Oil Palm Roots' Response to Mechanization in Bernam Series Soil

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences 5 (1): 15-19, 2010 ISSN 1557-4989 © 2010 Science Publications

Soil Compaction and Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Yield in a Clay Textured Soil
Zuraidah Yahya, 2Aminuddin Husin, 2Jamal Talib, 3Jamarei Othman, 4 Osumanu Haruna Ahmed and 5Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh 1 Biology Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6 Persiaran Institusi, BB Bangi, 43000 Kajang 2 Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia 3 Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia 4 Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University Putra Malaysia, Bintulu Campus, Sarawak, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia 5 Crop Production Programme, School of Sustainable Agriculture, University Malaysia Sabah, Locked Bag 2073, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Abstract: Problem statement: The impacts of soil compaction on crop yields have been studied extensively by soil scientists due to declining soil productivity associated with mechanisation. However, a relationship between machine-induced soil compaction and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) yield is unclear. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of mechanization on soil physical properties and the influence on oil palm yield. Approach: The palms were planted in Bernam series soil which is clay textured. Compaction treatments were imposed for 6 consecutive years. Comparisons were made between the effects of soil compaction caused by different trailer weights and monthly transportation frequency. Results: The results showed a beneficial effect of soil compaction on the oil palm yield. It significantly increased the yield with increased mean soil bulk density. The transportation frequency played a greater role than the trailer weight. After six years of soil compaction, there was a positive

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