Nursery Oil Palm Practice

 Objective The nursery should be maintained at the highest standard at all time with the objective of ensuring the timely production of healthy, vigorous and uniform seedlings of ideal planting age which do not have any obvious visual defects for field plantings. Note: All seedlings in Company’s nurseries should be for own requirements and only surplus seedlings can be for sale with prior approval from Director of Operation. 2. Policies 2.1 Seedlings grown on conventional polybags should be field planted between the age of 10 to 12 months and seedlings < 10 months old are strictly prohibited. In areas with profound stress factors for growth, 10 months old seedling is preferable. Else, 12 months old seedling is preferable especially for areas with Pest & Disease problem. Orders for seed requirement should be placed well in advance i.e. 24 months from the scheduled favorable field planting date (due consideration must be given to delays in communication, custom clearance, and transportation). The ordering dates must be written onto the project schedules. 1. 2.2 Germinated seeds should only be purchased directly from reputable and reliable seed producer recommended by the Company’s Agronomist (with supporting documentation) and the purchase through agents or from unproven seed producer is prohibited. Where possible, do not only rely on a single source, preferable to purchase from 2 to 3 proven sources. 2. 2.3 Seed requirements should include at least 30% (not inclusive of 5% F.O.C. germinated seeds given by the producer) in addition to the basic number of germinated seeds required for actual field planting needs. This is to ensure there are sufficient quality seedlings for field planting after accounting for Pests & Diseases, stringent nursery culling (generally expected between 20-25%) and subsequent palm supplies (generally expected between 5-10%) in the field. 3. 2.4 In areas where high Pest & Disease damage may be expected, the percentage ordered for supplying should be increased accordingly whilst also attempting to control the problem. Plan for seed delivery of germinated seeds to nurseries should be in concordance with the ability (based on available resources) to transplant in the nursery or planting in the field. .2.5 Germinated seeds can either be planted into large polybags (single stage nursery) or small polybags (two stage nursery). If there is constrain in water supply or nursery space, two-stage nursery is generally preferred. However, in large scale new development where large quantities of seeds are involved and constrain in labor supply for transplanting, then single stage nursery is generally preferred. In any case good planning is essential if maximum nursery growth and outturn are to be obtained. For example in a two-stage nursery late transplanting to large polybags can be a major problem causing transplanting shock, reduced growth and higher losses. Plans for soil transport and filling to polybags must be made in advance. Raindays can significantly slow down polybag filling operations unless the following measures are taken: . • To cover heaps of transported soil from rain; . • To provide shed for polybag-filling during rain days; or . • To fill up polybags in the fields and transport to nursery. 1. 2.6 Laser perforated flat sprinkler tubes spaced at recommended distance is the preferred irrigation system for nurseries on the grounds of cost and flexibility, though rain guns or fixed sprinkler systems may be preferred in permanent nurseries used for replanting. 2. 2.7 Small polybag seedlings established under the double stage nursery should be transplanted into the large ploybag after the first culling at the 3 to 4 leaf stage and certainly not later than 4 months after sowing. 3. 2.8 Advanced Planting Material (APM) is not recommended for general planting, except for special situation e.g. in-field supplies or in areas with intense pest damage problem. 4. 2.9 Doubletons and small size germinated seeds should be separately planted in an identified area. Such practice will gave more uniform growth and better selection as these materials have slower initial growth. 2.10 At least four rounds of census and stringent culling must be carried out by an experienced nursery executive during the entire growth period of seedlings in the nursery: • 1st census (by AAQA nursery assistant or supervisor) – at about 5 weeks (i.e. between 30-40 days) after sowing to determine the planting success rate (%); nd • 2census & 1st round culling (by AAQA nursery assistant or supervisor) – at about 3 months (i.e. between 80-90 days) after sowing to determine the total culling rate at the pre-nursery. Do not cull seedlings with mild collante (crinkle leaf) which may have been caused by temporary water stress, they will grow out of it. rd nd • 3census & 2round culling (by AAQA nursery assistant or supervisor) – between 9 to 12 months and when all palms have fully divided leaves (i.e. about 6 months from transplanting). Do not cull small normal seedlings especially in mixed progeny; and rd • Final culling (3stage culling by respective nursery assistant or supervisor) -during loading of seedlings for field planting. If the rate exceeded 1%, nursery in-charge must inform AAQA immediately to investigate on high culling figure. 1. 2.11 All the culled seedlings cannot be sold and must be destroyed and removed to a designated location in the nursery. 2.12 Standard formulation compound fertilizer with soluble P should be used i.e. NPK 15:15:6:4 (2/3 WSP) and NPK 12:12:17:2 (2/3 WSP). In case of difficulty in obtaining the aforementioned compound fertilizers, use normal RP based NPK compound fertilizers. Inform AAQA if nutrient deficiency symptoms develop. AAQA will provide appropriate recommendation on supplementary fertilizer. 2. 2.13 Only the registered and approved lists of pesticides are to be used judiciously and nursery should have a peripheral drain for the collection of nursery effluent. The drains should not lead to any natural waterways and preferably to a separate water body or pond for retention.