Evaluation of oil palm yield parameters in selected states of southern Nigeria

Abstract

Oil palm is the most important economic tree crops in the world today; producing two distinct oils that directly influence  the economic livelihood of millions of people in Africa and Asia. Despite its economic relevance in Nigeria,  yields from farmers’ fields have continued to decline due to myriad of constraints. As a result of this, yield parameters  (number and weight of fresh fruit bunches harvested, leaf area and petiole cross sections) which are some of the  diagnostic tools for precision agriculture in oil palm plantation management were obtained from one hundred and  thirty five (135) oil palm farmers’ plantations across nine local government areas (Owo, Irele, Okitipupa, Orhionmwon,  Ovia Southwest, Ovia Northeast, Ehime-Mbano, Ngor-Okpala and Oguta) in three states (Ondo, Edo and Imo) of the oil  palm belt of Nigeria. Fruit forms and types were determined from vertical sections and fruit colouration respectively andanalyzed using percentage occurrence. Apart from fruit types and forms, data generated were analyzed using  Genstat Statistical Software while means were compared at 5% level of probability using DNMRT. Results showed that  bunch weight (tons/ha) was highest in Irele LGA of Ondo state with a value of 13.32 and lowest in Oguta LGA of Imo  state with a value of 3.23. Leaf area and petiole cross section were highest in Ovia Northeast LGA of Edo state and lowest  in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo with values of 5.16 and 3.84 m² leaf-1 ; 18.25 and 6.79 cm² respectively. Nigrescens  was the highest occurring fruit types in all the local government areas with hundred percent distribution rates in Irele,  Ovia Southwest and Oguta LGAs of Ondo, Edo and Imo states respectively. There were positively significant correlations  between petiole cross section and bunch weight, leaf area and bunch weight in the LGAs. The study concludes that oil  palm yield were very low in these areas with urgent interventions needed in the area of inputs, as part of precision    agriculture strategy for oil palm belt in Nigeria.