The rubber and oil palm in Malaysia are mainly cultivated on acidic Ultisols and Oxisols, which occupy about 70 per cent of the country’s land surface. The pH of the soils varies from 4 to 5; however, the crops can withstand this level of soil acidity. This is not the case for cocoa, which grows best if the pH is greater than 5, at which Al3+, Fe2+ and Mn2+ toxic to its roots are mostly precipitated as inert hydroxides; the respective pKa of the ions are 5, 4.58 and 6. Long-term application of ammonium sulphate on soils in Malaysian plantations can result in increased soil acidity due to nitrification of NH4+ released by the N-fertiliser. Thus, in the long run, soil pH can be lowered to the level that affects the growth and production of the crops. For oil palm, soil pH should be maintained at the level greater than 4.3. Treating Ultisols and Oxisols cropped to cocoa, rubber or even oil palm with ground magnesium limestone (GML), Mg-rich synthetic gypsum (MRSG) and ground basalt increases their pH, with the level dependent on the amount applied. Besides increasing soil pH, application of the ameliorants (MRSG or basalt) increases Ca, Mg and even S in the soils that translate into enhanced crop growth and eventually their production is sustained.
{"title":"MG-RICH SYNTHETIC GYPSUM OR BASALT AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF AMELIORANT TO MANAGE SOIL ACIDITY FOR PLANTATION TREE CROPS","authors":"S. Jusop","doi":"10.56333/tp.2022.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.56333/tp.2022.004","url":null,"abstract":"The rubber and oil palm in Malaysia are mainly cultivated on acidic Ultisols and Oxisols, which occupy about 70 per cent of the country’s land surface. The pH of the soils varies from 4 to 5; however, the crops can withstand this level of soil acidity. This is not the case for cocoa, which grows best if the pH is greater than 5, at which Al3+, Fe2+ and Mn2+ toxic to its roots are mostly precipitated as inert hydroxides; the respective pKa of the ions are 5, 4.58 and 6. Long-term application of ammonium sulphate on soils in Malaysian plantations can result in increased soil acidity due to nitrification of NH4+ released by the N-fertiliser. Thus, in the long run, soil pH can be lowered to the level that affects the growth and production of the crops. For oil palm, soil pH should be maintained at the level greater than 4.3. Treating Ultisols and Oxisols cropped to cocoa, rubber or even oil palm with ground magnesium limestone (GML), Mg-rich synthetic gypsum (MRSG) and ground basalt increases their pH, with the level dependent on the amount applied. Besides increasing soil pH, application of the ameliorants (MRSG or basalt) increases Ca, Mg and even S in the soils that translate into enhanced crop growth and eventually their production is sustained.","PeriodicalId":22956,"journal":{"name":"The Planter","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72653386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. O Z, H. S P, B. H., N. D L, W. O R, D. N J, S. M J, E. R M
The Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project has been running since 2011 in the state of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Over the past ten years we have conducted 19 studies that have generated data that can be used to compare the ecology of non-flying mammals in forest areas with those in oil palm plantations. This paper summarises information on the diversity, abundance and behaviour of these mammals in oil palm dominated landscapes. The studies have robustly demonstrated a dramatic decline in diversity of mammals in oil palm plantations compared to logged forests, with approximately 50 per cent of species completely disappearing. A small subset of species otherwise found in tropical forests can survive in, and apparently adapt to, this new habitat to some extent. It is also shown that there is very little movement of native rodents from forests into plantations. Our results highlight the importance of remnant forest patches, even heavily logged patches and riparian buffers in the agricultural landscape, and demonstrate the importance of maintaining the structural complexity of these forest remnants to enhance their conservation value for native mammals. In view of the findings, several management recommendations are made derived from the practical applications of our research.
{"title":"MAMMALS IN AN OIL PALM DOMINATED LANDSCAPE","authors":"D. O Z, H. S P, B. H., N. D L, W. O R, D. N J, S. M J, E. R M","doi":"10.56333/tp.2022.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.56333/tp.2022.003","url":null,"abstract":"The Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project has been running since 2011 in the state of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Over the past ten years we have conducted 19 studies that have generated data that can be used to compare the ecology of non-flying mammals in forest areas with those in oil palm plantations. This paper summarises information on the diversity, abundance and behaviour of these mammals in oil palm dominated landscapes. The studies have robustly demonstrated a dramatic decline in diversity of mammals in oil palm plantations compared to logged forests, with approximately 50 per cent of species completely disappearing. A small subset of species otherwise found in tropical forests can survive in, and apparently adapt to, this new habitat to some extent. It is also shown that there is very little movement of native rodents from forests into plantations. Our results highlight the importance of remnant forest patches, even heavily logged patches and riparian buffers in the agricultural landscape, and demonstrate the importance of maintaining the structural complexity of these forest remnants to enhance their conservation value for native mammals. In view of the findings, several management recommendations are made derived from the practical applications of our research.","PeriodicalId":22956,"journal":{"name":"The Planter","volume":"102 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74836768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The red palm weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is one of the world’s most destructive pest of oil palm plantation as it can damage the entire palm and incur a total loss to the planters. Early detection of the RPW is difficult, and when the symptoms of infestation are discovered, usually the plant is not salvageable. The adult RPW lays the eggs inside the tree trunk and starts feeding on the tissue of the plant and remains inside until the tree dies. Intensive efforts have been explored to enhance the early detection process of RPW in the field. There are numerous detection methods for discovering the infected trees, such as manual visual inspection, acoustic detection, chemical odour/signal detection, canine detection, thermal sensing, remote sensing, Geographic Information System mapping (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud platform and data mining-based technology. In this article, the current methods and technologies used for the early detection of RPW are explored and discussed.
{"title":"Recent Methods and Technologies for an Early Detection of Red Palm Weevil Infestation: A Review","authors":"Muhammad Nurfaiz Abd Kharim, K. Krishnan","doi":"10.56333/tp.2022.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.56333/tp.2022.001","url":null,"abstract":"The red palm weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is one of the world’s most destructive pest of oil palm plantation as it can damage the entire palm and incur a total loss to the planters. Early detection of the RPW is difficult, and when the symptoms of infestation are discovered, usually the plant is not salvageable. The adult RPW lays the eggs inside the tree trunk and starts feeding on the tissue of the plant and remains inside until the tree dies. Intensive efforts have been explored to enhance the early detection process of RPW in the field. There are numerous detection methods for discovering the infected trees, such as manual visual inspection, acoustic detection, chemical odour/signal detection, canine detection, thermal sensing, remote sensing, Geographic Information System mapping (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud platform and data mining-based technology. In this article, the current methods and technologies used for the early detection of RPW are explored and discussed.","PeriodicalId":22956,"journal":{"name":"The Planter","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78597405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article highlights the core international instruments on human rights promulgated by the United Nations and International Labour Organisation. It also briefly explains the doctrine of obligations erga omnes and postulates the essential human rights requirements recommended for observance amongst the international community. An analysis is also provided on all the essential elements of these international human rights concerns and the extend of its reception in Malaysia with an overview of its observance in the plantation industry.
{"title":"International Human Rights Requirements in the Workplace and its Reception in Malaysia","authors":"Chandra Segaran","doi":"10.56333/tp.2022.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.56333/tp.2022.002","url":null,"abstract":"This article highlights the core international instruments on human rights promulgated by the United Nations and International Labour Organisation. It also briefly explains the doctrine of obligations erga omnes and postulates the essential human rights requirements recommended for observance amongst the international community. An analysis is also provided on all the essential elements of these international human rights concerns and the extend of its reception in Malaysia with an overview of its observance in the plantation industry.","PeriodicalId":22956,"journal":{"name":"The Planter","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81113615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Three methods of land preparation in oil palm replanting are described, attempted and observations recorded for a period of 11 to 14 years. In method A carried out in 2006 replanting, the land was prepared by excavating only the stumps of Ganoderma infected fallen and vacant palms through the construction of pits. Here, after 11 and 12 years of replanting resulted in 18 and 21 per cent of BSR infections respectively, while, after 14 years the infection increased to 28.5 per cent in the same replants. In method B, comprising of two fields replanted in 2009 and 2008 after clean clearing or 100 per cent removal of boles of living, dead and vacant palm points followed by two rounds of thorough disc ploughing and single rotovating of the soil, showed 5.8 and 8.5 per cent of Ganoderma infections after 11 and 12 years, respectively. Although method C was a slow and expensive operation, 100 per cent excavation of living, dead and vacant palm boles followed by deep ploughing or tilting of the soil with the excavator bucket showed 2 per cent Ganoderma disease after 11 years of replanting. Among the three modes of land preparation, methods B and C showed a delay in infection of Ganoderma in replants compared to method A. The excavator bucket used in method C for deep tilting prompted the search for other tools like Howard ripper and fabricated steel ripper mounted on a bulldozer, of which the latter was found suitable and has been implemented commercially. However, the cost of such operation was 2.6 times (i.e. RM2 030 against RM769 per hectare) higher than the preparation of land by method A in replanting. Another study was conducted to understand the relationship between the visually observed Ganoderma palms and normal appearing palms with Ganoderma infection at the sub-clinical level. This may be helpful for planters to predict the total Ganoderma infected palms present in the field prior to replanting. The relationship appeared to be a cubical expression between the visual and total Ganoderma population in a field prior to replanting. Keywords: Ganoderma disease, basal stem rot, clean clearing, land preparation, replanting, deep ploughing.
{"title":"METHODS OF LAND PREPARATION TO DELAY GANODERMA OR BASAL STEM ROT (BSR) DISEASE IN OIL PALM REPLANTING IN INLAND MINERAL SOILS - EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS","authors":"J. Mathews, S. Ng, R. Lim, J. Ng, M. S","doi":"10.56333/tp.2021.020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.56333/tp.2021.020","url":null,"abstract":"Three methods of land preparation in oil palm replanting are described, attempted and observations recorded for a period of 11 to 14 years. In method A carried out in 2006 replanting, the land was prepared by excavating only the stumps of Ganoderma infected fallen and vacant palms through the construction of pits. Here, after 11 and 12 years of replanting resulted in 18 and 21 per cent of BSR infections respectively, while, after 14 years the infection increased to 28.5 per cent in the same replants. In method B, comprising of two fields replanted in 2009 and 2008 after clean clearing or 100 per cent removal of boles of living, dead and vacant palm points followed by two rounds of thorough disc ploughing and single rotovating of the soil, showed 5.8 and 8.5 per cent of Ganoderma infections after 11 and 12 years, respectively. Although method C was a slow and expensive operation, 100 per cent excavation of living, dead and vacant palm boles followed by deep ploughing or tilting of the soil with the excavator bucket showed 2 per cent Ganoderma disease after 11 years of replanting. Among the three modes of land preparation, methods B and C showed a delay in infection of Ganoderma in replants compared to method A. The excavator bucket used in method C for deep tilting prompted the search for other tools like Howard ripper and fabricated steel ripper mounted on a bulldozer, of which the latter was found suitable and has been implemented commercially. However, the cost of such operation was 2.6 times (i.e. RM2 030 against RM769 per hectare) higher than the preparation of land by method A in replanting. Another study was conducted to understand the relationship between the visually observed Ganoderma palms and normal appearing palms with Ganoderma infection at the sub-clinical level. This may be helpful for planters to predict the total Ganoderma infected palms present in the field prior to replanting. The relationship appeared to be a cubical expression between the visual and total Ganoderma population in a field prior to replanting. Keywords: Ganoderma disease, basal stem rot, clean clearing, land preparation, replanting, deep ploughing.","PeriodicalId":22956,"journal":{"name":"The Planter","volume":"64 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72574843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper reviews information on the biological aspects and discusses briefly the weediness of wild bitter gourd (WBG) including its management, in oil palm plantations. WBG is considered a serious weed in oil palm plantations because: i) it can grow into blanket sheet in the inter-row areas in immature and mature plantings, ii) it can encroach onto immature palms which is difficult to control and increase risks of herbicide phytotoxicity during routine circle spraying, and iii) it can grow as epiphytes on palm trunks requiring control (both as a weed and also sources of seeds for further infestation). The control of WBG in oil palm plantations involves various measures which include preventive measures (planting legume covers, maintenance of natural covers, mulching) and applied measures (manual and mechanised weeding, chemical control). The planting of legume covers and the maintenance of a less competitive natural cover of selected indigenous species in oil palm plantations are sound methods of weed management including the exclusion of noxious weeds (like WBG). When WBG encroaches onto immature palms, manual weeding or decreeping is the only safe method of weed control. Post emergent chemical control of M. charantia has been reported by many researchers and they make no recommendations for the efficacy or suitability of these herbicides against M. charantia in named crops. A WBG herbicide evaluation with six herbicide treatments gave effective control after three rounds of spraying. These are: (i) paraquat + metsulfuron methyl at 2.8 L + 75 g per hectare, (ii) glyphosate + metsulfuron-methyl at 1.5 L + 75 g per hectare, (iii) glufosinate-ammonium at 3 L per hectare, (iv) fluroxypyr at 2 L per hectare, (v) dicamba at 1.5 L per hectare and (vi) triclopyr at 1.5 L per hectare. In any spraying programme to eradicate thick sheet growth of WBG in inter-row areas, three rounds of spraying were required to achieve complete eradication by killing off the original weed stand and killing off any regeneration/new seedlings from germination of seeds. However, the risks of crop phytotoxicity limits the choice of herbicide to only spraying of paraquat + metsulfuron-methyl at 2.8 L + 75 g per hectare and glufosinate-ammonium 3 L per hectare for the control of WBG and other weeds around the periphery of the immature palm during circle spraying. More important, careful spraying by trained operators to minimise lower frond contact is required. Paraquat is not available now and may be replaced with sodium chlorate (sodium chlorate + metsulfuron-methyl at 5.5 kg + 75 g per ha). Another approach can be the sequential spraying of the herbicide mixtures: two rounds of spraying glyphosate + metsulfuron-methyl and the third spraying with only a single selective broadleaf herbicide (fluroxypyr, or dicamba, or triclopyr) to kill any WBG regeneration in order to allow the growing of soft grasses as natural covers. Keywords: Momordica c
本文综述了野生苦瓜在生物学方面的研究进展,并简要讨论了野生苦瓜在油棕种植园中的杂草性及其管理。WBG被认为是油棕种植园中的一种严重杂草,因为:i)它可以在未成熟和成熟种植的行间区域生长成毯状,ii)它可以侵入难以控制的未成熟棕榈树,并在常规循环喷洒时增加除草剂植物毒性的风险,iii)它可以作为附生植物生长在需要控制的棕榈树干上(既是杂草也是进一步侵染的种子来源)。油棕种植园WBG的控制涉及各种措施,包括预防措施(种植豆科植物覆盖物,维护自然覆盖物,覆盖)和应用措施(人工和机械除草,化学控制)。在油棕种植园种植豆科植物覆盖物和维持选定的本地物种的竞争力较低的自然覆盖物是杂草管理的良好方法,包括排除有害杂草(如WBG)。当WBG侵入未成熟的棕榈树时,人工除草或除草是唯一安全的杂草控制方法。许多研究人员已经报道了对白僵菌的紧急化学防治,但他们没有对这些除草剂在指定作物中对白僵菌的有效性或适用性提出建议。经3轮喷施后,6种除草剂处理对WBG除草剂的效果进行了评价。它们是:(i)百草枯+甲磺隆,每公顷2.8升+ 75克,(ii)草甘膦+甲磺隆,每公顷1.5升+ 75克,(iii)草铵,每公顷3升,(iv)氟虫腈,每公顷2升,(v)麦草畏,每公顷1.5升,(vi)三氯吡虫灵,每公顷1.5升。在任何根除行间地区WBG厚片生长的喷洒计划中,需要三轮喷洒才能通过杀死原始杂草林和杀死种子萌发的任何再生/新幼苗来实现完全根除。然而,作物植物毒性的风险限制了除草剂的选择,在循环喷洒时,仅施用2.8 L + 75 g /公顷的百草枯+甲磺隆-甲基和3 L /公顷的草铵膦,以控制未成熟棕榈周围的WBG和其他杂草。更重要的是,需要训练有素的操作人员仔细喷涂,以尽量减少下正面接触。目前没有百草枯,可用氯酸钠(氯酸钠+甲磺隆-甲基,5.5公斤+每公顷75克)代替。另一种方法可以是连续喷洒混合除草剂:两轮喷洒草甘膦+甲磺隆-甲基,第三轮只喷洒一种选择性阔叶除草剂(氟虫腈、麦草畏或三氯吡虫啉),以杀死任何WBG再生,从而使软草作为自然覆盖物生长。关键词:苦瓜,野生苦瓜,杂草,油棕种植园,管理
{"title":"WILD BITTER GOURD, MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L. (CUCURBITACEAE): A CREEPING WEED OF OIL\u0000 PALM AND ITS MANAGEMENT","authors":"G. F. Chung","doi":"10.56333/tp.2021.021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.56333/tp.2021.021","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reviews information on the biological aspects and discusses briefly the\u0000 weediness of wild bitter gourd (WBG) including its management, in oil palm plantations.\u0000 WBG is considered a serious weed in oil palm plantations because: i) it can grow into\u0000 blanket sheet in the inter-row areas in immature and mature plantings, ii) it can\u0000 encroach onto immature palms which is difficult to control and increase risks of\u0000 herbicide phytotoxicity during routine circle spraying, and iii) it can grow as\u0000 epiphytes on palm trunks requiring control (both as a weed and also sources of seeds for\u0000 further infestation). The control of WBG in oil palm plantations involves various\u0000 measures which include preventive measures (planting legume covers, maintenance of\u0000 natural covers, mulching) and applied measures (manual and mechanised weeding, chemical\u0000 control). The planting of legume covers and the maintenance of a less competitive\u0000 natural cover of selected indigenous species in oil palm plantations are sound methods\u0000 of weed management including the exclusion of noxious weeds (like WBG). When WBG\u0000 encroaches onto immature palms, manual weeding or decreeping is the only safe method of\u0000 weed control. Post emergent chemical control of M. charantia has been reported by many\u0000 researchers and they make no recommendations for the efficacy or suitability of these\u0000 herbicides against M. charantia in named crops. A WBG herbicide evaluation with six\u0000 herbicide treatments gave effective control after three rounds of spraying. These are:\u0000 (i) paraquat + metsulfuron methyl at 2.8 L + 75 g per hectare, (ii) glyphosate +\u0000 metsulfuron-methyl at 1.5 L + 75 g per hectare, (iii) glufosinate-ammonium at 3 L per\u0000 hectare, (iv) fluroxypyr at 2 L per hectare, (v) dicamba at 1.5 L per hectare and (vi)\u0000 triclopyr at 1.5 L per hectare. In any spraying programme to eradicate thick sheet\u0000 growth of WBG in inter-row areas, three rounds of spraying were required to achieve\u0000 complete eradication by killing off the original weed stand and killing off any\u0000 regeneration/new seedlings from germination of seeds. However, the risks of crop\u0000 phytotoxicity limits the choice of herbicide to only spraying of paraquat +\u0000 metsulfuron-methyl at 2.8 L + 75 g per hectare and glufosinate-ammonium 3 L per hectare\u0000 for the control of WBG and other weeds around the periphery of the immature palm during\u0000 circle spraying. More important, careful spraying by trained operators to minimise lower\u0000 frond contact is required. Paraquat is not available now and may be replaced with sodium\u0000 chlorate (sodium chlorate + metsulfuron-methyl at 5.5 kg + 75 g per ha). Another\u0000 approach can be the sequential spraying of the herbicide mixtures: two rounds of\u0000 spraying glyphosate + metsulfuron-methyl and the third spraying with only a single\u0000 selective broadleaf herbicide (fluroxypyr, or dicamba, or triclopyr) to kill any WBG\u0000 regeneration in order to allow the growing of soft grasses as natural covers. Keywords:\u0000 Momordica c","PeriodicalId":22956,"journal":{"name":"The Planter","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73178198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}