NITROGEN NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF OIL PALM PLANTED IN TROPICAL PEAT SOIL WITH APPLICATION OF AMELIORANT AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER
Fertilizer is the largest component of production costs in the palm oil industry. High use of fertilizer will increase production costs, but on the other hand, the use of fertilizer is necessary, especially in oil palm plantations operating on marginal soils with low soil fertility. Peat soil is one of the marginal lands that is widely cultivated for oil palm plantations. An accurate fertilization recommendation will be very important to obtain high crop production and optimum costs. Information about nutrient uptake by palms is essential during making fertilization recommendations to prevent excessive use of fertilizers and get the optimum and most profitable yield. This study aims to determine the absorption of nitrogen nutrients by oil palm plants on peatlands. The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer application significantly improve FFB yield by increase the bunch number, whilst boiler ash that rich with potassium improve FFB yield by increase the bunch weight. That nitrogen recovery by the palm varied from 53.16% to 79.45%. The results of the study also showed that the lower dose of nitrogen fertilizer given a better percentage of nutrient uptake compared to the plots that received higher nitrogen fertilizer.
Nitrogen, Peat Soil, Oil Palm