The dynamics of precipitation and its relation to flowering status and oil palm productivity

Abstract

This paper exposes the relation between monthly precipitation amount dynamics with the assumably impacted flowering status of productive oil palm and its productivity in the next period. The observation was conducted in Jambi 2016-2017 and Kalimantan in 2017. Simple regression and Pearson’s correlation procedure was applied to calculate the relation between actual flower sex ratio as well as oil palm productivity. Under water scarcity conditions in the dry season, more flower infertility will be exposed in the same period of the dry season with higher response variability. Soil moisture content under the frond pile is more stabilized against evaporation so that the rate of soil demoisturizing at the upper horizon layer is slower than at the circle area and active path area. Estimated oil palm production in a period is determined by the precipitation value 36 months before harvest.

Effect of water deficit of Ultisols, Entisols, Spodosols, and Histosols on oil palm productivity in Central Kalimantan

“…Accurate time lag information is essential for plantation management in the context of mitigating climate change effects, as the impact of climate change is predicted to be even more significant in the coming decades. Agusta et al (2020) state that water stress during the dry season causes infertile oil palm flowers, which are affected by rainfall three years before harvest. This contradicts research by Corley and Tinker (2015), who state that abortion generally occurs at 5 -10 MBH but mainly at 9 -10 MBH.…”