Paper

The early bearing and high yields of oil palm plantings are very much dependent on the production of uniformly good and healthy seedlings from a nursery and this can be achieved with good nursery management. Good nursery management covers from nursery site selection right up to the palm selection process just prior to field planting.

This paper details all the requirements for the setting up and management of an oil palm nursery for the production of superior oil palm planting materials.

The objectives of this guide is to provide each seedling in the nursery with sufficient moisture to ensure uninpeded growth and prevent seedling dehydration.

It further covers oil palm nursery standards, equipment, materials, procedures, frequency, timing, taks, records, enviroment, safety, notes.

An extract from "A guide to oil palm nurseries" describing irrigation systems for plantation nurseries using Sumisansui® MK II ( Perforated layflat polythene tube-spray-mist system ) and Sumishower 30F-17.

A new method for irrgiation as applied to a 25 hectares of oil palm nursery is described and the method of installation and layout discussed. Capital costings are given and it is shown that there can be significantly lower than those for conventional overhead sprinkler systems.

The methods described are those found most satisfactory after considerable trial and error. Manpower requirements for operation are discussed and compared with conventional overhead sprinkler systems. Associated nursery techniques and adaptations to these whilst utilising this irrigation system are described.