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ISSN: 1557-4989 (Print)
ISSN: 1557-4997 (Online)
Research Article Open Access

Soil Compaction and Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Yield in a Clay Textured Soil

Zuraidah Yahya1, Aminuddin Husin2, Jamal Talib2, Jamarei Othman3, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed4 and Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh5
  • 1 Biology Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6 Persiaran Institusi, BB Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University Putra Malaysia, Bintulu Campus, Sarawak, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 5 Crop Production Programme, School of Sustainable Agriculture, University Malaysia Sabah, Locked Bag 2073, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Problem Statement: The impacts of soil compaction on crop yields have been studied extensively by soil scientists due to declining soil productivity associated with mechanisation. However, a relationship between machine-induced soil compaction and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) yield is unclear. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of mechanization on soil physical properties and the influence on oil palm yield. Approach: The palms were planted in Bernam series soil which is clay textured. Compaction treatments were imposed for 6 consecutive years. Comparisons were made between the effects of soil compaction caused by different trailer weights and monthly transportation frequency. Results: The results showed a beneficial effect of soil compaction on the oil palm yield. It significantly increased the yield with increased mean soil bulk density. The transportation frequency played a greater role than the trailer weight. After six years of soil compaction, there was a positive relationship between mean soil bulk density, porosity and oil palm yield. Conclusion: Thus compaction may not often be a problem.

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Volume 5 No. 1, 2010, 15-19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2010.15.19

Submitted On: 10 October 2009 Published On: 31 March 2010

How to Cite: Yahya, Z., Husin, A., Talib, J., Othman, J., Ahmed, O. H. & Jalloh, M. B. (2010). Soil Compaction and Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Yield in a Clay Textured Soil. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 5(1), 15-19. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2010.15.19

Open AccessCopyright: © 2010 Zuraidah Yahya, Aminuddin Husin, Jamal Talib, Jamarei Othman, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed and Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Keywords

  • Soil compaction
  • oil palm
  • transportation frequency
  • trailer weight
  • soil physical properties