Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil Nutrient and Management in Oil Palm Plantations and Agronomic Potential of Biochar

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Materials and Technologies for Future Advancement

Part of the book series: Advanced Structured Materials ((STRUCTMAT,volume 193))

  • 139 Accesses

Abstract

The key problems that the world’s agriculture will confront in the coming decades are adjusting to climate change, using scarce natural resources more effectively while fully recovering biowaste to create a circular economy, and reducing poverty and hunger. Future increases in food consumption will require increased productivity from crops like oil palm. The primary issue is the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, which has an impact on soil fertility, climate, and oil palm productivity. Potentially, converting biowaste, i.e. oil palm biomass, into biochar and applying it as a soil amendment through a proper nutrient management for oil palm cultivation are targeted to improve nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity. The nutrient leaching is influenced by the oil palm root system, fertilizer (solubility) and soil (erosion) characteristics, rainfall pattern, as well as fertilizer application method and the rate should be remediated with biochar-based soil enhancer to accelerate oil palm growth via efficient biochar-fertilizer interaction. Oil palm biomass-to-biochar application in soil retains nutrients, increases water holding capacity and microbial growth response, and improves soil fertility, thus can be a promising and sustainable approach not only in contributing to crop’s enhanced productivity but also mitigating problems of potential pollution associated and disposal for creation of a circular palm oil economy. In the long run, biochar application as a soil amendment can contribute to fertilizer cost reduction which occupies up to 40–45% of the overall field cost in oil palm cultivation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdul AA, Deraman M (2013) Pore structure of carbon granules prepared from slow pyrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibres. J Oil Palm Res 25:216–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Karaki (2013) Application of mycorrhizae in sustainable date palm cultivation. Emir J Food Agric 25:854–862

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen SC, Jose S, Nair PKR et al (2004) Safety-net role of tree roots: evidence from a pecan (carya illinoensis k. koch)-cotton (Gossypium hirsutum l.) alley cropping system in the southern united states. For Ecol Manag 192:395–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arvidsson R, Persson S, Fröling M et al (2011) Life cycle assessment of hydrotreated vegetable oil from rape, oil palm and jatropha. J Cleaner Prod 19:129–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson CJ, Fitzgerald JD, Hipps NA (2010) Potential mechanisms for achieving agricultural benefits from biochar application to temperate soils: a review. Plant Soil 337:1–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azeem M, Hayat R, Hussain Q et al (2016) Effect of biochar amendment on soil microbial biomass, abundance and enzyme activity in the mash bean field. J Biodivers Environ Sci 8:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu S, Rabara R, Negi S (2018) AMF: the future prospect for sustainable agriculture. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 102:36–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell P, Krull E, Butler G et al (2010) Effect of banded biochar on dryland wheat production and fertiliser use in south-western Australia: an agronomic and economic perspective. Aust J Soil Res 48:531–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blal B, Morel C, Gianinazzi-Pearson V et al (1990) Influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae on phosphate fertilizer efficiency in two tropical acid soils planted with micropropagated oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq.). Biol Fertil Soils 9:43–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchart E, Albrecht A, Bernoux M et al (2005) Organic matter and biofunctioning in tropical sandy soils and implications for its management. Researchgate Net. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299466431_Organic_matter_and_biofunctioning_in_tropical_sandy_soils_and_implications_for_its_management. Accessed 8 July 2022

  • Borowicz VA (2001) Do arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter plant—pathogen relations ? Ecology 82:3057–3068

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruun EW, Per A, Egsgaard H et al (2012) Effects of slow and fast pyrolysis biochar on soil c and n turnover dynamics. Soil Biol Biochem 46:3–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cade-Menun BJ, Berch SM, Preston CM et al (2000) Phosphorus forms and related soil chemistry of podzolic soils on northern Vancouver island. i. a comparison of two forest types. Can J Forest Res 30:1714–1725

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Certini G (2005) Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review. Oecologia 143:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan KY, Van-Zwieten L, Meszaros I et al (2007) Agronomic values of greenwaste biochar as a soil amendment. Aust J Soil Res 45:629–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chek TC, Ariffin I, Keong YK et al (2013) Evaluation of initial high phosphate rates on growth and early yield of oil palm grown on Sahabat series soil in Sabah. In: Malaysian palm oil board international palm oil congress, Kuala Lumpur

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Yao J, Wang F et al (2009) Study on the toxic effects of diphenol compounds on soil microbial activity by a combination of methods. J Hazard Mater 167:846–851

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng CH, Lehmann J, Thies JE et al (2006) Oxidation of black carbon by biotic and abiotic processes. Org Geochem 37:1477–1488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiew LK, Abdul RZ (2002) The effects of oil palm empty fruit bunches on oil palm nutrition and yield, and soil chemical properties. J Oil Palm Res 14:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Corley RHV, Tinker PB (2016) The oil palm. Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Croker JR, Poss CH, Bhuthorndharaj S (2004) Effects of recycled bentonite addition on soil properties, plant growth and nutrient uptake in a tropical sandy soil. Plant Soil 267:155–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeLuca TH, MacKenzie MD, Gundale M et al (2012) Biochar effects on soil nutrient transformations. In: Lehmann J, Joseph S (ed) Biochar for environmental management: science and technology, 1st edn. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding Y, Liu YX, Wu WX et al (2010) Evaluation of biochar effects on nitrogen retention and leaching in multi-layered soil columns. Wat Air Soil Poll 213:47–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez EL, Uttran A, Loh SK et al (2020) Materials today : proceedings characterisation of industrially produced oil palm kernel shell biochar and its potential as slow release nitrogen-phosphate fertilizer and carbon sink. Mater Today: Proc 31:221–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dünisch O, Lima VC, Seehann G et al (2007) Retention properties of wood residues and their potential for soil amelioration. Wood Sci Technol 41:169–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fall AF, Nakabonge G, Ssekandi J et al (2022) Roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil fertility: contribution in the improvement of physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Front Fungal Biol 3:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gandahi AW, Hanafi MM (2014) Bio-composting oil palm waste for improvement of soil fertility. In: Maheshwari DK (ed) Composting for sustainable agriculture. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman JM, O’Neill BE, Tsai SM et al (2010) Amazonian anthrosols support similar microbial communities that differ distinctly from those extant in adjacent, unmodified soils of the same mineralogy. Microb Ecol 60:192–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halmi MFA, Simarani K (2021) Responses of soil microbial population and lignocellulolytic enzyme activities to palm kernel shell biochar amendment. Eurasian Soil Sci 54:1903–1911

    Google Scholar 

  • Haryati Z, Loh SK, Kong SH et al (2018) Pilot scale biochar production from palm kernel shell (pks) in a fixed bed allothermal reactor. J Oil Palm Res 30:485–494

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jain V, Nainawatee HS (2002) Plant flavonoids: signals to legume nodulation and soil microorganisms. J Plant Biochem Biotechnol 11:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeffery S, Verheijen F, van-der VM et al (2011) A quantitative review of the effects of biochar application to soils on crop productivity using meta-analysis. Agric Ecosyst Environ 144:175–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffries P, Gianinazzi S, Perotto S et al (2003) The contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable maintenance of plant health and soil fertility. Biol Fertil Soils 37:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones CB, Brad DE, Engel R et al (2013) Factors affecting nitrogen fertilizer volatilization. Landresources Montanna Edu. https://landresources.montana.edu/soilfertility/documents/PDF/pub/UvolfactEB0208.pdf. Accessed 27 July 2022

  • Karananidi P, Md-Som A, Loh SK et al (2020) Flame curtain pyrolysis of oil palm fronds for potential acidic soil amelioration and climate change mitigation. J Enviro Chem Eng 8:103982

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasozi GN, Zimmerman AR, Nkedi-Kizza P et al (2010) Catechol and humic acid sorption onto a range of laboratory-produced black carbons (biochars). Environ Sci Technol 44:6189–6195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kee KK, Goh KJ, Chew PS (1995) Effects of NK fertiliser on soil pH and exchangeable k status on acid soils in an oil palm plantation in Malaysia. In: Date RA et al (ed) Plant soil interactions and low ph. Kluwer Academic

    Google Scholar 

  • Koe LCC, Arellano JAF, McGregor JL (2001) Investigating the haze transport from 1997 biomass burning in southeast Asia: its impact upon Singapore. Atmos Environ 35:2723–2734

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SH, Loh SK, Bachmann RT et al (2014) Biochar from oil palm biomass: a review of its potential and challenges. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 39:729–739

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SH, Loh SK, Bachmann RT et al (2019) Palm kernel shell biochar production, characteristics and carbon sequestration potential. J Oil Palm Res 31:September

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuppusamy S, Thavamani P, Megharaj M et al (2016) Agronomic and remedial benefits and risks of applying biochar to soil: current knowledge and future research directions. Environ Int 87:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laird D, Fleming P, Wang B et al (2010) Biochar impact on nutrient leaching from a midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma 158:436–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann J, Rillig MC, Thies J et al (2011) Biochar effects on soil biota—a review. Soil Biol Biochem 43:1812–1836

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann J, da-Silva JJP, Steiner C et al (2003) Nutrient availability and leaching in an archaeological anthrosol and a ferralsol of the central amazon basin: fertilizer, manure and charcoal amendments. Plant Soil 249:343–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Loh SK (2017) The potential of the Malaysian oil palm biomass as a renewable energy source. Energ Convers Manage 141:285–298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manyà JJ (2012) Pyrolysis for biochar purposes: a review to establish current knowledge gaps and research needs. Environ Sci Technol 46:7939–7954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Md-Som A, Wang Z, Al-Tabbaa A (2013) Palm frond biochar production and characterisation. Earth Environ Sci Trans R Soc Edin 103:39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer S, Glaser B, Quicker P (2011) Technical, economical, and climate-related aspects of biochar production technologies: a literature review. Environ Sci Technol 45:9473–9483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mia S, Dijkstra FA, Singh B (2017) Long-term aging of biochar: a molecular understanding with agricultural and environmental implications. Adv Agron 141

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan JB, Connolly EL (2013) Plant-soil interactions :nutrient uptake. Nature Educ Knowl 2:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee A, Rattan L (2013) Biochar impacts on soil physical properties and greenhouse gas emissions. Agronomy 3:313–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee A, Zimmerman AR (2013) Organic carbon and nutrient release from a range of laboratory-produced biochars and biochar-soil mixtures. Geoderma 193–194:122–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murdi AA, Hashim Z, Mohammed AT et al (2011) Effective placement of fertilizers for mature oil palm planted on alluvial soils. Palmoilis. http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/TOTV3/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TT-478.pdf#pdfjs.action=download. Accessed 4 Aug 2022

  • Naher L, Tan SG, Yusuf UK et al (2012) Biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum strain fa 1132 as an enhancer of oil palm growth. Pertanika J Trop Agri Sci 35:173–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble AD, Gillman GP, Ruaysoongnern S (2000) A cation exchange index for assessing degradation of acid soil by further acidification under permanent agriculture in the tropics. Eur J Soil Sci 51:233–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noble AD, Gillman GP, Nath S et al (2001) Changes in the surface charge characteristics of degraded soils in the wet tropics through the addition of beneficiated bentonite. Aus J Soil Res 39:991–1001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omoti U, Ataga DO, Isenmila AE (1983) Leaching losses of nutrients in oil palm plantations determined by tension lysimeters. Plant Soil 73:365–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phosri C, Rodriguez A, Sanders IR et al (2010) The role of mycorrhizas in more sustainable oil palm cultivation. Agric Ecosyst Environ 135:187–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prieto-Fernandez A, Villar MC, Carballas M et al (1993) Short-term effects of a wildfire on the nitrogen status and its mineralization kinetics in an Atlantic forest soil. Soil Biol Biochem 25:1657–1664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramlah Ali AS, Dolmat MT (1991) Status of mycorrhizal research in oil palm. Researchgate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264749831_Status_of_Mycorrhizal_Research_in_Oil_Palm. Accessed 27 July 2022

  • Reichenauer TG, Panamulla S, Subasinghe S et al (2009) Soil amendments and cultivar selection can improve rice yield in salt-influenced (tsunami-affected) paddy fields in Sri Lanka. Environ Geochem and Health 3:573–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renck A, Lehmann J (2004) Rapid water flow and transport of inorganic and organic nitrogen in a highly aggregated tropical soil. Soil Sci 169:330–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rondon MA, Lehmann J, Ramírez J et al (2007) Biological nitrogen fixation by common beans (phaseolus vulgaris l.) increases with bio-char additions. Biol Fertil Soils 43:699–708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rugayah AF, Astimar AA, Norzita N (2014) Preparation and characterisation of activated carbon from palm kernel shell by physical activation with steam. J Oil Palm Res 26:251–264

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salt M (2004) Nutrient movement through SA soil. EPA http://report.epa.sa.gov.au/files/477355_nutrient.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2022

  • Sara de Jesus D, Glaser B, Cerri CEP (2019) Effect of biochar particle size on physical, hydrological and chemical properties of loamy and sandy tropical soils. Agron 9:165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serrasolsas I, Khanna PK (1995) Changes in heated and autoclaved forest soils of s.e. Australia. ii phosphorus and phosphate activity. Biogeochemistry 29:24–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamala S, Idris AS (2009) Trichoderma as a biocontrol agent against ganoderma in oil palm. Palmoilis. http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/TOTV3/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TT-422.pdf#pdfjs.action=download. Accessed 8 July 2022

  • Sharpley AN, Mcdowell RW, Kleinman PJA (2001) Phosphorus loss from land to water: integrating agricultural and environmental management. Plant Soil 237:287–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sitthaphanit S, Bell RW, Limpinuntana L (2010) Effect of clay amendments on nitrogen leaching and forms in a sandy soil. In: 19th World congress of soil science—soil solution for a changing world, 3, pp 107–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Sogbedji JM, Van-Es HM, Klausner SD et al (2001) Spatial and temporal processes affecting nitrogen availability at the landscape scale. Soil Tillage Res 58:233–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner C, Teixeira WG, Lehmann J et al (2004) Microbial response to charcoal amendments of highly weathered soils and Amazonian dark earths in central Amazonia—preliminary results. In: Glaser B, Woods WI (ed) Amazonian dark earths: explorations in space and time November. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner C, Teixeira WG, Lehmann J et al (2007) Long term effects of manure, charcoal and mineral fertilization on crop production and fertility on a highly weathered central Amazonian upland soil. Plant Soil 291:275–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundram S (2010) Growth effects by arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq.) seedlings. J Oil Palm Res 22:796–802

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundram S, Meon S, Abu SI et al (2015) Application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with Pseudomonas aeruginosa upmp3 reduces the development of ganoderma basal stem rot disease in oil palm seedlings. Mycorrhiza 25:387–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taghizadeh-Toosi A, Clough TJ, Sherlock RR et al (2012) Biochar adsorbed ammonia is bioavailable. Plant Soil 350:57–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tinker PB, Nye PH (2000) Solute movement in the rhizosphere. Oxford University, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tiraieyari N, Hamzah A, Abu SB (2014) Organic farming and sustainable agriculture in Malaysia: organic farmers challenges towards adoption. Asian Soc Sci 10

    Google Scholar 

  • Uttran A, Loh SK, Kong SH et al (2018) Adsorption of npk fertiliser and humic acid on palm kernel shell biochar. J Oil Palm Res 30:472–484

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vengadaramana A, Jashothan PTJ (2012) Effect of organic fertilizers on the water holding capacity of soil in different terrains of Jaffna peninsula in Sri Lanka. J Nat Prod Plant Resour 2:500–503

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warnock DD, Lehmann J, Kuyper TW et al (2007) Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil—concepts and mechanisms. Plant Soil 300:9–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yahya Z, Husin A, Talib J et al (2010) Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) roots response to mechanization in Bernam series soil. Am J Appl Sci 7:343–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao Y, Gao B, Zhang M et al (2012) Effect of biochar amendment on sorption and leaching of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate in a sandy soil. Chemosphere 89:1467–1471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zainal NH, Abdul Aziz A, Idris J et al (2018) Reduction of pome final discharge residual using activated bioadsorbent from oil palm kernel shell. J Cleaner Prod 182:830–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H, Wang Z, Deng X et al (2013) Impacts of adding biochar on nitrogen retention and bioavailability in agricultural soil. Geoderma 206:32–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank MPOB for providing the Graduate Student Assistantship Scheme (GSAS) to Arasu Uttran to conduct this research work for a Master’s degree at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Computing, Manipal International University, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

    Arasu Uttran

  2. Energy and Environment Unit, Engineering and Processing Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Soh Kheang Loh

  3. Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

    Robert Thomas Bachman

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ahmad

Authors
  1. Arasu Uttran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Soh Kheang Loh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Muhammad Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert Thomas Bachman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arasu Uttran .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Malaysian Inst of Marine Engg Tech, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Lumut, Perak, Malaysia

    Azman Ismail

  2. Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Machang, Malaysia

    Fatin Nur Zulkipli

  3. Malaysian Institute of Marine Eng. Tech., Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Lumut, Malaysia

    Syajaratunnur Yaakup

  4. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Esslingen University Applied Sciences, Esslingen am Neckar, Germany

    Andreas Öchsner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Uttran, A., Loh, S.K., Ahmad, M., Bachman, R.T. (2023). Soil Nutrient and Management in Oil Palm Plantations and Agronomic Potential of Biochar. In: Ismail, A., Zulkipli, F.N., Yaakup, S., Öchsner, A. (eds) Materials and Technologies for Future Advancement. Advanced Structured Materials, vol 193. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38993-1_17

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation