Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T19:36:11.083Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Effect of Palm Age and Planting Density on the Partitioning of Assimilates in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

C. J. Breure
Affiliation:
Dami Oil Palm Research Station, Kimbe, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Summary

Yield and growth records from an oil palm planting density experiment, comparing 56, 110, 148 and 186 palms ha−1, and a progeny experiment, planted at 115 and 143 palms ha−1, were used to estimate the partitioning of assimilates into those used for structural dry matter (DM) production, and those used for growth and maintenance respiration.

Gross photosynthetic assimilation (A) for closed canopies was estimated from absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), derived from actual sunshine hours, and the assimilation-light response curve, to be 128 t CH2O ha−1 year−1. A for non-closed canopies was calculated by correcting for the degree of light transmission, which in turn was estimated from recorded leaf area index values (L), i.e. the total leaf area per unit ground area.

Forty-eight percent of gross assimilation was used for DM production, about half of this being lost in growth respiration. The remaining 52% was lost in maintenance respiration. These losses appeared to level off before crown expansion was completed, and since trunk biomass continued to increase, maintenance respiration per unit biomass (R) decreased with age.

An increase in planting density reduced the assimilates available for bunch DM, had little effect on those for vegetative growth, but strongly reduced maintenance respiration and, since biomass was little affected, reduced R. Assimilates for bunch DM ha−1 reached a maximum at L = 5.6.

The observed trends in R as a function of palm age and planting density merit further study.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amthor, J. S. (1984). The role of maintenance respiration in plant growth. Plant Cell and Environment 7:561569.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breure, C. J. (1977). Preliminary results from an oil palm density X fertilizer trial on young volcanic soils in West New Britain. In International Developments in Oil Palm, 192207 (Eds Earp, D. A. and Newall, W.). Kuala Lumpur: Incorporated Society of Planters.Google Scholar
Breure, C. J. (1978). Research Report Dami Oil Palm Research Station 1971–1977, Vol I and II.Google Scholar
Breure, C. J. (1982). Factors affecting yield and growth of oil palm tenera in West New Britain. Oléagineux 37:213228.Google Scholar
Breure, C. J. (1985). Relevant factors associated with crown expansion in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Euphytica 34:161175.Google Scholar
Breure, C. J. (1986). Parent selection for yield and bunch index in the oil palm in West New Britain. Euphytica 35:6572.Google Scholar
Breure, C. J. (1988). The effect of different planting densities on yield trends in oil palm. Experimental Agriculture 24:3752.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breure, C. J., Konimore, J. & Rosenquist, E. A. R. (1982). Oil Palm selection and seed production at Dami Oil Palm Research Station, Papua New Guinea. Oil Palm News 26:622.Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. (1976). Photosynthesis and productivity. In Oil Palm Research, 5576 (Eds Corley, R. H. V, Harden, J. J. and Wood, B. J.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. (1986). Oil Palm. In CRC Handbook of Fruit Set and Development, 253258 (Ed. Monselise, S. P.).Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. (1983). Potential productivity of tropical perennial crops. Experimental Agriculture 19:217237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corley, R. H. V., Harden, J. J. & Tan, G. Y. (1971). Analysis of growth of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacquin). I. Estimation of growth parameters and application in breeding. Euphytica 20:307315.Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V., Harden, J. J. & Ooi, S. C. (1973). Some evidence for genetically controlled variation in photosynthetic rate of oil palm seedlings. Euphytica 20:4855.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. & Gray, B. S. (1976). Yield and yield components. In Oil Palm Research, 7786 (Eds Corley, R. H. V, Harden, J. J. and Wood, B. J.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Corley, R. H. V. & Breure, C. J. (1981). Measurements in Oil Palm Experiments. Internal report, Unilever Plantation Group, London.Google Scholar
Ehleringer, J. & Pearcy, R. W. (1983). Variation in quantum yield for CO2-uptake among C3 and C4 plants. Plant Physiology 73:555559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goudriaan, J. & van Laar, H. H. (1978). Calculation of daily totals of the gross CO2 assimilation of leaf canopies. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 26:373382.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, B. S. (1969). A study of the influence of genetic, agronomic and environmental factors on the growth, flowering and bunch production of the oil palm on the West Coast of Malaysia. PhD Thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Hardon, J. J., Williams, C. N. & Watson, I. (1969). Leaf area and yield in the oil palm in Malaysia. Experimental Agriculture 5:2552.Google Scholar
Lantinga, E. A. (1985). Productivity of grasslands under continuous and rational grazing. Thesis, University of Wageningen.Google Scholar
McCree, K. J. (1982). Maintenance requirements of white clover at high and low growth rates. Crop Science 22:345351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCree, K. J. & Kresovich, S. (1978). Growth and maintenance requirements of white clover as function of daylength. Crop Science 18:2225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monsi, M. & Saeki, T. (1953). Uber den Lichtfaktor in den Pflantzengesellschaften und seine Beteuting für die Stoffproduktion. Japanese Journal of Botany 14:2252.Google Scholar
Monteith, J. L. (1973). Principles of Environmental Physics. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Ng, S. K., Thamboo, S. & De Souza, P. (1968). Nutrient contents of oil palms in Malaya. II: Nutrients in vegetative tissue. Malayan Agricultural Journal 46:332390.Google Scholar
Ochs, R. & Olivin, J. (1976). Research on mineral nutrition by the IRHO. In Oil Palm Research, 182213 (Eds Corley, R. H. V, Hardon, J. J. and Wood, B. J.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Parthasarathy, M. V. & Tomlinson, P. B. (1967). Anatomical features of metaphloem in stems of Sabal, Cocos and two other palms. American Journal of Botany 54:11431151.Google Scholar
Penning de Vries, F. W. T. (1975). Use of assimilates in higher plants. In Photosynthesis and Productivity in Different Environments (Ed. by Cooper, J. P.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Rees, A. R. (1963). Relationship between growth rate and leaf area index in the oil palm. Nature 197:6364.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, G. R. (1984). Light Interception, Productivity and Yield of Oiul Palm. Malaysia: Palm Oil Research Institute.Google Scholar
Syed, R. A. (1979). Studies on oil palm pollination by insects. Bulletin of Entomological Research 69:213224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waringa, N. A. (1985). Soil moisture and climate in the West New Britain Area. Internal report, Agricultural University Wageningen.Google Scholar
Wilson, D. R. (1982). Response to selection for dark respiration rate of mature leaves in Lolium perenne L. and its effect on growth of young plants. Annals of Botany 49:313320.Google Scholar
Wilson, D. R., van Bavel, C. H. M. & McCree, K. J. (1980). Carbon balance of water deficient grain sorghum plants. Crop Science 20:153159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wit, C. T. de et al. (1978). Simulation of Assimilation, Respiration and Transpiration of Crops. Simulation Monographs. Wageningen: PUDOC.Google Scholar