ISSN:
1573-5036
Keywords:
Acidification
;
Agroecosystem
;
Ferrallitic soils
;
Oil-palm
;
Nutrient balances
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary The nutrient and base status of small-holder and industrial oil-palm plantations was compared on a Ferralsol in the humid zone of the southern Ivory Coast. The plantations were about 14 years old and derived from savanna. The measured nutrient contents (C, N, P, K, Mg, Ca), the pH-values, the CEC and the calculated nutrient balances showed, that: - the concentrated applications of KCl-fertilizer in the industrial plantations (up to 216 kg KCl/ha in one application) are responsible for an accelerated acidification of these Ferralsols, already of low base saturation (S-value〈10%, CEC〈10 meq/100 g soil). - both the small-holder and the industrial plantations on the whole are stable agro-ecosystems, but will only be able to sustain present production in the future if the depletion of K, Mg and Ca is avoided. Thus, it is recommended that the soil be permanently covered by cover-crops or weeds tolerated (combined with mulching) to act as a nutrient bank and to avoid erosion on slopes. Furthermore, the KCl-applications in the industrial plantations should be divided to minimize leaching losses and further acidification.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02181793
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