection of seedlings are the nursery operations focussed on in this paper.

Keywords: Oil palm, pre-nursery, main nursery, polybag plants, practices.

Production of quality DxP seeds or ~amets to
produce. high saleable palm product is the
primary objective of oil palm breeding
programme (Mathews et al., 2007; Mathews
et al., 2008). The seeds or ramets development
with an objective of high saleable palm product
are raised in the nursery with the primary
objective to sustain such potential large oil yields
for 25 years or more (Mutert et al., 1999;
Mathews et al., 2007). Theoretically, nursery
stage could be omitted by direct planting of -
seeds into the field. However, it is neither
practical nor economical, as it is usually difficult
to provide intensive care to the young seedlings
in the field over a large area particularly on
pest control as very young field palms are
expected to have a low survival rate in the field
(Turner & Gillbanks.12003). Moreover, direct
seeding method does not allow the discarding
of abnormal palms in the field. Oil palm
seedlings developed from control pollinated
germinated seeds, or plantlets (ramets)
developed from tissue culture are raised with
practices of nursery husbandries by providing
adequate sunshine, soil, water, supplement of
nutrients and control over pests and diseases ..
The ultimate aim of these nursery husbandries
* Reproduced from the 8th ISP National Seminar 2010, "Good Plantation Practices" Souvenir Book.
is to provide highest possible quality seedlings
fOr"field planting which includes unifqrm palm
growth vigour, and possibly shortening the
holding period of seedling in the nursery
(Duckett, 1999; Heriansyah & T~, 2005). The
raising of oil palm nurseries are currently
subjected to several legal requirements of
MalaysianPalmOilBoardAct 1998 (Act 582),
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act
514), Employment Act 1955 (Act 265),
hnmigrationAct 1959 and Pesticides Act 1974
(Act 149) and several regulations stipulated in
the Acts.
An oil palm nursery is raised either in single
or double stages. Single stage nursery system
involves planting of germinated seeds direct into
. soil-filled large polybags (46 cmx 41 cm layflat)
and nurtured in the same large polybags until
the plants have grown sufficiently and are ready
for transplanting to the field (usua1ly around 10
to 12 months). The double stage nursery system
however involves planting of germinated seeds
into soil-filled small polybags (23 cm x 15 cm
layflat) for the first three to four months (pre-
nursery stage) and the small seedlings are then
transplanted to large polybags, where the
seedlings are nurtured for another seven to nine

771
Managing oil palm nursery: JOI's expenenct:.e----------------------------........

months (main nursery stage) before
transplanting to the field. The advantages and
disadvantages of single and double stage
nurseries have been well described by Turner
and Gillbanks (2003), Duckett (1999), Codey
and Tinker (2003) and Heriansyah and Tan
(2005). However, as new high yielding material
is developed the agro-chemical and nutrition
requirements and the seedling's sensitiveness
to certain chemicals needs to be considered in
the hursery (Mathews et al., 2008). Many
planters are probably unaware of such
requirements due to their past experiences and
depend mainly on the agro-chemical sales
representative's advice, who promotes their
product sales rather than the expertise advice.
Practices with lack of understanding the basis
of the chemical functions can> result in
abnormality in seedling. This paper is prepared
with the objective of sharing the system of
nursery management developed-by 101 Group
in Peninsula Malaysia. aimed at minimising such
anomalies in the nurseries and to produce high
quality nursery seedlings for field planting.
IOI'S SYSTEM OF OIL PALM
NURSERY PRACTICES
The flow chart of oil palm nursery management
in 101 Group is shown in Figure 1. The
management system involves 101' s Research
Centre being responsible for the management
of the pre-nursery and thus the supply of
seedlings or ramets. The m~n nursery using

Site preparation
Preparation Of potting I, ChemiCal weeding
and growth medium 2, Levelling the ground
3, Drainage
4, Roads
5. Fencing

Pre-nursery
Managemen
t by 101
Research
1-----.1 ' Nutrition,

Census of noh
emergent seeds.
Culling , of ,abnol~al and
physiologically poor seedlings
after 3-4 months' of 'sowing
germinated seeds

Preparation and soil

filling of large
p~lybags Tr!l,IlSportation of selected pre-
nursery seedlings to 101 estate main
nurseries or estate other than 10r by
lorty
Main nursery
managemen
t by the
Estate

Culling of abnormal and

---to- physiologically poor seedlings Transportation and transplantation
after 6 and 8 months of of selected seedlings to the IQ!
transplantation estates or il,ny estates other ,than f01

Figure 1 Flow chart of 101 nursery-operation

772
-----------~--------The
these materials is managed by the Estate
concerned. A number of practices are
involved. However, a common aspect important
to both the pre-nursery and -main nursery is
the- selection and location of pre-nursery and
large polybag main nursery sites. This requires
good strategy in the sense of travelling distances
of Group estates for field planting, availability _
of labour, adequate water supply, sufficient soil
supply for filling the polybags, free of flooding
andstagnated water logged conditions and with
security. Selection of pre and large polybag
nursery sites preferably should be on a
permanent basis to serve and supply seedlings
to the estates within the Group and external
estates.
Pre.. nursery
The objective of centralising the pre-nursery
in the research centre is to _streamline the
control of selection of quality and unifonn
seedlings under direct supervision of oil palm
breeders and agronomists. As the pre-nursery
seedlings are. sent to the estates main nursery
the quality of seedlings in growth vigour and
uniformity will be assured resulting in minimal
culling rate at large polybag nursery stage.
Centr.alisation of pre-nursery in the Research
Centre was made feasible by good road
conditions and network system in Peninsular
Malaysia for transporting of seedlings to the
estate's main nurseries. The same centralised
nursery strategy may be implemented in Sabah
and Sarawak if the road network system allows
it in the future. The good road condition is
essential to transport the pre-nursery seedlings
to large polybag nurseries in the estate without
breaking the soil core of seedlings.
Pot tray potting system
Currently at pre-nursery stage plastic pot tray
Planter, Voz. 86, No. 1016, November 2010
system replaces the conventional small polybag
system .. Raising of pre-nursery oil palm
seedlings using pot tray system commercially
was frrst reported by Chee et al. (1997). The
pot tray system has many advantages over the
traditional polybag system, but it also has certain
limitations mainly due to its smaller size
compartments for holding the growth medium
and the closer distance between the planting
pots. A series of experiments were conducted
by Mathews et al. (2008) to detennine the
optimal agronomic practicE!s and inputs
required for the growth of seedlings raised in
the pot tray system. .-
The advantages of introducing the pot tray
system are discussed below.
• Less land area
A pre-nursery plot of 46 ill x 46 m is able to
accommodate 220 500 pre-nursery seedlings
. in pot tray system, while conventional small
polybag system with similar land area can only
accommodate 158 375 seedlings i.e. 28 per
cent lesser land area is needed by the pot tray
system [Calculated based on Duckett (1999)
estimation of each pre-nursery bed area size
of 1.2 m width x 46 m length]. Space. saving
by the pot trays is at the expense of the pot
size and close proximity of pot arrangements
within the tray. However, the pot tray may give
rise to the problems associated with close
proximity of the seedlings grown in the tray
leading to etiolation and quick spreading of pests
and diseases, if the seedlings are kept for more
than four months in the pot trays. Therefore,
timely delivery of pre-nursery seedling to main
nursery is of utmost importance.
• Reduction in soil quantity
Mathews et al. (2008) demonstrated that soils
containing 40 per cent to 50 per cent clay,
30 per cent to 35 per cent silt and 1b per cent
to 12 per cent coarse or fme sand were optimal
773
 Managing oil palm nursery: JOTs experience--------_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
soil growth medium for pot trays. Soils with
too high silt content (above 40%) and high
coarse (above 15 %) and fine sand (above
15 %) will result in retarded growth. Although
the optimal req~irement of clay in pot tray
system appears to be about 40 per cent to.
50 per cent, some soils (series) with high clay
content (above 60%) .like Munchong, Chat,
Prang series etc. do not show drastic reduction
in growth rate of seedlings, perhaps due to the
physical nature e.g. structure, better water
holding capacity etc. If the soils contain higher
proportion of sand e.g. Rengam, Bungor series
etc., dry palm oil mill effluent solid (POME)
should be used to mix with the soils at the ratio
of 1 soil: 0.5 POME to increase the soils water
holding capacity. The traditional small polybag
system with the size of 15 cm x 23 cm usually
requires about 1.2 kg of soil per bag per seedlirtg
as opposed to the pot tray system requiring
only 0.12 kg per seedling which is10 times
lower than by the conventional method. By
reducing the quantum of soil, excavation of soil
from the field is reduc~d. Less requirement of
soil also reduces transportation (logistics and
. costs) from the field to the nursery site.
• Reduction in water usage in irrigation
The seedlings' grown in the pot trays are mist
irrigated using overhead spray-mist system, e.g.
"Sumishower", three times daily, i.e. early
morning, noon and late afternoon, for a duration
of 15 minutes each on a sunny day. Irrigation
is not halted in the rainy days with rainfall of'
more than 8 ml11 per day.
The total duration is reduced to half that in
the traditional small polybag system, which is
normally watered twice a day for 45 minutes
(Heriansyah & Tan, 2005). The lower volume
of soil in the pot trays' retain only a limited
volume of water; hence the soil saturates faster
and run off is faster. Mist-spray system was
us~d to allow better penetration of water into
774
the soil through the fine mist because the low
volume of soil in the pots does not have big
surface area to efficiently capture water into
it. Fine mist will also minimise strong and direct
splashing of water droplets on the soil thus
reduces loss of soil from pot trays.
• LOw labour requirement
One of the major concerns in the oil palm
industry is the labour requirement. Labour is
basically required to carry out all the operations
in the nursery, which comprise soil filling, lining,
planting, watering, manuring, we~ding, control
of pests and diseases, selection, culling, loading
and unloading of seedlings to main nurseries.
The labour for each of the operations usually
depends on the types of system used, because
they affect the efficiency and productivity. of
workers differently. The reduction of labour is
seen in the following operations:
1. Less effort and energy is required to
fill the soil in each pot of t4e plastic
trays. The quantity of soil required is
10 times lower.thanin small polybags.
ii Again less effort and energy is
required to line and arrange the pot"
trays in the nursery bed because
carrying one pot tray means carrying
24 or 25 seedlings together at one time.
The overall weight to carry by the
w9rker of this operation is alSo. lower
as the total soil volu~e involved is
10 times lower than that of small
polybag (equivalent to 31 kg for
25 seedlings in small polybag against
3 kg in pot tray system).
ID. Planting of germinated seeds,
manuring, weeding, controlling of pests
and diseases, watering and selection
as well as culling of seedlings become
easier and more convenient because
seedlings are held in a more compact
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - T h e . Planter, Voz. 86, No. 1016, November 2010
and concentrated area. Supervision
and monitoring of the operations will
also be made easier due to the same
reason.
IV. Less labour is required to load and
unload the seedlings for transferring
the seedlings to the main nursery. The
overall weight to carry a pot tray
seedling is also lesser as the total soil
volume involved is lesser compared
to the small polybag system.
v. Less laborious and fast for trans-
planting of the pre-nursery seedlings
to the large polybags in the main
nursery as handling of the seedlings
and tearing of small polybags are not
required. Planting of small polybag
seedlings to large polybags is about
250 seedlings per worker per day
against 800 seedlings from the pot tray
system.
Fertilisers for pre-nursery seedlings
The fertiliser requirement of seedlings raised'
in the pot trays is different from that for the
small polybag as the growth medium of the
former is much smaller in volume and thus
lower in nutrient content and nutrient holding
capacity. Fertilisers are applied to the seedlings
after the fIrst comp~ete opening of leaf which
normally happens three weeks, after sowing
germinated seeds. A number of experiments
were conducted to determine the optimal rates
of fertilisers required by the seedlings raised in
the pot tray system (Mathews et al., 2008).
The result of the study showed that foliar
fertilisers of composition N: P20 S : ~O: MgO
+ trace elements equal to 18:18:18:1 + TB
(Nitrophoska®) or 22:22:10:1 + TB (Grofas®)
applied to the y'oung seedlings' at the
concentration of 0.5 per cent through drenching
on ,a weekly basis achieved the best growth
rate in terms of dry matter production
compared to other types of foliar fertilisers
tested. Ten litres of the diluted foliar fertilisers
would be sufficient to cover about 500 seedlings
using the pot tr'.lY system. Controlled-release
fertiliser (CRF) were not ,essential in pot tray
system unless there is an acute labour shortage
for large scale pre-nursery planting because
seedlings grown in mixed soil and solid palm oil
mill effluent (POME) performed signifi'cantly
better than soils treated with C~, indicating
that nutrient contributing from the organic
matter sufficiently satisfied the growth of oil
palm seedlings in the pot trays.
Pest and disease control
The major pest in the pre-nursery is red-spider
mite infestation and the major disease is seedling
blight caused by Curvularia eragrostidis. The I
control of Curvularia seedling blight or nursery
spot requires prophylactic fungicide treatment
using contact chemicals like Thiram, Propineb
ete. Red spider mite should be able to be
controlled by a single spray of Amitraz after
the pest infestation is detected. Another pest
in the nursery is rat which should be able to be
controlled by trapping and baiting with rat baits.
However, extreme care is required with
the use of chemicals especially systemic
insecticide and fungicide used to control pests
and diseases respectively, especially when the
seedlings are too young. 'Overdosing and
frequent application at short intervals of
systemic chemicals will result in leaf abnonn~ty
symptom of collante and corrugation or crinkled
leaf. Crinkled leaf is a lower grade systemic
chemical toxicity on oil palm seedling. Collante
was once known to be due to lack of adequate
water in the pre-nursery seedlings (Turner,
1981; Turner & Gillbank, 2003; Duckett, 1999).
Based on experiments and the new fmding by
J 101 Research Centre,is that collante is not due
775
Managing oil palm nursery: lOTs e x p e r i e n c e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

to inadequate irrigation, but due to overdose
and frequent application of systemic fungicides
as shown in Table 1 and Figure 2.
In the experience of daily routine nursery
activities, it was also observed that progenies
selected for high oil yielding are more
susceptible to be affected by systemic
fungicides. The very same observation could
also lead to the suggestion that the root systems
of such high oil yielding material are efficient

TABLE 1
TREATMENTOFFUNGICIDES AND PERCENTAGE OF COLLANTE SYMPTOMS ON
2Y2MONTHS OLD SEEDLINGS

Type offungicides Concentration Frequency of Incidence of

(%) application collante (%)
Control 2.oa
Thiram (80.0% w/w) 0.002 .Weekly 2.2a
Biofungicide 0.003 Weekly 6.oa
(Monoterpenes and
Caryophyllene)
Antioxidant 0.001 Weekly 6.8a
Hexaconazole (4.8% w/w) 0.001 Weekly 66.8b
LSD (5%) 10.2

Treatments with same alphabet are not significantly different in the occurrence of collante

Figure 2 Collante symptom due to Hexaconazole

776
in absorption not only systemic chemicals but disease.
probably moisture and nutrients too. For high
Selection of quality planting material ofpre-
oil yielding material, it is important that the
nursery seedlings
contact fungicides like Thiram, Propineb etc.,
to be used in the pre-nursery to control and The selection of pre-nursery seedlings to.
prevent the leaf diseases and s~edling transplant in the maip nursery is made easier
abnormalities. These contact fungicides with with the pot tray system. In a tray of 25
adjuvant will be more effective in preventing seedlings drawn opt of a bed it is easier to
the disease infestation in the nursery. The other observe the abnormal seedlings and runts
pr~cautions and actions to control pest and ,within the population (of25 seedlings). Selection
disease in the pre-nursery are as follows: of palms on vigour depends on'the highest dry
weight and it is highly correlated t6 certain visual
• Training of all the nursery staff and
character of the seedling as shown in Tabl~ 2.'
workers to recognise the different
The selection of seedlings based on dry ,.'
symptoms of disease and pest infections
matter of a seedling appeared to be ideal
at early stage. '
although such method is impractical as
• Maintaining a good vigour and health
destruction of seedling is required. It is essential
of seedlings by providing seedlings with
that selection be made easier by visual
optimal water and nutrients. Vigourous
vegetative characters in a practical manner.
seedlings are more resistant to disease
The highest correlation of vegetative character
infection.
after three months of sowing was shown on-
• Ensuring absence of stagnation of
palm girth. However, the girth of the seedlings
water on the nursery beds to prevent
are generally buried in the soil so that it is a
blast disease caused by Pythium.,
time consuming process of selection by
• Ensuring soil for the growth medium is
-removing the top soil of pot tray and observe
taken from the place that is free from
the girth for selection. The second highest
Ganoderma incidence.
correlation was shown on petiole. Again it is
• Avoid mulching of nursery ground
impractical to cut the leaf and measure it. The
mulch with oil mill by-product shells,
leaf area is also correlated to dry weight of the
which will aggravate disease
seedlings. Here measuring the width and length ,
infestation. .
of the seedlings in a commercial manner is '
• Immediate isolation of infected
impractical. The most reasonable, vegetative
seedlings to a confmed area for special
character that can be used for selection is palm
chemical treatment. For pre-nursery
height. It is easy to select the seedlings within
seedlings infected by Curvulari"a
a pot tray as each pot tray comprise- of 25
eragrostidis, isolation by quickly
seedlings ,and seedlings with same height in one
transplanting the seedlings to the big
a ~ay are selected for large polybag nursery
polybags in the main nursery was found
plantings.
to be very effective in controlling the
disease .. The _other main pre-nursery seedlings that
need to be culled are as follows:
• Removing of tissue infected by
diseases using scissors or ~ife to • Narrow or grass like leaf appearance:
prevent further spreading of the The lanceolate leaf appears grass-like~

777
Managing oil palm nursery: JOI's experience_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _--:....._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

TABLE 2
THEBEST1REND LINE FIT AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEEDLING DRY WEIGHT
PRODUCTION (y)AGAINST SEEDLING HEIGHT, GIRTH,PETIOLECROSS SECTION AND
LEAF AREA (ON THE X AXIS)

, Equations r Level of significance

Pahn height (cm) y = 0.1217X -0.9983
Pahn girth (cm) Y= -1.0481X2 + 5.2377X - 2.5499
Total actual Y= -184.37X3 + 88.827X2-
petiole cross 4.4824X+ 1.125
section (leaf no.)
Total actual leaf
area (leaf no.)
y=0.OlX+0.9748
Notes: 1= At 90 days after sowing seeds in pot
** Significant. '
• Twisted leaf: Normally occurs due to
planting plumule dowiiand radicle up.
This symptom can be avoided by
planting correctly with radicle
downward and plumule upward.
• Rolled leaf: The laminae of the'
lanceolate is rolled inwardly.
Transporting of pot tray seedlings to large
polybag main nursery
Seedlings with pot trays are transferred to the
main nursery using metal racks of, several tiers
in height, for lorry or trailer to transport. Using
a five-tier metal rack, a I-tonne lorry can carry
about 3 300 seedlings per trip while 13 500
seedlings can be transported in a 20-tonne trailer
(Mathews et al., 2008). However,
improvement was made in transporting of pre-
nursery seedlings to main nursery. The
seedlings are separated, from the trays and
placed in paper boxes with soil cores and upon
arrival at the main nursery, the seedlings ~e
immediately planted into large polybags. About
120 seedlings can be packed in one paper box
of 78 cm x 32 cm x 32 cm (Figure 3). A
0.1%
0.75 **
0.80 **
0.77 **
0.75 **
I-tonne-box lorry is able to carry 90 boxes, of
10 800 seedlings per trip to the main nursery.
In this method of transportation, the large
polybag of main nursery needs to be filled with
soil much earlier than the arrival of seedlings
and aligned in the main nursery for
transplantation.
Re':'use of pot trays
Pot trays are made from polythene plastics and
are reusable depending on the quality and
thickness of the tray. Though the cost of pot
tray is higher than polybag, the reusability of
the pot trays will offset the higher initial cost
and can even become more economical over
a long period of re-use and time. The pot trays
purchased with thick wall in the year 2006 are
still used,without damage.
Large polybag main nursery
Nursery preparation
Selection of large polybag main nursery site
has been discussed earlier. Prior to transplanting
of pre-nursery seedlings, the polybags have to

778

, watering until the large polybags are placed in
Figure 3 Arrangement of pot tray seedlings in
cardboard boxes
be filled with soils. Soils of Bungor, Rengam,
Munchong series etc., are suitable medium for
the large polybag nursery. It is essential that
the polybags need to be placed in a triangular
pattern at a distance of 90 cm apart much .
earlier than the arrival of pre-nursery see~ling~
from the Research Centre. As the pre-nursery
seedlings are separated from the pot trays at
pre-nursery site, it is essential to plant them
directly to large polybags immediately upon
arrival at the main nursery (on the same day
or at least in the following day). \Vith the pot
tray system about 800-900 seedlings are
planted per worker a day compared to about
200-250 seedlings raised in small polybags
(15 cm x 23 cm).
If the seedlings are sent with pot trays, the
estate can keep the trays with seedlings, for
few more days in the nursery with adequate
the main nursery. The planters can have
sufficient time to prepare large polybags 'and
plant it later as and when the large polybags
are ready.
However, as indicated earlier transporting
and handling of pre-nursery seedlings with pot
trays to the main nursery is an,'inefficient way
as the number of seedlings that can be
transported with pot tray per trip in 1 tonne
lorry is 70 per cent less than the method of
transporting seedlings without pot- trays; the
latter in cardboard boxes (see Figure 3).
The selected pre-nursery seedlings of
plastic pot tray system are transplanted to large
polybags (41 cm x 46 cm) lay flat. The main
nursery management practices include
irrigation, fertilisation, weeding and pest and
disease control.
Fertilisers
Fertiliser plays a vital role to the growth of
seedlings in the nursery because the growth'
medium in which the seedlings are growing is
very limited in volume and thus limited in
nutrient content. During the [list three months
after transplanting, the seedlings' are able to
survive without manifestation of nutrient
deficiency symptom at the expense of inherent
soil nutrients in the polybag medium.
Furthermore, the mineral soils in Malaysia
normally used as the growth medium are
generally inadequate in riutrients to sustain the
growth of seedlings at optimum rate. Though
the best soil on an area may be used as the :
growth medium, the amount of available
nutrients may vary between soil types (Turner
& Gillbanks, 1974,2003).
779
 ,i . ~-'
..
f
Managing oil palm nursery: JOTs e x p e r i e n c e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : - - - - - - . . - - - -
Trial on optimal phosphate for planting
hole of large polybag seedlings
A study was conducted to evaluate the
effectiveness of a few sources of' phosphate
fertilisers i.e. Christmas island (CIRP),
Egyptian (ERP), China (CRP), Gafsa (GRP)
rock phosphates and Triple super phosphate
(TSP) on the .growth of seedlings in main large
polybag nursery (Mathews'& Chong, 2007).
. The result of the study indicated that the
estimated requirement of phosphate to achieve
optimal growth was 15 g of 2 per cent citra~e ,
soluble P20S 'per seedling irrespective of the
. S01)Ice of the ph9sphate fertilisers. However,
triple super phosphate which has the high~st
citrate sohible conte1?-t of P20S appeared to be
the most cost effective when applied to, the
seedlings at the rates corresponding to the
cit.rate soluble phosphates. However, care
should be given to the seedling not to come in
direct contact with TSP. A layer of soil has to
be spread 'ab?ve the TSP p~or to plan$g pie-
nursery seedlings: into the planting hole. The
expetjment also established the importance of
phosphate in seedling growth.
Trial wit~ compound fertilisers with
diff~re~t: nitrogen sources: urea versus
am.IDonium nitrate
Compound fertiliser (12:12:17:2 N:P 20 S :
K20~MgO + TE) is currently used as the
commop source of fertilisers to provide N, P,
K, Mg and trace elements to the seedlings
, grown'in the big polybags. Trial was conducted
to compare the efficacy of compound fertilisers
especially with regards to the type of nitrogen
source (urea versus ammonium nitrate) on the
growth of seedlings in the large polybags~ The '
urea based compound fertiliser with formulation
(15:12:17:3 + TB) anqammoniumnitrate based
780
compound fertiliser with formulation
(12:12:17:2+TE) were compared for. eight
months with equal quantity of nutrient levels
(33 g ofN, 26.4 g ofP20 s' 37.4 g of~O and
'6:6 g of MgO) for both treatments. Both the
fertilisers were applied in 12 rounds with the
rates ranging from 109 to 30 g per seedling for
. a period qf eight months. For the treatment
with the compound 12:12:17:2+TE, a
supplementary dosage of 19.4 g ammonium
nitrate and 8.15 g kieserite were applied to level
.the nutrient status of both treatrhent~ during
the application round five months after
transplantation. The growth rate of the
seedlings in large polybag nursery at the eighth
month after transplanting is shown in Table 3.
Seedlings treated ·.with urea based
compound fertiliser s~owed significantly inferior
growth than ammonium nitrate based
compound fertilisers. The lower growth rate
observed in urea based fertiliser treated
. seedlings could be due to loss of nitrogen by
volatilisation from urea in the form of ammonia.
Controlled release fertilisers (CRF)
There is need to evaluate the optimal rates and
the behaviour of controlled release fertilisers
available and marketed to the oil palm industry.
All control release fertilisers may not
necessarily give the desired results in
responding to growth as sl)own in Figures 3a
to 3d. The data available is only for six montps
at ,the time of writing this paper. Nevertheless,
it is obvious that not all the CRF fertilisers
behave equally :it). responding to seedling gro"W.fu
due to their ways of releasing nutrients, the
type and thickness in coating and behaviour ;to
the external factors like temperatUre, ,moisture
ete. More, there is a need to look into optimal
rate for using control release fertilisers rath~r
'than depending only, on supplier's
recommendation. The CRF rates should be
 TABLE 3 ,,'
MEAN GROWTH OF SEEDLINGS AFTER 8 MONfHS OF PLANTING IN LARGE POLY BAGS
" Type offertilisers , Petiole Rachis
size length
(cm2) , , (cm)
12: 12: 17:2+TB 1.86 67B8
(Ammonium
nitrate-based)
15: 12: 17:3:1E 1.59 61.85
(Urea based)
t-test (degree Significant Significant
offreedom=58)
compatible to the growth rate of the s,eedlings.
Too low dosage to save. cost (CRF' generally is
expensive) may result in poor growth and
overdoses can result in toxicity leading to the
growth rate being poorer than in seedlings
without fertilisers as evident for all CRF's with
tp.e possible exception of CRFl (Figure 4).
Pesticide usage
One of the most important concerns on
pesticide usage is the type, rate and frequency
of use especially in the large nurs'ery (both pre
and large polybag nurseries). It is essential that
oil palm nurseries be able to abide with safe
agro-chemical management, which is also part
of the Nation's law and sustainability
requirements. The agrochemical management
encompasses the following regulations:
et Classification, packaging and labelling
of hazardous chemicals (CPL) 1997
regulation under Occupational, Safety
and Health Act 1994: In this regulation
it is essential that all the agrochemicals
need to be kept in a separate store with
appropriate shelves according to type
of pesticides namely fungicides,
insecticides, rodenticide, and
herbicides. All the pesticides purchased
Palm Relative
height Girth leaf area
(cm) (cm) (cm 2)
102.99 7.88 2285.33
92.54 6.56 2004.33
Significant Highly Significant
s.ignifiy~t :
from an agrochemical company should
be registered with the Pesticide Board:
All the pesticide sho.uld be packed and
labelled aC'cording the regulation and
to be verified at the time of receiving
the,chemical at the store. In the case
of empty 20 litres chemical con~ainers
if they are to be reused for pre-mixing
herbicide in diluted form, they should
be triple rinsed 'or labelled prior to use
in the field. When the concentrated
chemical is transferred from a larger
contain~r to small container, the small
container needs to be labelled clearly
showing the type of chemical taken for
usage. It is important to note that
chemicals like fluoxypyr 1-methyl
hepthyl (herbicide) and cypermetherin
(insecticide) look alike in physical
appearance. If both chemicals are
dispensed simultaneously from a larger
container to a smaller container in the
same store and if the smaller container
has no labels, the chances of
exchanging the chemical containers are
very high in the store. The ultimate
result of such exchanges' will be
fluoxypyr I-methyl hepthyl will end up
781
Managing oil palm nursery: JOI's e x p e r i e n c e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

14
a. Frond produotion 100 1
b. Seedling height (cm)
y = 1.491x3 - 17 .82x2 +67.08x + 13 .58
I I
13 __ ~ y.=0 .18x 3 -2.061x 2 +7 .328li:+4 .65
/ ; ' ::,/" ~: = 0.,956 eR F 1 (17 :8:9 :3 ) E
90
'1
~
~- ...
l ·._. . ....-.-.. . ~
......
...
,
-. R'= 0 .956 CRF1(17 :8 :9 :3)

.9.. i"'Y ~'

f/)
'0
C
0
.;:
12 -
/f I '~ /
/ ".
~ ...
- - .'

Y = 0 .313 ~ - 3 .30 '!S X2 + 10 .56 x + 2 .51

1:
Ol
Qi
80
1 I'
Y = 2 .166xJ - 22.87x2 + 72.55x + 12.86
. ~':':'Q.773 CRF2 (19:8 :12:3)

t>
,05
.0
11 -

f'
I R 2 = 0 .9,80 eR F 2 (19 :8:12:3)

\\\
.s:;
Ol
.f;
:0
70

60 1
1
I .1
E 10 - 0)
0)
:J
Z Y=-0.8'9 6 X2 + 4 .80 3x + 6 .13 2 en
50 y = 1.875x3 - 23.95x2 + 82.27x + 3 .7
9 ~
R'= 0.9 '9\0 CRF3 (25 :6 :8 ,2)
1i
R' = 0.997 CRF3 (25 :6:8 :2)

8 40
o 50 100 200 400 o 50 100 200 400

C R F rate s per see d !in 9 (g) CRF rates per seedling (g)

1400 - c. Leaf area (cm2) 6 .5 d. Girth (cm)

y = 0.065x3 - 0.871x2 +3.S93x + 1.208
6 .. _ _ .. R2 =0.981 C R F 1'(17:8:9:3)
1200 - "1 =.J9.77x3 - 287 .OX2 + 1221.x - 383.2
.. -
"

~ ,
;' ,r -

R"'= 0.959 CRF1(17:8 :9:3) i ...

~ 5.5 ~..-..

ro 1000 - ~"
,.- , ,",'
" ,./-~'<'"''
E
~
ro
'tu
800 , f ,
~ y = 32.48x3 -
'~
373 .6x2 + 1237 .x-
315 .3
~
.c
5 .. I
,
- .. ),O.146x3 -1.585x2 +5 .137x+O.328
\. R"-;;...0.~9CRF2 (19:8:12:3)
~ -e
/ \ ~ 0.741(CRF2 (19 :8:12:3) 0 4.5 \
ro::l 600
'0
« 400
\
y...~
\
23 .44x3 - 377 AX2 + 1434.x-
519.7
4 I "
y =O.O~~xJ - 1.257x2+ 4.48x + 0.696
R2\f 0.999 CRF3 (25 :6 :8:2) . R2 =0,965 eR F3 (25:6:8:2)
200 3.5 \

0 3
o 50 100 200 400 o 50 100 200 400

CRF rates per seedling (g) CRF rates per seedling (g)

Figure 4 Response of nursery seedlings to different CRF's at varying rates

spraying on nursery palms as insecitide • Use and Standard of Exposure of

and cyperrnethrin will be used in the Chemicals Hazardous to Health 2000
field as .herbicide spray! ,With such a (USECHH) Regulation under
mistake all of a sudden, the well grown Occupational, Safety and Health Act
palms will he seen ~nding and twisting. 1994: This regulation is subjected to
Another preca~tion to be taken is chemical health risk assessments
the knapsack sprayers used for (CHRA) by an independent assessor
spraying also need to be labelled. The and if required the yearly medi~al
herbicide knapsack sprayers should not surveillance under occupational health
be used for insecticide and fungicide by doctors for the workers who work
applications. Yet another precaution of with the chemicals regularly ch~clcing
herbicide knapsack sprayer which· for chemical side effects and exposure.
needs to be considered is leaking This regulation is closely 'related:to
whereby if unchecked the leakjng from human exposure to agrochemicals and
lance, pump joints allow to flow the its precaution to prevent hazardous
chemical to the seedlings and affects effect to the health, and the emergency
the growth eventually. response in the event of any accidents

782 .'
 happening.
• Highly Toxic Pesticides (HTP)
Regulation 1996 under Pesticide Act
1974: This regulation is related to Class
lA and 1B chemicals. Ch~micals like
paraquat dichloride, methamidophos,
monocrotophos etc., are to be kept in
a separate special store.
• Schedule Waste Regulation 2005 under
Environmental Quality Act 1974: This
regu1.ation is related to schedule waste
especially where vehicles like lorries
,': and tractors are used in the, nursery.
The engine oil, lubricant, hydraulic oil,
hydrocarbon used, empty containers'
and rags are to be kept in a special
store and disposed through a'
'Department of Environment (DOE)
licensed agent.
Herbicidal toxicity on oil palm seedlings
Herbicidal toxicity has been reported in
14-month-old seedling oil palm nursery (Tan
& Chan, ,1994). The seedlings treated with 2,
4 D methyl amine will show twisted or spindle
c~opy formation. Severely affected seedlings
will rot at the girth and die off. Fluoxypyr 1-
methyl hepthyl also shows similar symptoms
of 2,4 D methyl amine poisoning. Glufosinate
,ammonium if sprayed on the polybag or
sprayed on the stagnated water and the
chemical absorbed through seedling roots will
result in drying of pinnae of spear or [rrst frond.
However, drying or scorching effect of
glufosinate ammonium through root absorption
is only transient.
, Biological control and cultural practices
(both pre- and large polybag nurseries)
• Introducing barn owls to the nursery by
setting up of barn-owl nest box is a means
of biological control of rats. However, the
barn owl houses only help if the rat
population is adequate for owls to feed on.
D sing of cages to trap rats was found to
be very effective by using fresh loose fruits
as bait. Maintaining a high level of hygiene
in the nursery to prevent it becoming the
breeding ground for pest especially rat is a
pre-requisite.
• Acridotheres tritis (common myna) feeds
on insects and CentroPl1s sinensis (greater
coucal) although; it feeds on a wide range
of insects, it has the potentiaJ. of being used
in oil palm plantation inclusIing in nursery
as part of the integrated pest management
(!PM) for feeding nettle caterpillars cocoon
(de Chenon & Susanto, 2006).
• Planting of nectariferous plants such as
Cassia cobanensls, Euphorbia
.heterophylla,. Antigonon leptopus and
Turnera subulata in the nursery compound
to attract the predators' for bagworms (Ho
et al., 2003) is encouraged.
• Mixing of chemicals with surfactant or
adjuvant in ~praying to improve rainfastness
and chemical effectiveness so that
minimum rounds of spraying would be
sufficient to subside any outbreak incidence.
• Fencing up of nursery compound to prevent
attack by mammalian pests like wildboar
(Sus scrofa and Sus barbatus), porcupine
(Hystrix brachyuran), elephant (Elephas
rnaximus), etc.
Culling and selection of seedlings .
Culling and selection should be carried out for
the main nursery seedlings at about six and
eight months after transplantation in large
polybags and again right before transplanting j
out to the field. Culling in the main nursery
should also follow the general culling practices.
The seedlings need to be culled in the large
783
Managing oil palm nursery: IOI's e x p e r i e n c e - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
polybag nurseries are as follows:
Runts: Unusually smaller than the normal
growing seedlings.
Upright or sterile: Fronds are at an
abnormally acute angle from the stem and
often frond bases ~e spaced from eaph
other.
Flat top: Normally the newly emerging
fronds seldom are longer than the old
fronds.
Limp: The frond pinnae have a limp like or
hang down appearance.'
Juvenile form: The frond normally will not
pinnate even after five to six months after
transplantation from pre-nursery. Normally
the root system ofjuvenile seedlings is poor.
Short internode: The pinnae of short
internode palms will have pinnae formed
close to each other from the rachis and
appear too compact.
Wide internode: The distance between the
pinnae on the rachis are exceptionally wide.
,Narrow pinnae: The laminae of pinnae of
such seedling are narrow and pointed.
Chimera: Chlorotic white leaf tissue. This
symptom is normally seen after,four
months of planting in' polybag. This
symptom can be mistaken as white stripe
too.
Crinkled leaf and collante: These are the
effects of using systemic chemicals and
controlling the use of systemic chemical
can overcome these symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Management achieved efficiency of using pot
tray pre nursery system both in selecting quality
material and uniformity in growth with negligible
784
culling rate in the main large polybag nursery.
The chemical and fertiliser usage need to be
taken care in both pre- and large polybag
.nurseries to avoid the abnormalities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank the Group Plantation
Director oflOI Corporation Berhad, for giving ,
permission to present this paper. The authors
are also thankful to the field- staff of 101
Research Centre for collecting the "field data.
REFERENCES
CHEE K H, CHill S B and CHAN,S M. 1997. Pre-
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CORLEY R H V and TINKER P B. 2003. The Oil
Palm. 4th edition. Blackwell Science Ltd. 562 pp.
DESMIER DE CHENON, R and SUSANTO, A. 2006.
Ecological observations on diurnal birds in Indonesian
oil palm plantations. Journal of oil palm research
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DUCKETT J E. 1999. A Guide to Oil Palm Nurseries.
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HERIANSYAH and TAN C C. 2005. Nursery practices
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HO C T, CHONG K K IBRAIDM Y and OMAR, D.
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785
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