Effect of Irrigation Volume and Fertilzer on Nutrient Losses as Affected by Mulching on Oil Palm Seedlings (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq) in the Screen house

Abstract

Nutrient leaching is one of the major causes of surface and indeed a potential 
source of groundwater pollution. Nutrients applied as fertilizers are subjected 
to losses in the dissolved form via surface run off, erosion, leaching and 
fixation in the soil. Hence, this research was conducted to assess the effect of 
mulch (empty fruit bunch of oil palm) in mitigating leaching losses from 
NPKMg fertilizer application to oil palm seedlings.   A 2 x 3 x 3 factorial 
experiment with three (3) replicates fitted to a Completely Randomized 
Design (CRD) was used. Treatments includes:  A = NPKMg at two levels (0 
kg ha-1 and 37.5 kg ha-1)  per 5 kg soil, B= Shredded empty oil palm fruit 
bunch (EFB) as mulch at three levels  (0, 37.5 and 75 kg ha-1), C = Irrigation 
Volume at three  levels (50,100 and 200 % Field capacity) respectively. 
Results showed that the leaching loss of N, P, K and Mg were highest when 
200% field capacity of irrigation volume was used. Similarly, application of 
37.5 kg ha-1of NKPMg fertilizer combined with 167.4 g EFB mulch and 
irrigation volume at 100% Field capacity significantly minimized nutrient 
losses and enhanced seedlings performance.