Growth and Production Modeling for Oil Palm at Different Levels and Periods of Frond Pruning

Abstract

The number of leaf frond influence oil palm yield, especially fresh fruit bunch weight and production. The objective of this research was to obtain oil palm growth and production model for different levels and periods of frond pruning. The experiment was conducted at PT. Astra Agro Lestari, Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, from August 2011 to February 2012. The experiment was arranged in randomized block design with two factors and three replications. The first factor was numbers of unpruned frond and the second factors was pruning periods. The frond treatments consisted of 41-48, 49–56, and 57–64 fronds. The periods of pruning treatment consisted of first period (early to mid rainy season):September– December, second period (mid to end of rainy season):Januari–April, and third period (dry season):May–August. Model has been able to predict 75% variable for production and fresh fruit bunch weight for different levels and periods of pruning.