Nutrients recycled from pruned fronds in mature oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Abstract

Total nutrients in pruned fronds of mature oil palm were 82 kg N, 7 kg P, 102 kg K, and 11 kg Mg ha-1 y-1. The pinnae fraction decomposed first, followed by the petiole and rachis. Most N, P and Mg were in the pinnae and most K (49%) in the rachis. 43% of N, 63% of P, 76% of K and 60% of Mg were mineralised after 24 weeks, mainly from the pinnae component. This represented a significant proportion of the annual N and K uptake and is an important pathway for nutrient recycling in mature palms.