MPOB innovates fertiliser to enhance oil palm yield
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has innovated a fertiliser formulation containing optimum balanced nutrients that can enhance oil palm yield.
The government agency said a group of researchers at MPOB led by Ahmad Afandi Murdi innovated ‘MPOB F3’ compound fertiliser, containing a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, and borate formulated for oil palms planted on mineral soils.
Director-General Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said MPOB F3 was formulated with balanced nutrients suitable for oil palm planted on various soils.
“Palm trees need proper fertilisation, including optimum balanced nutrient fertilisers to raise their yield.
“Even though the nutrient requirement is site-specific, the balanced nutrient ratio in such formulated compound fertilisers will provide a satisfactory nutrient input needed at the various locations,” he said in a statement today.
He said the systematic use of this fertiliser is cost-effective as it will increase the productivity of fresh fruit bunches and, hence, raise the income of growers.
Dr Ahmad Parveez said MPOB F3 is a cost-effective fertiliser that can reduce the loss of nutrients and increase the nutrient uptake efficiency of the oil palm roots.
The introduction of this balanced fertiliser formulation in oil palm plantations subsequently minimises the negative environmental impacts related to over-fertilisation, land degradation and pollution from heavy metal.
MPOB said research for innovation began in 1990 until 2006. The selection of raw materials as sources for the fertiliser formulation was based on cost-effectiveness, consistency in nutrient contents, and suitability for blending and compounding.
The formulation included a conditioner or zeolite to increase nutrient recovery by the crops.
MPOB has signed an agreement with FGV Fertilizer Sdn Bhd for the commercialisation of MPOB F3 fertiliser.
The handing over ceremony of the agreement document between MPOB and FGV Fertilizer was witnessed by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities during the pre-launch ceremony of the Transfer of Technology 2021 Webinar last April.
Source: NST