NURSERY MANAGEMENT

1.         INTRODUCTION

The aim of good oil palm nursery management is to provide material of the highest possible quality for new development areas and replanting. The important of good nursery practices cannot be over-emphasized. The nursery should be maintained at the highest standard to ensure only healthy, vigorous and uniform palms are planted in the field. Good planting materials will produce higher yield productivity for life span 25 years or more and any shortcomings in the planting materials will be of long term significance. Nursery care is therefore essential as it provides a cheap and good background for the seedlings to develop before field planting. It also provides an opportuniy to cull the poor seedlings.

Essential of Nursery

Ø  The germinated seeds must be order one year before begin the selection and preparation of a nursery site.

Ø  Only the good and health of growth seedling will send to the field for planting and the abnormal seedling should be destroyed.

Ø  Take care of seedling is executed with very well and perfect.

Ø  The reason for getting of growth seedling that same.

Ø  To decrease of unknow risk from beginning stage of growth seedling.

Ø  The good seedling will produce higher FFB and yield productivity in the field.

Ø  Determine the dead seedling rate and changing procedure can be done from growth seedling stage.

2.          MY ESTATE EXPERIENCE AND FIELD VISIT OBSERVATION

I am working at Negri Sembilan Oil Palms Berhad, Ladang Ibam near Muadzam Shah, Pahang since 1997. I started from administration site or office before going to field site last year (2010) to get some experience and knowledge for an attending the MPOB course. So, my experience in field site is very small and not more but from my field practical in 1 year, I had some experience in field site especially in nursery management. Base on my experience, the most important things and steps that we must follow in the nursery are:-

a)      Good choose of site

b)      Good selection of nursery

c)      Good planting materials (DxP)

d)     Sources of water supply

e)      Select the correct and suitable Polybags for planting of seeds

f)       Planting of seeds

g)      Transplanting

h)      Upkeep and Maintenance

3.          SUGGESTION AND RECOMMENDATION

a)         Choose of Site Selection

Site selection is most important part in nursery management. The selection of the site for nursery is critical and main points to be taken into account, the following consideration should hold highest priority:-

        i.            The location is such that security againts theft, vandalism and pest can easily provided.

      ii.            The area is not shaded out by adjoining crops or jungle and shade trees.

    iii.            An unfailing, unpolluted water supply is available close at hand.

    iv.            The area is not prone to flooding or water logging.

      v.            Soil on site is of suitable quality and depth to allow for bag-filling to take place on site, throughout the intended lifespan of the nursery. The selected site should have a good soil series, preferably a clay/loam.

    vi.            At 0.91m triangular spacing, the density is 13,800 polybags per hactare.

b)        Selection of Nursery

The two type of nursery procedure are Single stage and Double stage. Some plantations are practice a single stage where germinated seeds is planted direct into large polybags and another practice are the double stage nursery. The double stage nursery is development of seedlings in small polybags up to the 3-4 leaf stage or 3 months after germinated seeds planted and then transplanting into the large polybags. The double stage nursery should be utilized particularly where nurseries are large and will be utilized for more than one season. There seems to be no doubt that the double stage system is superior to the single stage provided that the double that the procedures and timing of the transplanting are correct. The reasons for this recommendation are as follow:-

        i.            Initial culling of runts and underirable seedlings can be carried out throughly in the pre-nursery, thus saving on large polybags and minimizing on nursery space required in the second stage of the nursery.

      ii.            Manuring and pest and disease measures can be of a high standard and can be carried out under close sepervision in the pre-nursery thus ensuring well-grown healthy seedlings.

    iii.            Pre-nursery procedures initially are more labour intensive for the layout and small bag filling, but overall the system requires less labour to bring the seedlings up to three stage.

    iv.            The pre-nursery does also provide a ‘safety time-factor’ if the area is to be used for subsequent annual nurseries. Where nursery space is limited any delay in the current year nursery can be critical if you have counted on the year’s plants being cleared prior to scheduled deliveries of seeds for the following year. Whilst not really desirable, the period in the pre-nursery can be extended whilst the previous year’s material is cleared.

i)          Single Stage Nursery

 This system is utilized and no pre-nursery stage is required, germinated seeds upon arrival are planted direct into the large polybags ensuring that the seeds are planted as described. The sizes of the polybags is 38cm x 45cm or 15” x 18” and the quality of polybags should be used. The soil surface after watering and consolidation should be about 25mm from the lip of the bag. Some nurseries provide shade in the form of bent frond leaflets or mini shade cloths. However many successful nurseries have utilized no shade whatsoever where the material is germinated seed.  The seed selected for planting must be always be placed on a hessian lined tray and covered with another moist piece of hessian. The seeds should be planted as soon as possible after receipt from the supplier. They should be planted in the bag centers, with shoot upright and covered to depth of 1 cm. Any exposed seeds should be topped up with soil when required. Mulching as per recommeded should be carried out wherever available.

A programme for watering should aim at or when it’s up to 4 leaf stage and thereafter. When it’s up to 4 leaf stage, it should be watering twice a day (early morning & evening) with overhead sprinkle irrigatiion system or sumi-sansui irrigation system about ½ liters per bag per application is required. Thereafter also watering at twice a day (early morning & evening) about 1 ½ liters of water per bag per application required. Where mist irrigation is used, an equivalent of 8 mm rain per day is recommended. A hard pan should not be allowed to form on the soil surface in the bags. If it is encountered, a careful light forking should be carried out. Mulching prevents the formation of a hard pan.

The advantages of Single Stage Nursery:-

        i.            Less labour requirement as transplanting is not required.

      ii.            Material will be available for field planting slightly ahead of double stage.

The disadvantages of Single Stage Nursery:-

        i.            Earlier preparation is required for example filling large polybags takes longer time.

      ii.            Culling will leave 20 – 30% vacant points in the nursery, therefore for uniformity, 30% of the planting material to be raised in small polybags to provide seedlings for supplying the large polybags.

 ii)        Double Stage Nursery

The objective of this procedure is to ensure the most effective supervision over the early germinated and growth of the seedling. A small section of the nursery area should be set aside for the pre-nursery seedling beds. The pre-nursery must be close with the main nursery in order to reduce transport cost at the time of transplanting.

The pre-nursery area should be leveled off and adequate measures should be taken to ensure all surplus water be directed away from the seed-beds. The recommendation for size of polybags is 15cm x 23 cm (6” x 9”) lay flat. Stack in beds is not more than 10 bags wide and 100 to 200 long. Filling the polybags with soil mixture at least two days in advance before plant the germinated seeds. The soil must fill 1.5 cm below the top of the bags and then, water them thoroughly for 2 days. Watering must be two times a day with overhead sprinkle irrigation system or sumi-sansui irrigation system about ½ litres per bag per application is required. If rainy exceed 10 mm for a day or the previous night for that place, watering should be stop for only that day.

After 3 to 4 months that we plant the germinated seeds at pre-nursery, the seedling are then transplanted in the large polybags at the main nursery where they remain for the further 8 to 9 months before being planted to the field. The main nursery should be near a good water supply which remains constant througout the year. It also required a large water which must be met if serious losses through blast disease are to be avoided. The site should have a well drainage to avoid water logging and not subject to periodic flooding. To minimize the cost, the main nursery should be made close to the main planting area. Usually, the polybags with 500 gauge thickness made of black polythene should be used. The size of that polybags must be 38 cm x 45 cm or 15” x 18” lay flat with perforations. Fill the polybags with soil mixture within two weeks before transplanting. Fill the soil to 2.5 cm below the top of the bag. After that, water them at least three day before transplanting. Watering must be two times a day with overhead sprinkle irrigation system about 1 ½ litres per bag per application is required. If rainy exceed 10 mm in a day or the previous night for that place, watering should be stop for only that day.

The advantages of Double Stage Nursery:-

        i.            Filling of small polybags can be organized much more easily, safe time and space.

      ii.            The cost of small bags loss by culling less than the large polybag in the main nursery.

The disadvantages of Double Stage Nursery:-

        i.            Labour cost is higher because when transplanting starter additional workers are needed.

      ii.            Maintenance cost is higher than single stage.

c)         Seed Requirement

            Seeds are normally ordered well in advance of requirement to avoid disappointment and at least 25 - 30% in excess of actual field planting. It is normal to place tentative orders at least 1 year before delivery subject to a confirmation at a date closer to deliver, agreed to with supplier. Order of seeds are normally scheduled at regular intervals over an extended period of time in order to ensure that adequate labour is available for planting into the pre-nursery and in case of bad weather prevents work on particular day. Order germinated seeds from reputable and tested suppliers and must know the origins. It determining quantities to be ordered the various losses and culling rates will have to be considered in addition to the potential total palms required in the field. In an area where for instance wild mammalian pests (wild boar, pig, elephant, porcupine, etc)

The nursery should be ready before the germinated seeds are receive or coming. On receipt, bags must be opened and individual bag must be checked. Open the bag for few minutes to allow the air changing. All germinated seeds received should preferably be sown within 24 hours, not later. If have some reasons that sowing delayed, the germinated seeds must stored in an air-conditioned room to reduce the rate of root elongation.   

d)        Watering of The Nursery

The most important factor in achieving a successful oil palm nursery is the availability of sufficient water to ensure optimum growth of the seedlings. To achieve this, the seedlings should receive in the region of 10 mm of rainfall. Therefore, it is important to ensure that this rainfall is adequately supplemented by artificial means, for example, irrigation is essential to have adjoining the nursery. There are two systems of applying irrigation water to oil palm nurseries currently in use; these are the sprinkler system and the sumi-sansui system.  

e)         Polybags

The size recommended for small polybags is 0.0625 mm x 15 cm x 23 cm (6” x 9”) lay flat, black and perforated and the large polybags is 0.125 mm x 38 cm x45 cm (15” x 18”). Quality tested polybags should be use. The bags should be black and perforated from the bottom half of its lay flat length. For APM material large polybag size of 45 cm x 60 cm should be used.

The best soil for filling polybags is the topsoil that have a good friable sandbest soil for filling polybags is the topsoil that have a good friable sandy clay loam to clay loam will be required. If a heavy clay soil has to be used, river sand in the ratio 1:3 should be mixed to improve drainage and aeration. Mixing fertilizer 25 gram of Rock Phosphate per bag.

Filling of the polybags with soil remains a simple and manual operation usually carried out on general work or at contract rates in larger nurseries. Filling of the polybags should commence at least a month prior to the germinated seed or the seedlings being planted out, possibly earlier if is any doubt of this operation not being completed prior to the material being ready for planting or transplanting. If non-gusseted bags are utilized it is a normal practice to quickly turn the bags inside-out which has the effect of tucking in the conners and which gives the filled bag a good level base and thus less likely to topple over. Supervisors should ensure that workers do not filled the large clods, stones, roots and other detritus in the bag. It is essential to ensure that the soil is not wet when placed in the bag as this will later compact to a solid clod giving very poor conditions for root growth.

Spacing of polybags in the nursery should be done in such manner that the palm develop in a most natural way without competition for light from its neighbor. It is also most desirable that worker can pass freely between the palms for pest and disease control, weeding and manuring. There are various opinions concerning the density of polybags per acre and only a guideline can be recommended:-

            Field planting age                  Polybags spacing

·         10 to 12 months                     0.75m x 0.75m triangular

·         12 to 14 months                     0.90m x 0.90m triangular

If the nursery is under sprinkler irrigation, a path of approximately 1.2 m width should be retained from the hydrant to the end of the nursery between each station. Along this path will be laid the sprinkler pipes. Overall nursery size should be calculated at 1.25 – 1.50 hectare per 100 hectare of field planting.

 f)         Planting germinated seeds

Once the polybags have been filled, consolidated and topped well before the delivery of the germinated seed, it is essential to ensure that they have been kept well watered prior to the commencement of planting. However, they should not be soaked immediately prior planting as this may compact the soil around the seed when planted, with possible harmful effects. The germinated seeds normally arrive in boxes and only the box containing the seeds to be planted immediately should be opened. The remainder boxes should be placed under the shade, to be opened as and when required. Women workers are chosen due to the delicacy of the job. Care must be taken to ensure that the worker can differentiate between the radical root and plumule shoot. The seed is planted at 1 cm depth and cover with soil. Thereafter adequate and routine watering (at least twice a day) should be carried out.

g)         Transplanting

Pre-nursery seedlings should be transplanted to the main nursery when they are at 3-4 stage or around 3 months. The large polybags in the main nursery should be thoroughly watered one day before transplanting to facilitate coring. Core a hole in the center using an appropriate coring tool. Transfer pre-nursery seedlings to main nursery. Place one small polybag seedling beside each large polybag. Cut open the small polybag by making a vertical slit along its side using a razor blade. And then, remove the small polybag plant the seedling with its soil core. The torn remains of the small polybag should be placed beside the large polybag for checking purposes. The seedlings should be planted in such a manner that the surface of the soil in the small polybag is flush with the surface of the soil in the large polybag. Add and consolidate the soil to about 25 mm below the lip of the polybag. Watering the seedlings after transplanting. After planting and initial watering, a layer of mulching should be placed in each large polybag where available. Preferably dried shell from a palm factory should be used. The mulch should be spread thinly and evenly over the soil surface but leaving bare the area immediately around the collar of the seedling (about 25mm from the collar).

h)        Upkeep and Maintenance

        i.            Mulching

      ii.            Manuring

    iii.            Weeding

    iv.            Pest and Disease

      v.            Culling

i)          Mulching

Mulching is required after transplanting. Preferably empty fruit bunch (EFB) and dried shell from a palm oil mill is recommended.

ii)         Manuring

Pre-nursery

All manuring shoul be foliar spraying or in slurry form. Manuring should commence immediately after FIRST leaves have hardened (approximately one month after planting). The seedling should be sprayed in the early morning and should not be carried out after 11.00 am on a hot day to prevent scorching and to allow for leaf absorption of the nutrients before the afternoon watering. After foliar spray, the seedling should not be watered in the morning as this may wish away all the applied fertilizers. The Bayfolan and Wuxal are foliar fertilizers and may be applied together with fungicides likes Antracol.

Main Nursery

Manuring in the main nursery is 2 weeks after transplanting from the pre-nursery. However, when used for the single stage nursery, the first application commences at the four month from planting. Options to use slow release fertilizer may be necessary in consultantion with the Estate Controller. Fertilizers should be spread evenly over the soil or much surface but not allowed to come contact with the main nursery is 12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue). Care must be taken to avoid scorching the young leaves with fertilizer, either directly or with fertilizer particles on the worker hands. The manuring schedule are as follow:-

Dose	Week after transplanting	Fertilizer	Gram/seedling
1	2	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	10
2	6	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	10
3	10	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	10
4	14	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	20
5	18	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	20
6	22	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	20
7	26	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	30
8	30	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	30
9	34	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	30
10	38	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	30
11	42	12:12:17:2:TE (Nitrophoska Blue)	40

iii)        Weeding

Some year ago when labour cost were cheaper many nurseries utilized purely hand weeding, particularly as at thet time several unfortunate side effects were recorded following the use of the then available pre-emergent herbicides. However in most cases the increase in labour costs made it necessary for pre-emergent be utilized as standard practice; great care must be exercised to ensure that the manufacturers recommendations are strictly adhered to. As with all chemicals the dangers arise from ‘misuse’ rather than use and supervision of the highest standard is necessary in order to obviate the risks arising from human error.

In the pre-nursery where the seedling remain for only 10-12 weeks very little weeding is required. If land was clean before the pre-nursery beds were established it is only the inter-bed paths that require attention; which can be hand-weeded. In the main nursery, mulching with shell greatly helps to keep down weed growth from the soil in the polybag. Further because the mulch gives a very free surface texture any weeds appearing can be quickly and cheaply hand-weeded.

Herbicide spraying can be used to control the grass growth. Great care is taken in spray procedures to avoid spray-drift to seedlings. Nozzles of sprayer should be fitted with guards to minimize drift and work should only the very best palms are eventually planted in the wind can cause drift.

iv)        Pest and Disease

This aspect of oil palm nursery management is of great importance. Both pest and disease infections and cause alarming losses if not recognized at an early stage and brought under control immediately. Very regular nursery inspection by a highly observant and experienced staffmember in combination with an approach that firmly believes that prevention is better than cure is the key to successful control. In this sectionit is not intended to cover the myriad of problem that can beset nurseries, but deal with more common problems only. There are three the pest and diseases that need to control;

a) Mammalian Pest – Wild boar, porcupine, rats, elephants and livestock as                                               cows,sheep and goat.

b) Insect and Arachnid Pest – Crikets, Cockchafers, Aphids and Red Spider mite.

c) Disease – Early Leaf Disease, Blast, Corticium, Heminthosporium and Spear/bud rot.

v)         Culling

Culling is possibly one of most important procedures to be carried out in the nursery to ensure that only the very best palms are eventually planted in the field. The time or step that should be culling are at around 2 to 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and before field planting.

a) Pre-nursery – A number of abnormal seedlings will become evident at this stage. The most common characteristics likely to be encountered are as follow:-

Narrow Leaf – As the same suggest, the lamina is very narrow and in extreme cases resembles a newly developing lallang shoot.

Crinkled Leaf – The leaf is traversed by corrugated lines in various degrees of severity. However, if widespread, it would be wise to obtain expert advice as to whether deficiency of boron was the cause, before destroying such materials.

Twisted Leaf – In this the leaf becomes coiled and twisted: the cause is usually due to incorrect planting when the plumule is planted upside down. If this reason can be eliminated and incidence is widespread, herbicide contamination (hormone type) should be considered as a possible cause.

Rolled Leaf – This represents a spike and the leaf seldom opens correctly.

b) Main nursery – The main types of undesirable palms that will be noted at this stage and should be discarded are as follows:-

Runts – Although in most respects such a seedling will resemble a normal palm, but far less vigorous and much smaller.

Sterile Seedlings – Have definite upright apprearance with rigid looking fronds. In most cases the fronds are at an abnormally acute angle from the stem and very often the frond bases are spaced from each other.

Flat Top Seedlings – Have a distinct ‘flat top’ apprearance with the newly developed fronds seldom projecting beyond the older fronds.

Juvenile Seedlings – The pennae of the older fronds remain undivided until the seedling is a few months old, such palms resemble sterile palms.

Limp Form – The fronds have a limp look and hang down instead of being erect and are quite short compare to others seedlings.

Short Internodes – The pennae look compressed on the rachis giving a crowded appearance.

Wide Internodes – Distance between the pinnae abnormally wide, giving the palm a very open appearance. Not to confuse with a palm suffering from etiolation due to inadequate spacing.

Narrow Pinnae – Have very narrow, sharply-pointed pinnae and have a definite pakler appearance than a normal seedling.

Chimera – These palms display chlorotic or white leaf tissue which is devoid of chlorophyll. These are usually due to genetic influences and such palms should be removed.

Percentage of culling is estimated around 15-20% of each batch. All culling must be done under the supervision of an executive.

4.         CONCLUSION

The aim of good palm nursery management is to provide palnting material of the highest possible quality for new development areas and replanting. This aim is of the greatest important as the areas planted are likely to have a productive life span of 25 years or more. Poor planting materials will lead to low yield and unnecessary thinning cost top rid off runts in planted field. So, the selection of good planting materials and strict culling in nursery are the important step.

5.         REFERENCES

        i.            IOI Research Centre

      ii.            NSOP Ladang Ibam