Resumen
- Oil Palm Bud Rot (OPBR) is a major threat to the oil palm crop in Colombia. The inter-specific hybrid (Elaeis guineensis × Elaeis oleifera) is widely considered as one of the first alternatives to mitigate the impact of OPBR. As of 2010 ~14000 ha of O×G hybrids have been planted in Colombia, and most of these palms are still at the immature stage (<5 years-old). Information on the nutrient requirements of hybrids has not yet been made available to the industry. The aim of this study was to determine the level of variation in macro- and micro-nutrient contents at the immature stage between O×G and D×P hybrids. The study was carried out at the Guaicaramo Estate located at the east Colombian region (Barranca de Upia). Leaf samples were taken every two months, beginning in March 2000 and ending in October 2006. Two plots were selected; the first was planted with a O×G hybrid and the second with a D×P hybrid. Agronomic management was the same for both plots. The tissues samples were analyzed at the Cenipalma laboratory. The micro-nutrients were the most variable with a coefficient of variation higher than 16%. During the period of evaluation the O×G hybrids had a higher Ca and B content while the remainder (N, P, K, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) were generally lower than those of the D×P hybrids. The general ranking for the macro-nutrients contents in the canopy was N > K > Ca > Mg > P while for the micro-nutrients the ranking was Mn > Fe > Zn > B > Cu. The yield of fresh fruit bunches was 13% greater in the O×G hybrid while oil yield (t/ha) was only greater by 3.5%. The data shows that O×G hybrids immobilized more nutrients such as K, Ca, B, Cu and Fe, which were ranking between 4 – 25%. The O×G hybrids showed less immobilization of N, P, Mg, Zn and Mn, which were between 1-12%.