Soil fertility management under oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations in sub-Sahara Africa: Review

Abstract

The lack of soil fertility is one of the main constraints for oil palm production. In Benin, scientific research has been conducted to address this problem. This article summarizes the scientific work conducted in Benin so far on soil fertility management in oil palm grove. To produce this review, we used peer-reviewed articles and references. It has enabled us to categorize the various works on soil fertility in Benin palm plantations into three categories, which include works on the management of organic matter, works on the association of oil palm with annual food crops, and works on the management of mineral fertilization. From all these studies, apart from climatic factors, the major constraint affecting oil palm production is potassium (K) deficiency. But boron (B) is also mentioned in the scientific literature as a parameter requiring particular attention, whose deficiency leads, in addition to K, to enormous production losses. It would therefore be advisable to direct future research toward alternatives that take into account climatic variability and the mineral nutrition of oil palm in K and magnesium (Mg), while ensuring good management of soil organic matter to ensure the sustainability of oil palm-based production systems.