Monitoring of pH Level for Maximising Oil Palm FFB Yields

Abstract. Depending on the location of estates and types of soils, monitoring of pH changes is an integral part of soil-water management for realizing a sustainable Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) yields. In Sumber Tani Agung Resources Tbk, fluctuations in pH level in field blocks as well as nearby drains were monitored since 2019. Monitoring of pH was done on two types of soils namely peat (three estates in North Sumatra) and acid sulfate soils (two estates in South Sumatra). Piezometer was established in each block in all five estates and pH readings was taken biweekly, including at nearby watergates for comparison. Due to presence of pyritic layers, pH values in estates with acid sulfate soils were lower than those of planted on peat. Keeping water level at 40-70 cm on peat and at 45-60 c

Pupathy Uthrapathy Thandapani and Sundian Nadaraj

  Sumber Tani Agung Resources Tbk,

 Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro No. 51, Medan, Indonesia.