RECYCLING OIL PALM BUNCH NUTRIENTS

Noto E. Prabowo, Hugh L. Foster and Abner Johan S.

INTRODUCTION

Four field trials carried out in different regions in North Sumatra by BLRS, PT. PP. London Sumatra In addition to the oil and kernel, processed bunches in the mill result in nutrient-rich by-
Indonesia Tbk., have shown tremendous positive effects of fertiliser nutrients on oil palm FFB (fresh products such as EFB (empty fruit bunches) and POME (palm oil mill effluent) which can be
fruit bunches) yields. There is a considerable nutrient recovery in the above-ground palm tissues, applied to the field as:
particularly in bunches which accounts for more than 40% of the total nutrients taken up by the •Direct application, or
palms. This indicates a high potential loss of nutrients through harvested bunches. Therefore bunch •Enriched mulch (EM) after composting
nutrient recycling to the field is encouraged since the nutrients – assuming no losses - can replace In this paper the potential bunch nutrients which could be recycled to the fields are compared
100% inorganic fertilizer requirement. with current actual practices.

METHODS
% nutrient recovery in palm components
50
N P K Mg
Returning the bunch nutrients to the field means
A thorough laboratory nutrient analysis was carried out for 206 FFB samples from each individual
40 sustainable estate practices in terms of:
plot of the NPKMg fertilizer trials. The samples were separated into 5 different components viz
•Solution to disposal problem for oil palm
stalk, staminode, mesocarp and shell plus kernel. Then composite samples were made by mixing
30 mill,
a certain proportion of each component for nutrient analysis. A number of 84 EFB and 77 POME
•Minimization of possible environmental
samples were collected from Begerpang palm oil mill in North Sumatra. Moreover, a
20 pollution due to regular use of inorganic
representative number of EM samples was also collected and analysed regularly from a trial on
fertilisers,
EFB and POME composting (Abner and Foster, 2006).
10 •Reduction or replacement of the use of
expensive and increasing price of All samples were dried in an oven at 70oC for 16 hours prior to analysis. N content was
0 inorganic fertilizers, determined by the Kjeldahl method whilst P, K and Mg was analysed by dry ashing and uptake in
Bunch Leaf Rachis Trunk Male Inf. •Lower manuring costs. mineral acid.

NUTRIENT RECOVERY IN BUNCHES, MILL WASTE AND ENRICHED MULCH (COMPOST)

Compared with the leaf, rachis, trunk and male
inflorescence, accumulation of nutrients is found in
greatest amount in the bunches. It is also obvious that the
modern tenera bunches are much richer in nutrients
compared with the amounts previously reported for Dura
material (Ng and Thamboo, 1967) which indicates possible
higher nutrient export via harvested bunches.
Mill processes
At commercial fertiliser rates the annual removal of N, P, K
and Mg in modern tenera bunches is approximately as
follows:
FFB N P K Mg The EFB can be returned to the field for mulching or incinerated to produce bunch ash, whilst
These amounts are approximately Content (kg/ t FFB) 5.03 0.66 5.26 0.76 the POME can be used to fertigate the palms. The amount of nutrients found in these two waste
equivalent to the annual fertiliser products in this investigation were as follows:
Content (kg/ ha) 134 17 141 20
rates typically applied to oil palm in
North Sumatra (except for Eg. Urea RP MOP Kies. EFB + POME N P K Mg
phosphate which is a bit lower in Rate (kg/ palm) 2.2 1.0 2.1 0.9 EFB content (kg/ t FFB) 0.75 0.070 1.58 0.13
the bunches).
POME content (kg/ t FFB) 0.74 0.154 1.98 0.21
This shows that the nutrient requirement of an oil palm field can actually be supplied by the
%Nutrient recovery (EFB + POME) 30 34 68 45
nutrients contained in the bunches harvested from the same field.
These results show that approximately 30-70% of bunch nutrient is lost during mill processes
The quantity of empty fruit bunches (EFB) produced by a mill ranges from 22-25% of the weight
which greatly reduces the capability of EFB+POME to supply and recycle the nutrients to the
of FFB whilst the amount of POME produced depends on the milling techniques used, but is
field.
commonly taken as 67% of FFB processed.

Comparison of the %inorganic fertilisers which can be replaced if different FFB components are The high moisture content (60-70%) and hence
returned to the field is shown in the following table: transportation cost limits the direct use of oil palm
waste, particularly EFB, to far off oil palm fields. In
FFB components returned Kg N % Inorganic addition it is not practical to pump POME to fields far
returned fertiliser
to the field per hectare replaced from the mill or where topography is not flat. An
attractive alternative is to make enriched mulch (EM)
1. All fresh fruit bunches (FFB) 120 100
commonly known as compost, by combining the empty
2. FFB less exported CPO and kernels 104 87 bunches and raw effluent, which because of its richer
3. FFB less CPO, kernels, shell and fibre 83 69 content is much easier and cheaper to distribute
4. Compost (processed in dry season) 32 27 widely.
5. Compost (processed in wet season) 26 22 Trials carried out by PTPP Lonsum (Abner and Foster, 2006) have shown that a satisfactory
6. Empty fruit Bunches (EFB) 18 15 compost for field application to oil palm can be produced by application of 100 litres POME
every day to 1 tonne of chopped EFB in open fields in only 30 days. Turning the compost before
Return of all the EFB to the field would replace 15% of the inorganic fertilisers. On the other POME application only twice per week was found to be optimal. The nutrient content of the final
hand compost processed in the dry season, which is much easier to transport and apply, can compost produced varies with seasons - wet (>234 mm rain/ month) and dry (<57 mm rain/
replace almost 30% of inorganic fertilisers. It appears that a massive 40% of the N is lost during month) as shown below:
mill processing and a further 18% if the shell and fibre is burnt. Whilst losses of P and K in the
mill are less (35% and 26% respectively) there is potential to save a large amount of these EM (Enriched Mulch) N P K Mg
nutrients as well. It is suggested that the losses of nutrients in the mill should be investigated to Content (kg/ t FFB); dry 1.35 0.20 2.71 0.31
see if they can be reduced and the fibre and bunch ash should be included in the compost
Content (kg/ t FFB); wet 1.10 0.17 2.31 0.30
materials. It may then be possible to replace as much as 70% of fertilisers.

CONCLUSIONS
1. Fertilisers very significantly increase the levels of P, K and Mg in oil palm bunches.
2. More than 40% of all the major nutrients taken up by oil palms are found in the bunches.
3. The nutrient levels in bunches of well fertilised modern Tenera material are much higher than previously reported for Dura material.
4. If all the FFB (fresh fruit bunches) were returned to the soil it is estimated that there would be no need to apply any fertilisers to oil palm in North Sumatra.
5. In contrast if all the EFB (empty fruit bunches) produced were returned to the fields, this would replace no more than 15% of inorganic fertilisers.
6. A considerable improvement is achieved by composting the EFB and POME over 30 days, which produces a material which can replace fertilisers in almost 30% of fields.
7. There is a massive unaccountable 40% loss of N and an unaccountable 15% loss of P and K during mill processing; plus a further approximate 15% loss of all these nutrients if all the
shell and fibre are burnt and the ash is not recovered.
8. Although fertiliser use for oil palms can currently be reduced by almost one third through composting mill wastes, it is concluded that savings on fertiliser could be increased much further
(up to at least two thirds perhaps), if nutrient losses in the mill could be prevented.

PT. PP. LONDON SUMATRA INDONESIA TBK REFERENCES

BAH LIAS RESEARCH STATION 1. Abner, J. S. and Foster, H. L. (2006). Efficient Production of compost from oil palm waste. In Proc. 2006. Int. Oil Palm Conference, Nusa
Jl Jend A Yani No 2 • PO Box 1154 • Medan 20111 • Indonesia Dua, Bali.
Tel: +(62) 622 96492 • Fax: +(62) 622 96694
2. Ng, S. K. and Thamboo, S. (1967). Nutrient contents of oil palms in Malaya. I. Nutrients required for reproduction: Fruit bunches and
e-mail: blrs@londonsumatra.com
www.londonsumatra.com male inflorescence. The Malaysian Agricultural Journal, 46. p. 3-45.