Oil Palm Plantation in Acid Soil at Rangsit FieldUkrit Sahapatsombut, Rapeepun Rahong and Samai Jai-in

Presence of acid soils is a major problem in the cultivated area of Thailand.

The acid soils which cover area about 1.5 million hectare in Thailand are found

mostly in central plain area especially in Pathumthani, Saraburi, and Nakor-

nayok provices. As the result of acid soil, the area for plantation has very low

pH (about 3-5) and raise the growing crop problem. For example, the crop can

not extract nutrient in soil for growing, some over dissolving nutrients cause

toxic in soil, and the useful microbe for crops cannot live in acid soil condition.

If this problem is not recognized and solved, the result will be a low yield of

plantation crops and the environment will deteriorate. Moreover, the people

will abandon the area.

Oil palm plantation on acid soil1. Use high yielding oil palm seed produced by cross pollinating pedigree

Dura and Pisifera (DxP) parent palms which over called “Tenera”.

2. Cultivate by using age 8-12 months oil palm.

3. Use Plantation length of palm oil is 9 x 9 metre.

In addition, the plantation of oil palm will also resolve the problem that cannot

cultivate any crop on acid soil combining with canal at Rangsit district

(Pathumthani province) because the suitable pH for oil palm plantation is 4-6

and can be grown in acid soil.

There are many ways to solve the acid soil. Over-drainage is a term frequently

used when discussing problems in acid soils. It suggests for many people that

the intensive canal system is the problem of the acidity soils. In Pathumthani

province, all districts have already created the canal used for plantation and

irrigation. Moreover, the canal in acid soil area can also solve the stagnant

water conditions which are the main cause of severe toxicity and acidity in the

fields. At present, there are 17 canals between Pathumthani and Nakornayok

provinces.

4. Lift the bed for plantation high 30 centimeters and width 5 meters

5. For acid soil, use lime or marl filling before cultivation

6. Have a good management with fertilizers and water after cultivation

Acid soil area at Pathumthani pH at Rangsit soil

Deserted Orange plantation

Canals at Pathumthani

Oil palm plantation at Rangsit

2 years oil palm

Plantation length

Oil palm cultivated with BananaBed for oil palm plantation

Young oil palm plant