Mission to Bakrie : oil palm plantations in Sumatra (Indonesia) - August 2007

The two reference experiments AW CP 01 at Agrowiyana and KP CP 01 at Kisaran have been set up as planned, with the first fertilizer applications under the protocol in April and May 2007 respectively. Harvest recording will begin once the palms are 3 years old. Reference trial AB CP 01 at Pasaman is due to begin in November 2007 (first fertilizer application under the protocol). Siting of the two back-up trials, AW ES 01 at Kisaran and TJ ES 01 at Kisaran respectively, is currently under way, and they could be launched in 2008. For back-up trial SA ES 01 at Pasaman, a prior soil analysis will be carried out at Sungei Aur in November 2007. From what was seen the leaf samples have been properly taken on the whole at Agrowiyana and Kisaran. 302 LSU samples were received in September 2007. Overall, the trends seen in 2006 are confirmed in 2007, namely good mineral nutrition in the plantations, the best being at Agrowiyana. A fertilizer schedule is proposed for 2008. Given the stability of mineral nutrition compared to 2006, it is very similar to the previous one. A reminder is given of the 3 principles of good oil palm fertilization: single fertilizers, based on the LSU structure, applied in their entirety in the first half-year, bearing in mind that an ideal situation cannot be achieved in one go given the local constraints. In particular, emphasis is placed on the need to switch as quickly as possible from compound fertilizer, which is poorly adapted to oil palm nutrition, to single fertilizers. Whatever the event, we are ready to adapt recommendations to reality, based on information provided in good time by PT BSP. Note the existence of Ganoderma at Pasaman (one case identified at Air Balam). (Résumé d'auteur