Oil Palm Bulletin 65 (November 2012) p. 12-20.

Effects of Salinity on Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB)

Production and Oil-to-bunch Ratio of Oil Palm
(Elaeis guineensis) Planted in Reclaimed Mangrove
Swamp Areas in Sabah
Winner Henry* and Hoong Hak Wan*

ABSTRACT alam sekitar dan kelestarian diambil kira dalam

pembangunan tanah. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk
The planting of oil palm was quite extensively mengkaji pendekatan ke atas penebusgunaan
carried out in the ex-mangrove swamp areas in dan kelemahannya di dua ladang di pantai timur
Sabah before environmental and sustainability Sabah: satu terletak di daerah Kunak manakala
issues were taken into consideration in land satu lagi terletak di daerah Semporna. Kebanjiran
development. This article examines the approach on air laut akibat banjir pasang surut dan penyusupan
reclamation and its weaknesses in two plantations: melalui pintu air pasang surut dan permatang
one in the Kunak district and the other in the telah menjejaskan prestasi pengeluaran buah
Semporna district in the east coast of Sabah. The tandan segar (BTS) dan kadar perahan minyak
subsequent influx of sea water caused by tidal dengan ketara. Taburan kawasan yang terjejas
flooding and seepages through tide-gates and bunds, akibat paras kemasinan melebihi 5 m2 cm-1 telah
had significantly affected the performance of palms ditentukan melalui kaji selidik tanah dan pemetaan
both in fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production and oil dengan menggunakan ArcGIS. Berdasarkan
extraction rate. The distribution of areas affected by taburan kawasan, hasil BTS untuk tempoh lima
salinity above 5 m2 cm-1 was determined through tahun terakhir di kawasan terjejas adalah pada
soil surveys and mapping using ArcGIS. Based on purata 16.5 t ha-1 thn-1 berbanding 23.5 t ha-1
the distribution, FFB yields for the last five years thn-1 di kawasan normal. Dalam tempoh lima bulan,
from the affected fields was found to be around tandan yang dituai diambil secara rawak untuk
16.5 t ha-1 per annum and the normal areas was menjalankan analisis komponen buah dan tandan.
23.5 t ha-1 per annum. The harvested bunches were Kesan paras kemasinan telah menjejaskan nisbah
randomly collected for fruit set and bunch analysis minyak:tandan tetapi tiada perbezaan terhadap
was carried out over a five-month period. The oil- nisbah komponen buah. Di kawasan terjejas dengan
to-bunch was found to be significantly affected by air masin, nisbah minyak:tandan direkodkan pada
the salinity even in a situation where no difference kadar 16.5%-18.7% berbanding 22.2%-22.4% di
in fruit set was observed. Oil-to-bunch ranging kawasan normal. Selain daripada impak negatif
from 16.5%-18.7% was obtained from the saline terhadap alam sekitar dan ekologi, penebusgunaan
areas when compared to the range of 22.2%-22.4% kawasan hutan paya bakau memberikan pulangan
from the non-saline areas of the ex-mangrove areas. ekonomi yang lebih rendah kerana usaha
Besides the negative impact on the environment and menghalang penyusupan air laut ke dalam ladang
ecology from the reclamation of mangrove swamps, adalah sukar dan melibatkan kos yang tinggi.
a lower economic return was attained, due to the
difficulties in ensuring that the intrusion of sea Keywords: oil palm, fresh fruit bunch (FFB),
water would not occur. salinity, reclaimed mangrove swamp, oil-to-bunch
ratio.
ABSTRAK
INTRODUCTION
Penanaman sawit di kawasan bekas paya bakau di
Sabah telah dilaksanakan agak meluas sebelum isu Oil palm has been an important crop in Sabah since
1980s. The majority of the oil palm planting during
* Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd, the early days was on relatively flat to undulating
Jalan Tuaran, land, with good mineral soil characteristics.
88300 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia.

12
 Effects of Salinity on Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Production and Oil-to-bunch Ratio of Oil Palm

In 1986, Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd (formerly The impact on yield, fruit set and oil-to-bunch ratio
Sabah Land Development Board before were examined.
corporatisation) decided to open up the mangrove
swamp areas in Madai Estate, Kunak, this was one LOCATIONS
of the early attempts in Sabah on this sort of land
development. The second large scale reclamation Madai Estate, one of the two areas involved in
of a mangrove swamp area by the group was in the large scale mangrove reclamation for oil palm
1990 at Pegagau Estate, Semporna. As is typical of planting, is situated between latitudes 4o41’N and
mangrove swamp areas, they are both in low lying 4o50’N and longitudes 118o06’E and 118014’E. It is
areas and are subjected to regular inundation by approximately 80 km from Tawau, Sabah (Figure 1).
the sea or brackish water during high tides. The
vegetation before reclamation was dominantly The boundary on the western side of the Madai
Rhizophora sp., Avicennia sp. and Nypa fructicans Estate is marked by Tingkayu River. The north-
(nipah). The salinity levels of the soils were eastern side of the estate is the ex-mangrove swamp
generally above 20.0 m2 cm-1 before reclamation. area which is adjacent to Darvel Bay.

Although oil palm is tolerant to the situation of The Pegagau Estate, on the other hand, is situ-
a relatively high water table, it is intolerant to sa- ated between latitudes 4o20’N and 4o27’N and lon-
line and excessively acidic soil conditions (Toh et gitudes 118o24’E and 118o30’E in Semporna Pen-
al., 1987). Apparently, after nearly two decades of insular, Sabah (Figure 1). The eastern boundary is
planting, the salinity of some of the fields is still a surrounded by Pegagau River and the ex-man-
major concern because of poor management lead- grove area in the south is bordered by Celebes Sea.
ing to deteriorated bunds and improper tidal-gates. Both of the estates are fully planted with oil palms
covering about 2884 ha in Madai and 3257 ha in
Although, the results quoted here are not new Pegagau. The reclaimed areas are 906 ha and 1224
as there were succesful cases reported earlier in ha in Madai (Figure 2) and Pegagau Estates (Figure
Peninsular Malaysia, this article briefly describes 3) respectively.
the approach taken during reclamation and its
weaknesses in handling mangrove swamp area.

Figure 1. The location of Madai and Pegagau Estates in Sabah.

13
Oil Palm Bulletin 65

Figure 2. Location of reclaimed areas in Madai Estate. Figure 3. Location of reclaimed areas in Pegagau Estate.

SOILS Where Yr is the relative crop yield (%), 100 is the

maximum yield, ECe (dS/m) is the average salinity
Four soil series has been identified in the ex- of soil saturation extract, t (dS/m) is the threshold
mangrove areas of Madai Estate, with Carey soil soil salinity value where the yield begins to decline,
series as the dominant soil that covers about 52% and s is the rate of yield decline per unit increase
of the area. Carey soil series is sandy textured acid in ECe. Beyond the threshold level, yield decreases
sulphate soil and with pH ranged from 3.1 to 3.3. linearly with increasing salinity. The salinity values
The other soils found are Tongkang, Tebuan and at zero yields provide an estimate of maximum
Permatang series. salinity that plants can tolerate, and is used to
calculate the leaching requirements. Salt tolerance
Soil surveys carried out in the mangrove areas is characterised by the values of both the threshold
of Pegagau Estate identified Sabrang series which and slope.
covers about 42% of the area to be the dominant
one. Sabrang soil series is of moderately deep soil, Salt accumulation in root zone causes the de-
characterised by massive bluish marine clay at velopment of an osmotic stress (osmotic effect) and
depths of 50 to 100 cm from the soil surface. The disrupts cell ion homeostasis by inducing inhibi-
other soil series are Sedu, Serkat and Linau. These tion in the uptake of essential nutrients like K, Ca
are the potential acid sulphate soils. and NO3 (possibly leading to nutrient deficiency)
and accumulation of Na and Cl to potentially toxic
A selection of land with suitable soil physical levels within cells (specific ion effect)(Marschner,
and chemical characteristics is essential in oil palm 1995; Zhu, 2001). These primary stresses induce the
investment (Hoong, 2005). Soils with high salin- generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Mel-
ity levels are likely to give a lower yield unless the loni et al., 2003), cause hormonal changes (Munns,
salinity levels can be reduced through the flushing 2002), alter carbohydrates metabolism (Gao et
out of the excessive salts from the area, during the al., 1998), reduce the activity of certain enzymes
regular raining periods. (Munns, 1993) and impair photosynthesis (Loreto
et al., 2003).
SALINITY AND CROP TOLERANCE
Table 1 gives the approximate salinity classes
According to Chartzoulakis (2004), crops and and the likely effects on plant performance report-
different cultivatrs of the same crop vary considerably ed by Watling (2007).
in their tolerance to salinity. Mass and Hoffman
(1977) concluded that crop yield is not reduced until USDA (1954) classified ECe ranged from class
the threshold of salinity is exceeded according to the 0 which is free of salt and the maximum of class 3
following equation: (> 15 m2 cm-1) which is strongly affected by salinity.
ECe between 4-8 m2 cm-1 is put under class 1 which
Yr = 100 - (ECe – t) s is slightly affected by salinity. Toh et al. (1987) sug-

14
 Effects of Salinity on Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Production and Oil-to-bunch Ratio of Oil Palm

TABLE 1. APPROXIMATE SOIL SALINITY CLASSES

Salinity rating ECe Remarks

Slightly saline 1.5-2.0 Salinity effects usually minimal

Moderately saline 2.0-5.0 Yield of salt sensitive plants restricted

Highly saline More than 5.0 -15.0 Only salt tolerant plants yield satisfactorily

Extremely saline >15.0 Few salt tolerant plants yield satisfactory

Source: Watling (2007).

gested that the soil salinity should be below 2.0 m2 provide an additional protection against erosion by
cm-1 within the top 30-45 cm of the soil surface be- tidal currents.
fore oil palm planting in the reclaimed mangrove
area. Associated tidal gates and drainage systems are
set up to regulate the water levels in the field - to
From the field survey carried out in Madai flush out excess water through the tide-gates dur-
and Pegagau Estates, it was observed that palm ing the rainy season and also to prevent the inflow
appearance and yield were affected when the soil of saline water during high tide. Water tables in the
salinity exceeded 5.0 m2 cm-1 as shown in Figures fields are maintained within the top 45 cm to 60
4a and 4b. The symptoms of the affected palms cm of the soil surface to reduce the build up of soil
included stunted growth and many unopened acidity under this condition. The subsidiary drains
spears. This salinity level was used in these studies are spaced at 2, 4 or 8 palm row intervals, depend-
to differentiate saline and non-saline areas of the ing on the water-table within the area, while the
reclaimed fields. collection drains are located about 400 m apart. The
main drains are spaced about 800 – 1000 m apart.
LAND RECLAMATION
Spoil from the construction of the main and col-
The exclusion of tidal water from the site is the lection drainage systems are heaped on one side of
first step in mangrove reclamation. This involves the main drain to provide a rudimentary road sys-
the construction of bunds around the periphery tem. When the area is sufficiently dry, the rudimen-
area. Bunds with dimension of around 2.0 m on top tary road system is graded for mechanical access.
level and 7 m at the base with height of 1 m above
the highest tide level should be sufficed. A belt of Thereafter, felling and clearing of the mangrove
mangrove between the bund and sea is retained to area are carried out using light excavators. Once

Figure 5a. Healthy looking palms in an area with < 5 m2 cm-1 Figure 4b. Stunted palms detrimental effects of leaflet drying
of soil salinity. and multiple unopened spears in area with soil salinity >5
m2 cm-1.

15
Oil Palm Bulletin 65

clearing is completed, additional subsidiary drains, weightage is attributed to the point to be measured
if required, are constructed to accelerate the desa- and the quantum of this will depend on the dis-
linisation process. This is followed by the planting tance of the point in relation to another unknown
oil palm. point. By using this method, the salinity maps to
demarcate areas with salinity classes of below and
A total of 2130 ha of the mangrove areas in these above 5 m2 cm-1 were produced for Madai Estate
two estates were reclaimed in this manner and (Figure 5) and Pegagau Estate (Figure 6).
planted with oil palm. The cost of development is
at least RM 2000 ha-1 higher than the normal area. Out of 906 ha of the ex-mangrove swamp area
developed in Madai Estate, about 25.2% or 229 ha
One of the common mistakes made in this is still subjected to salinity problem of more than
type of reclamation work is the lack of proper 5 m2 cm-1. Similarly, 67.1% or 820 ha in Pegagau
monitoring of the soil salinity and pH prior to Estate faced the same problem.
planting of oil palm. There should be a plan for
desalinisation over a five-year period. Stunted
seedlings were observed in areas with high salinity
even after several years from planting. The other
problem faced is the rampant felling of bakau trees
by the villagers in the buffer zone between the bund
and the tidal currents. This leads to deterioration
of bunds which failed to give full protection of the
planted area against inundation of sea water during
high tide. Improper and inadequate maintenance
of the tide-gates and bunds will also affect their
effectiveness in preventing the incursion of sea
water into the planted field. Figure 5. Map indicating the distribution
of saline areas in Madai Estate.
SALINITY SURVEY

To document the impact of the intrusion of sea

water to the oil palm areas, the soil salinity levels
were measured by using electronic salinity meter
of ECOSCAN Hand Series (Eutech Instruments).
By using this equipment, salinity levels can be
determined by assessing the electrical conductivity
of water samples directly taken from the field
drains and streams. In situations where water
samples were unavailable, soil samples were used
with the analysis were carried out in the laboratory
instead. The analyse data was then superimposed
on the GIS map.
Figure 6. Map indicating the distribution
The critical salinity level was set at 5.0 m2 cm-1 of salinity areas in Pegagau Estate.
based on the field observations of palm growths
under different salinity levels as compared to the
normal palms in the non-saline fields. The subsidence of some sections of the bund
coupled with high tide has resulted in sea water
ArcGIS (Geo-statistics) was used to map out the trapped inside the block (Figure 7). Malformed
areas with 5.0 m2 cm-1 and above. Once salinity data bunches are common in areas affected by sea water
for each pre-determined location was collected, it (Figure 8). This sea water must be pumped out and
was analysed with ArcGIS (Geo-statistics). Then a the bunds repaired.
map was created in ArcMap System by adding the
block boundary of Madai and Pegagau Estates re- IMPACT ON YIELD, FRUIT SET AND
spectively. OIL-TO-BUNCH RATIO

With Geo-statistics tool, Inverse Distance In order to determine the impact of soil salinity on
Weightage (IDW) was used to interpolate the spa- FFB yield, fruit set and oil-to-bunch ratio, studies
tial distribution of salinity at Madai and Pegagau were carried out in both the Madai and Pegagau
Estates. By interpolation with the IDW method, the Estates, covering a period of seven months from

16
 Effects of Salinity on Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Production and Oil-to-bunch Ratio of Oil Palm

Figure 7. Stagnant flood water trapped inside the field during Figure 8. A malformed bunch bearing by salinity affected palm.
high tide in Pegagau Estate. The water should be pumped out
and the bunds repaired.

April 2010 to October 2010. The study involved The individual block performance of Pegagau Es-
bunch sampling for fruit set and oil-to-bunch tate is in Appendix 2.
analysis from the saline and the normal fields.
DISCUSSION
Methodology
Based on the above results, it is clear that palm
1. In each estate, five blocks represent saline and performance in the ex-mangrove area is much
the other five blocks from the normal areas were affected by the soil salinity levels. Palms suffered
randomly chosen. from salinity problems produced only around 16.5 t
ha-1 as compared to 23.5 t ha-1 of FFB from the areas
2. In each block, five bunches were taken random- where soil salinity is not a problem. The oil-to-
ly at monthly intervals. Only healthy bunchs bunch was 2%-4% lower even in situations where
with at least five loose fruits on the ground were there was no obvious differences in fruit set. This
sampled and sent for bunch analysis in the lab- study shows that salinity can be a biological factor
oratory. that will affect oil-to-bunch. The other biological
factors reported by Hoong et al. (1998) are the
Result climatic influence on the physiology of palms; the
age of palms; pollination and dura contamination.
The results of bunch analysis and FFB yield for
the past five years from the saline and normal areas From the experience in these two estates, it
of Madai Estate are summarised in Table 2. is clear that good palm performance from the ex-
mangrove area is possible if the factors listed below
The results in Table 2 show that there were sig- can be properly managed:
nificant differences of oil-to-bunch ratio and an-
nual FFB production between saline and non-saline • bund construction should begin at least two
(normal) area. The production of the saline area years prior to planting, to prevent further
was 9.24 t ha-1 or 38.0% lower and the oil-to-bunch intrusion of sea water;
was 26.0% lower than the normal areas. The indi-
vidual block performance is in Appendix 1. • a belt of mangrove between the bund and
the sea should be retained so as to provide a
In the case of Pegagau Estate, the results of protective barrier against bund erosions;
bunch analysis and FFB yield for the past five years
from the saline and normal areas are summarised • bund side drains need to be installed as a
in Table 3. barrier against the seepage of saline water
through crab holes and cracks in the bund;
Table 3 shows that fruit set was 5% lower, oil-to-
bunch was 15.0% and FFB was 4.73 t ha-1 or 20.0% • a tide-gate with two water regulatory devices,
lower than those from the non-saline areas (Table 3). an external automatic flap-gate and internal

17
Oil Palm Bulletin 65

TABLE 2. FRUIT SET, OIL-TO-BUNCH RATIO AND MEAN ANNUAL FRESH FRUIT BUNCH (FFB) YIELD FROM
THE SALINE AND NON-SALINE AREAS OF MADAI ESTATE

Summary of analysis of Madai Estate

Treatments Mean fruit set ~ Oil-to-bunch# FFB yield

(% total weight) (ratio) (t ha-1 yr-1)

Normal 68.48 22.38 24.31

Saline 65.98 16.52 15.07

Trial mean 67.23 19.45 19.69

S.E 0.89ns 0.67** 2.08*
CV (%) 9.38 24.37 33.47

Note: ns denotes not significant at α = 0.05.

* Denotes significant at α = 0.05.
** Denotes significant at α=0.01.
~ Based on 25 bunches per treatment.
# Based on 25 bunches per treatment.
^ Based on mean annual of fire years cumulative yield from 2006 to 2010.

TABLE 3. FRUIT SET, OIL-TO-BUNCH RATIO AND THE MEAN ANNUAL FRESH FRUIT BUNCH (FFB) YIELD
FROM THE SALINE AND NON-SALINE AREAS OF PEGAGAU ESTATE

Summary of analysis of Pegagau Estate

Treatments Mean fruit set ~ Oil-to-bunch# FFB yield

(% total weight) (ratio) (t ha-1 yr-1)

Normal 67.84 22.22 22.66

Saline 64.05 18.68 17.93

Trial mean 65.95 20.45 18.82

S.E 1.06ns 0.87* 0.83**
CV (%) 5.09 13.50 12.96

Note: ns denotes not significant at α = 0.05.

* Denotes significant at α = 0.05.
** Denotes significant at α=0.01.
~ Based on 25 bunches per treatment.
# Based on 25 bunches per treatment.
^ Based on mean annual of five years cumulative yield from 2006 to 2010.

screw-gate as recommended by Toh et al. (1987) • frequent flushing of drain is recommended

should be installed; during the rainy season to reduce the build up
of salinity and acidic level.
• the drainage system must be properly
maintained to attain effective/efficient water From the past yields achieved from the ex-
management for flushing out the saline water; mangrove areas in Madai and Pegagau Estates, it
is possible to attain yields of above 28 t FFB ha-1 as
• soil salinity changes should be monitored reported by Toh et al. (1987) if the soil salinity can
through systematic sampling before and after be maintained below 5 m2 cm-1 at all times. Howev-
the planting of oil palm; er, from the experiences of the Madai and Pegagau
Estates, this may not be easy for all the reclaimed
• oil palm should be planted only when the soil areas.
salinity is below the threshold level of 5.0 m2
cm-1; and

18
 Effects of Salinity on Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Production and Oil-to-bunch Ratio of Oil Palm

CONCLUSION extraction rate (ker) in Sabah. The Planter, 74 (865):

181-202.
It is possible to plant oil palm successfully in the
ex-mangrove areas. However, there are difficulties MARSCHNER, H (1995). Mineral Nutrition of Higher
in maintaining the soil salinity levels below the Plants. Second ed. Academic Press, London.
threshold level for all the reclaimed areas at all
time. Failing to do so will result in lower yield MELLONI, D A; OLIVA, M A; MARTINEZ, C A
and oil-to-bunch. In addition, the cost of bund and and CAMBRAIA, J (2003). Photosynthesis and
other land development costs would be at least activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and
RM 2000 ha-1 higher than the normal area. glutathione reductase in cotton under salt stress.
Environ. Exp. Bot., 49: 69-76.
In terms of sustainability, the Round-table on
Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Principle 7 demand- MUNNS, R (1993). Physiological processes limiting
ed that ‘responsible development of new plant- plant growth in saline soils: some dogmas and
ings’, Criterian 7.3 cites that no new planting in hypotheses. Plant Cell Environ., 16: 15-24.
primary forest and any environmentally sensitive
areas or any area contains high conservation val- MUNNS, R (2002). Comparative physiology of salt
ues. Mangrove forests are classified under the en- and water stress. Plant Cell Environ., 25: 239-250.
vironmentally sensitive areas. Thus, from both the
economic and environmental points of view, the LORETO, F; CENTRITTO, M and
development of mangrove swamps for oil palm CHARTZOULAKIS, K (2003). Photosynthetic
cultivation should be avoided. limitations in olive cultivars with different
sensitivity to salt stress. Plant Cell Environ., 26: 595-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 601.

The authors would like to thank the management RUHOLLA, T M; JAHROMI, M Z; MAHMODI,
of Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd for the permission to S H and HEIDARI, A (2008). Spatial distribution
publish this article. of groundwater quality with geostatistics (Case
Study: Yazd-Ardakan Plain). World Applied Sciences
REFERENCES Journal, 4(1): 09-17.

CHARTZOULAKIS, K S (2005). Salinity and olive: WATLING, K (2007). Measuring salinity. Natural
growth, salt tolerance, photosynthesis and yield. Resources and Water. Queensland, Australia.
Agricultural Water Management.
TOH, Y P; BACKETT, J P C and ADHAM
HOONG, H W (2005). Some agronomic practices ABDULLAH (1987). Reclamation of mangrove
for maximizing oil palm yield in Sabah. Proc. of the swamps for oil palm cultivation. Proc. of the
2005 National Seminar on Practices for Super High International Oil Palm/Palm Oil Conferences: Progress
Yielding Plantation. MPOB, Bangi. & Prospects. PORIM, Bangi.

HOONG, H W and DONOUGH, C R (1998). Recent ZHU, J K (2001). Plant salt tolerance. Trends Plant
trends in oil extraction rate (oer) and kernel Sci., 6: 66-71.

19
Oil Palm Bulletin 65

Appendix 1.

FRUIT SET, OIL-TO-BUNCH AND ANNUAL FRESH FRUIT BUNCH (FFB) YIELD (2006-2010) OF MADAI ESTATE

Category Phase/ Mean % Mean oil- FFB yield (t ha-1)

block fruit set by to-bunch
weight ratio 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 mean

Annual rainfall (mm) - - 2 388 2 333 2 060 2 306 1 926 2 203

Normal 2/12 71.81 21.83 23.29 18.52 17.27 18.25 12.31 17.93
Normal 3/22 72.48 23.59 22.48 20.57 26.51 24.37 18.86 22.56
Normal 4/23 63.70 22.54 26.48 18.11 22.37 21.02 14.07 20.41
Normal 5/39 67.60 22.33 31.60 28.92 34.38 34.89 27.34 31.42
Normal 6/48 66.79 21.60 36.18 23.30 29.15 28.16 29.29 29.22
Sub mean - 68.48 22.38 28.01 21.88 25.94 25.34 20.38 24.31
Saline 6/50 60.39 18.64 18.04 14.52 18.10 18.48 15.03 16.83
Saline 6/52 65.78 14.11 14.11 15.82 18.05 15.94 12.87 15.36
Saline 6/53 67.41 16.38 16.38 15.01 19.29 15.70 12.81 15.84
Saline 6/56 70.02 19.00 19.00 17.14 21.04 16.91 15.57 17.93
Saline 6/60 66.28 14.47 10.81 8.33 8.75 11.58 7.57 9.41
Sub mean - 65.98 16.52 15.67 14.16 17.05 15.72 12.77 15.07
Mean - 67.23 19.45 21.84 18.02 21.49 20.53 16.57 19.69

Appendix 2.

FRUIT SET, OIL-TO-BUNCH AND ANNUAL FRESH FRUIT BUNCH (FFB) YIELD (2006-2010)
OF PEGAGAU ESTATE

Category Phase/ Mean % Mean oil- FFB yield (t ha-1)

block fruit set by to-bunch
weight ratio 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Mean

Annual rainfall (mm) 2 201 2 038 2 651 2 346 1 317 2 111

Normal 4/24 71.81 21.83 26.14 29.71 22.47 18.53 21.45 23.66
Normal 5/39 63.70 22.54 27.11 30.28 22.60 18.00 12.69 22.13
Normal 6/45 69.30 22.80 25.78 26.49 22.62 18.24 17.82 22.19
Normal 6/49 67.60 22.33 25.87 26.61 22.66 18.29 18.73 22.43
Normal 6/48 66.79 21.60 28.03 28.03 22.21 17.59 18.50 22.87
Sub mean - 67.84 22.22 26.68 28.12 22.45 18.13 17.84 22.66
Saline 7/50 60.39 18.64 27.32 22.37 14.45 12.80 15.35 18.46
Saline 7/52 64.03 14.11 20.50 19.23 16.76 11.37 12.74 16.12
Saline 7/57 62.82 18.59 25.19 22.94 17.61 14.14 14.92 18.96
Saline 8/62 67.62 22.52 22.55 22.91 17.24 12.20 14.18 17.82
Saline 8/63 65.41 19.56 24.36 23.32 16.68 13.32 13.72 18.28
Sub mean - 64.05 18.68 23.98 22.15 16.55 12.77 14.18 17.93
Mean - 65.95 20.45 25.00 24.39 18.76 15.45 16.01 20.29

20