PRODUCTIVITY, SOIL FERTILITY AND CARBON STOCKS OF DIFFERENT OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis) HYBRIDS IN TUNGABHADRA COMMAND AREA
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Date
2019-08
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University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 at AICRP – Palms (Oil Palm) project site, Agricultural Research Station, Gangavathi, Koppal district to study the productivity, soil fertility and carbon stocks of different oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) hybrids in Tungabhandra Command Area. The experiment was conducted with ten treatments and three replications using randomized complete block design. The primary objectives were to compare different hybrid blocks for their soil fertility status, productivity and soil carbon stocks.
The results of productivity of different oil palm hybrids indicated that the palm height (3.45 m) and annual leaf production (17.1) was recorded highest in NRCOP-1. While, higher palm girth (2.9 m) was recorded in NRCOP-2. The hybrid NRCOP-9 possessed highest number of total inflorescence (14.9) and the highest sex ratio (62.1%) was observed in NRCOP- 4. In terms of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield, hybrid NRCOP- 4 recorded highest (15.6 t ha-1 ).
The soil available N and organic carbon were highest in NRCOP-1 compared to other hybrids. Whereas, available phosphorus was significantly higher in the basins of NRCOP-4 (51.26 kg ha-1) and the exchangeable calcium was noticed significantly higher in the rhizosphere of NRCOP-7 [39.04 c mol (p+) kg-1], while highest exchangeable magnesium [9.32 c mol (p+) kg-1] and available sulphur (8.76 mg kg-1) were noticed in the basins of NRCOP- 4.
The highest standing above ground biomass (54.23 t ha-1) and below ground biomass (16.27 t ha-1) were recorded in NRCOP -1. Corresponding carbon stocks in the above ground and below ground were found to be 27.12 t ha-1 and 8.14 t ha-1 respectively, soil organic carbon stock was recorded in NRCOP-1(31.54 t ha-1). Total carbon stock was found to be highest in NRCOP-1 (121.08 t ha-1), and total biomass recycled (8.85 t ha-1) was recorded in NRCOP-1. Soil inorganic carbon was recorded significantly higher in NRCOP-3 (15.27 t ha-1) and the carbon content stored was highest in trunk (52%). To summarize, oil palm hybrid NRCOP-4 recorded significantly higher FFB yield (15.6 t ha-1) in Tungabhadra Command Area of Karnataka. The oil palm with perennial nature can store a carbon of 121.08 t ha-1 which is substantially higher among the other agricultural systems.