ARTICLE IN PRESS

A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF COMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT CONTENT IN VARIOUS COMMERCIAL FERTILISERS USED IN INDONESIAN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS

SUKARMAN1,2; LILIK SUTIARSO1*; ANDRI PRIMA NUGROHO1; ARDAN WIRATMOKO1; TAKASHI OKAYASU3; SUWARDI1,4; SEPTA PRIMANANDA5; AHMAD HASANUDDIN4 and HERRY WIRIANATA5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2024.0043
Received: 13 December 2023   Accepted: 16 June 2024   Published Online: 5 September 2024
ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the composition and nutrient content of various types of commercial fertilisers used in oil palm plantations in Indonesia. The utilisation of non-conforming fertilisers harms soil fertility and health, leading to decreased plant productivity and affecting product quality. Combating non-conforming fertilisers is therefore crucial in supporting the sustainability of oil palm plantations. This research is classified as evaluative, with primary data comprising fertiliser analysis results, interviews, and field observations. Fertiliser samples were obtained from oil palm plantations in eight provinces in Indonesia, namely Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, and North Sumatra. The results demonstrate that the quality of the tested fertilisers can be categorised into three criteria: Original fertilisers, adulterated fertilisers, and counterfeit fertilisers. NPK fertiliser tends to be a target for counterfeiting due to its relatively high price, widespread usage across various agricultural commodities, and ease of imitation with available technology. In conclusion, this comprehensive assessment sheds light on the varying compositions and nutrient content of fertilisers used in oil palm plantations. The findings can assist plantation managers in making informed decisions to enhance overall productivity and sustainability in oil palm cultivation.

KEYWORDS:


1 Smart Agriculture Research,
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering,
Faculty of Agricultural Technology,
Universitas Gadjah Mada,
Jln. Flora No. 1 Bulaksumur,
Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.

2 Department of Agribusiness,
Faculty of Agriculture, Darwan Ali University,
Jl. Batu Berlian No. 10, Mentawa Baru Hulu,
Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan 74322, Indonesia.

3 Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences,
Faculty of Agricultural Technology,
Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku,
Fukuoka 810-0395, Japan.

4 Wilmar International Plantation,
Region of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

5 Department of Agrotechnology,
Faculty of Agriculture, STIPER Agricultural Institute,
Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: lilik-soetiarso@ugm.ac.id