Application of Empty fruit Bunch of Oil Palm as a Source of Plant Nutrients on Oil Palm Planatition

Abstract

Large quantity of empty fruit bunch (EFB) is residue in palm oil milling process. The plant nutrient value of empty bunches is high enough to return to th soil and it is considered economically cost effective, i.e. N .158%, P(P2O5) 0.08%, K(K2O) 1.70% and Mg (MgO) 0.08%. In addition, empty buncher application can be beneficial to crop performance and soil physical and chemical characteristics.
This paper highlights the relevance of nutrient recycling ;and soil physic improvement by using empty fruit bunch in oil palm plantation. Empty fruit bunch application as mulching 150 kg/palm/year with fertilizer 15-10-30,2.875 kg/palm/year produced average yield of oil palm (5-8 years old) 2,936 kg/rai while using fertilizer 15-10-30, 5.75 kg/palm/year gave 3,096 kg/rai.