Oil Palm Root Study at a Northern Region in Peninsula Malaysia

A study was carried out on the influence of seasonal rainfall and irrigation treatment on oil palm growth in Northern Peninsula Malaysia. The inland area experiences an annual 3 to 4 months of dry season starting in mid December and ending in March of the following year. Parameters measured were oil palm above-ground biomass, root biomass, soil moisture content and meteorological data. Total standing root biomass showed an increasing trend as the palm grew older. The palm root growth was significantly affected in 2005 during a prolonged dry period, which had a negative effect on root turnover. Differences in rainfall distribution were found to have a great influence on the palm root biomass production and root turnover.