08 May Precise method to collect soil samples in oil palm plantations
तेल पाम वृक्षारोपण में मिट्टी के नमूने एकत्र करने के लिए सटीक विधि Oil palm is a heavy feeder of nutrients as it produces a very high biomass. Input management plays a major role in plantation crops as the crop remains in the field for a longer period of time. In oil palm plantations fertilizer management proved to play a major role in defining yield potential in terms of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). Soil analysis is an effective method to determine plant nutritional status for suitable fertilizer application. This includes the collection of representative sample from the soil, estimation of nutrient status and other parameters, calibration and interpretation of analytical results and giving fertilizer recommendations. Proper recommendation can reach the farmer only when precision is maintained at all the stages of analysis. The first among them is soil sampling upon which the entire programme will be dependant. Hence, employing the correct procedure for sampling the soil makes it essential for correct estimations and thereby obtaining corresponding fertilizer recommendations. Generally, soil samples are collected for assessing the properties like soil reaction (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC) content and available nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) , manganese (Mn)...