IPNI SEAP Staff Publication List

2015

Apolonio, O., R. Labios, J. Labios, L. Luar, M. Pampolino. 2015.
Closing yield gap of white corn in the Philippines through Site Specific Nutrient Management.
Poster presentation at the Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines (FCSSP) Scientific Conference: Farming Innovation and Quality Seed-Key to Profitable Farming and global Competitiveness, Pampanga, Philippines, 11-16 May 2015.
Abstract: Increasing yield of white corn is one of the strategies for ensuring food sufficiency in the Philippines. Previous research has shown that the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) approach is effective in improving yields of hybrid corn varieties in the Philippines. On farm trials in the 16 regions of the Philippines from 2012 to 2014 wet and dry seasons were conducted to assess the use of SSNM in open-pollinated (OPV) and traditional (TV) varieties of white corn. This study aimed to (a) evaluate the performance of SSNM over the current farmer’s fertilizer practice (FFP) in terms of yield and fertilizer use and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of SSNM in closing the yield gap (i.e. the difference between attainable yield and farmer’s yield). On average, FFP fertilizer rates (71-21-21 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹ used in OPV and 68-17-16 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹ used in TV) were lower than the SSNM rates (111-40-43 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹ used in OPV and 107-41-39 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O ha⁻¹ used in TV). Yield with SSNM was about 45% (1.51t/ha) and 23% (0.65t/ha) higher over FFP with OPV and TV, respectively. SSNM achieved about 91% of the attainable yield of OPV and about 88% that of TV. On-farm results indicate that SSNM is effective in closing the yield gap of white corn in the Philippines through balanced application of nutrients based on crop nutrient requirement. Data generated from the on farm research were used in developing the OPV and TV component of the Nutrient Expert® for Maize – a nutrient decision support software that will enable crop advisors to rapidly develop SSNM recommendations for individual farmer’s fields.

Aye, T.M. 2015.
4R Nutrient Management: Key to Increasing Sugarcane Yield in Myanmar.
Slides presented at Nutrient Management Seminar on Sugarcane 12/03/2015.

Aye, T.M. 2015.
4R Nutrient Management: Key to Increasing Rubber Yield in Myanmar.
Slide presented at Nutrient Management Seminar 10/03/15.

Aye, T.M. 2015.
Field Handbook - 4R Nutrient Management of Mango Tree in Myanmar. (In Burmese)
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

Aye, T.M. 2015.
Field Handbook - 4R Nutrient Management of Watermelon in Myanmar. (In Burmese)
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

Chua, C.K, T. Oberthür, S. Cook, C.H. Lim, C.R. Donough, J. Cock, H. Sugianto and Y.L. Lim. 2015.
Sinner or saint? IPNI's vision of sustainable oil palm intensification in 2020 and beyond.
Oral presentation at the Oil Palm Best Practices Workshop, Malaysian Oil Scientists' and Technologists' Association (MOSTA), Miri, Malaysia, 17-19 August 2015.

Cock, J., C.R. Donough, T. Oberthür, K. Indrasuara, Rahmadsyah, A.R. Gatot and T. Dolong. 2015.
Increasing palm oil yields by measuring oil recovery efficiency from the fields to the mills.
Slide presented at International Oil Palm Conference Bali 18 June 2015

Cook S., H. Sugianto, C.H. Lim, S.N. Mohanaraj, Y.M.S. Samosir, C.R. Donough, T. Oberthür, Y.L. Lim, J. Cock and S.P. Kam. 2015.
Kelapa sawit di persimpangan jalan: Peranan Plantation Intelligence® dalam mendukung perubahan, keuntungan dan keberlanjutan.
Infosawit, 10:20-27.
Abstract: Part 1- Bagi perusahaan yang menghendaki perubahan dan mampu mengelola perubahan itu sebagai suatu proses yang 'normal' di dalam menagement, maka
penerapan Plantation Intelligence menjadi salah satu alternatif yang digunakan, sehingga mampu memberikan acuan di dalam pengambilan keputusan dan menghindari
kesalahan yang biasa dilakukan. (Translation: For companies that require change and able to manage the change as a process of 'normal' in the management, then the
application of Plantation Intelligence® became one of the alternatives being used, so as to provide guidance in decision-making and avoid common mistakes).
Part 2- Pada bagian ini akan dijelaskan bagaimana mengembangkan "Plantation Intelligence®". Caranya untuk semua pelaku adalah sama, namun dalam prakteknya,
tergantung pada fokus masing-masing. Pilihan detail dari masing-masing akan mencerminkan prioritas dari perusahaan. (Translation: This section will explain how to develop
"Plantation Intelligence®". The trick to all players are equal, but in practice, depending on the focus of each. Optional detail of each will reflect the priorities of the company).
Part 3- Masih melanjutkan bagaimana mengembangkan "Plantation Intelligence®" caranya untuk semua pelaku adalah sama, namun dalam prakteknya, tergantung pada fokus
masing-masing. Pilihan detail dari masing-masing perusahaan bakal mencerminkan prioritas dari perusahaan. (Translation: Still continue to develop "Plantation Intelligence®" do
all players are equal, but in practice, depending on the focus of each. Optional detail of each company will reflect the priorities of the company).

Donough, C.R., J. Cock, T. Oberthür, K. Indrasuara, Rahmadsyah, A.R. Gatot and T. Dolong. 2015.
Estimating oil content of commercially harvested oil palm fresh fruit bunches - A step towards increasing palm oil yields.
Oil Palm Bulletin, Vol 70, page 8-12.
Abstract: Oil palm growers are able to assign fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yields to individual blocks, and thus are able to manage their plantation (or smallholding) to optimize FFB yield. However, currently it is not possible to attribute oil extraction rate (OER), hence oil yield, in a similar way, because mills process FFB from many sources, deriving a common OER for all the FFB that is processed rather than for individual sources. OER depends on the intrinsic qualities of the FFB being milled, which is likely to differ from one batch of FFB to another, hence assessment of milling performance is better based on extraction efficiency rather than OER per se. The Southeast Asia Programme of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI SEA) recently showed that practices aimed at maximizing FFB yield may not necessarily maximize OER. The bunch analysis (BA) method adapted by IPNI SEA for assessing oil content of FFB from commercial-scale harvesting in Indonesia can be implemented by plantations without much difficulty. BA and harvest audit data
together allow growers to compute their Field Oil Recovery Efficiency (FORE), an assessment of the effectiveness of field practices on crop recovery and oil content. Pre-milling estimates of oil content (EOC) in harvested FFB allows mills to better measure their process performance based on their Mill Oil Recovery Efficiency (MORE). Knowledge of EOC will allow mills to pay growers for the oil content of their crop, providing further motivation to growers to improve FORE. These recovery efficiency measures allow a more holistic analysis of the overall oil recovery process involving the growers and the mills, likely leading to reduced friction and better overall performance.

Gerendas J., C. Donough, T. Oberthür, Rahmadsyah, G. Abdurrohim, K. Indrasuara, A. Lubis, T. Dolong and M. Fisher. 2015.
Sulfur nutrition of oil palm in Indonesia - The Neglected Macronutrient.
Better Crops With Plant Food, 99:11-13.
Abstract: Little attention has been paid to the S nutrition of oil palm, despite a trend towards using fertilizers that contain no S. Data show S concentrations can be far below the established critical value of 0.20%. The established critical S concentration should be reduced to 0.15% based on a critical N concentration of 2.3% and an S:N ratio of 15.

Hoffmann, M.P., C. Donough, T. Oberthür, A. Castaneda Vera, M.T. van Wijk, C.H. Lim, D. Asmono, Y.M.S. Samosir, A.P. Lubis, D.S. Moses and A.M. Whitbread. 2015.
Benchmarking yield for sustainable intensification of oil palm production in Indonesia using PALMSIM.
The Planter, Vol 91, page 81-96.
Abstract: The physiological oil palm growth model PALMSIM can be used to estimate yield ceilings that provide benchmarks for sustainable intensification of oil palm production, either by expansion of cultivation to degraded sites or by increasing production from areas under cultivation. This is demonstrated using two case studies. In the first case study, PALMSIM estimates of water-limited yield for Kalimantan was overlaid onto a recently published map showing degraded sites potentially suitable for oil palm cultivation. A large proportion (35.6%; or 115,300 km²) of the identified areas fell into the potential productivity range of 35 to 40 tonnes FFB per hectare. In the second case study, PALMSIM was used to estimate potential yield for six plantation sites in Indonesia where best management practices (BMP) were assessed for yield intensification by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) and its collaborating plantation partners. Potential yields are generally higher in Sumatra than in Kalimantan due to higher solar radiation. Water deficit was a problem at two sites. The gap between water-limited yield and actual yield differs from location to location, and therefore requires a site-specific analysis. In these two case studies, the scope for sustainable intensification at regional and at plantation level was explored in a quantitative manner - a novel approach to oil palm production.

IPNI. 2015.
Project Specifics Booklet – An introduction of IPNI Best Management Practice (BMP) process supported by Plantation Intelligence® and Estate-Scale Experimentation.
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Crop plants take up (absorb) nutrients in inorganic form (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Organic or inorganic: Which nutrient source is better for plants? (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Crop fertilization improves soil quality (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Nutrient balance: Critical to crop production and environmental protection (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Nutrient balance can be achieved using both inorganic and organic sources (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Nutrient use and beneficial soil organisms (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Ag-lime... It's good for the environment (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Stewardship Specifics Brief – Does fertilizer harm soil microbes? (in Burmese).
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

IPNI. 2015.
Planters' Diary 2015.
International Plant Nutrition Institute, Penang, Malaysia.

Mandal, M.K., S. Dutta, K. Majumdar, T. Satyanarayana, M. Pampolino, V. Govil, A.M. Johnston, G.C. Shrotriya. 2015.
Enhancing rice yield, profitability, and phosphorus use efficiency in West Bengal using the Nutrient Expert® fertilizer decision support tool.
Better Crops – South Asia 9:12-14.

Oberthür, T. 2015.
Plantation Intelligence®: Analysis of commercial data for yield and fertilizer management in oil palm.
Slide presentation at IFA Crossroads Asia Pacific, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20-22 October 2015.

Oberthür, T., C.R. Donough, S. Cook, J. Cock, C.K. Chua, C.H. Lim, S.N. Mohanaraj, R. Lim and S.P. Kam. 2015.
Oil palm Plantation Intelligence®: Production data analysis for effective agronomic decision making and fertilizer management.
Conference proceeding and oral presentation at the 18th International Oil Palm Conference, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, 22-25 September 2015.
Abstract: The oil palm industry is at a turning point. The last 2 decades of spectacular growth through land acquisition cannot go on forever. Plantation owners now face not only a lack of suitable land but also a decline in the value of palm oil, yield ambiguity, labor shortage, and a lack lustre public image. The industry needs to find a new footing, devise better processes and do more with less. It must develop a new future for oil palm as a credible contributor to local and global food, energy, and environmental security. The promise of Plantation Intelligence® (PI) is about implementing and accelerating this change through 'Big Data' generation and analysis. Oil palm production is a data-rich but information-poor activity. The industry collects vast amounts of data, but relatively little is analyzed to improve management. It is the data, however, that hold the key to better agronomic practices, better resource allocation, and better management decisions. PI is an adaptive learning process based on the analysis of a large database of crop performance to achieve better yield. Some of these factors cannot be controlled, such as climate and soil, while others can be manipulated, such as fertilization and harvesting protocols. The International Plant Nutrition Institute's (IPNI) experience suggests that it is fairly straightforward for commercial plantations to adopt PI. Among the benefits are accurate assessments of performance, return-on-investment, and identification of obstacles to efficient production. In this paper we introduce the concept of PI and demonstrate how it is used to better understand oil palm response to fertilizer and the factors interacting with it, in order to identify and implement strategies for nutrient management that enhance a plantation's overall performance.

Oberthür, T., C.K. Chua, S. Cook, C.R. Donough, J.H. Cock, C.H. Lim, S.N. Mohanaraj, Y.L. Lim and S.P. Kam. 2015
Plantation Intelligence®: Analysis of commercial data for yield and fertilizer management in oil palm.
Slide presentation at the 18th International Oil Palm Conference, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, 22-25 September 2015.

Oberthür, T. and C.R. Donough. 2015.
Out of the box: Ideas for plantation management.
Oral presentation at the Raise Seminar, Malaysian Estate Owners Association (MEOA), Selangor, Malaysia, 11 August 2015.

Oberthür, T., K. Janetski, and N. Janetski. 2015.
Nutrient stewardship for improved cocoa production & quality.
Oral presentation at the Asia Choco Cocoa Congress 2015, Singapore, 21-23 April 2015.

Pauli N., C. Donough, T. Oberthür, J. Cock, R. Verdooren, Rahmadsyah, G. Abdurrohim, K. Indrasura, A. Lubis, T. Dolong, J.M. Pasuquin, and M. Fisher. 2015.
Changes in soil quality indicators under oil palm plantations receiving best management practices.
Better Crops With Plant Food, 99:13-14.
Abstract: The effect of best management practices (BMPs) to intensify oil palm production and improve yield were evaluated in Indonesia and Malaysia. While no clear, consistent differences were found in the soil properties between BMP and reference (REF) treatments over four years, improvements in soil pH and % soil organic carbon (SOC) were recorded for both treatments. The study found no significant deterioration in the measured soil properties over the four years, suggesting that appropriate management practices for oil palm can improve several aspects of soil quality.

Pasuquin, J.M.C.A. 2015.
Sustainable intensification of maize and oil palm in Southeast Asia through sitesSpecific nutrient management.
PhD dissertation for Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University.
Abstract: Future demand for maize and oil palm is projected to increase steadily due to the effect of rising populations and incomes on food, feed and fuel consumption. This demand should be met through increased production on existing cropland while conserving natural resources. This study was conducted to evaluate the prospects for sustainable intensification of maize and oil palm production in Southeast Asia through improved nutrient management. Strategies and tools for site-specific nutrient management were evaluated across the region in terms of their effect on productivity, profitability, sustainability and environmental quality.
The leaf color chart was found effective in detecting N deficiency in maize. Adjusting fertilizer N applications according to leaf color gave 0.80 t ha-1 more grain yield than fixed rates and US$ 182 ha-1 higher profit. There was no advantage in more than two split application of fertilizer N in terms of yield or agronomic efficiency in areas with low risk of N leaching. Yield with site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) was 1.0 t ha-1 higher than the current farmers' fertilizer practice (FFP). Yield increases were associated with a 10% decrease in average fertilizer N rate, but with increased application of K at sites where the previous K rates were low. Average N use efficiency increased by 42% and profitability by US$167 ha-1 per crop. The Nutrient Expert (NE) for hybrid maize decision support software increased yield and profit of farmers in Indonesia and the Philippines. In Indonesia, NE increased yield by 0.9 t ha-1, which increased profit by US$270 ha-1 over the FFP. In the Philippines, NE increased yield by 1.6 t ha-1 and profit by US$379 ha-1 compared with FFP. Soil pH and soil organic carbon under oil palm plantations improved after four years of field trial with appropriate nutrient management practices. Leaf analysis was found to be insufficient for nutrient management in oil palm when used alone under a commercial production setting. To reduce decision uncertainty related to nutrient management, an approach using operational research and on-farm experimentation was proposed to provide more insight on the response of the crop to both management and uncontrolled variation at a commercial scale. Guidelines based on the relationship between nutrient contents and yields under particular sets of spatial and temporal conditions can then be derived from routinely collected data on leaf analysis, yield, weather and soil conditions on a large number of blocks over a longer period of time.

Nelson, P.N., T. Rhebergen, S. Berthelsen, M.J. Webb, M. Banabas, T. Oberthür, C.R. Donough, Rahmadsyah, K. Indrasuara and A. Lubis. 2015.
Soil acidification under oil palm: Rates and effects on yield.
The Planter, Vol 91, page 757-767.

Xu, X., J. Xie, Y. Hou, P, He, M.F. Pampolino, S. Zhao, S. Qiu, A.M. Johnston, W. Zhou. 2015.
Estimating nutrient uptake requirements for rice in China.
Field Crops Research 180:37-45.
Abstract: Accurate knowledge of the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) requirements for rice (Oryza sativa L.) in China is essential to quantitatively estimate optimal fertilizer application regimes to maximize crop yield and increase nutrient use efficiency. On-farm experiments were collected in China's major rice-producing regions from 2000 to 2013, to determine the relationship between grain yield and nutrient uptake in the above-ground plant dry matter using the quantitative evaluation of the fertility of tropical soils (QUEFTS) model. The large datasets obtained which covered broader rice growing areas and ecology types (both indica and japonica) in China. The dataset was divided into two groups: single-season rice and early/middle/late rice, according to QUEFTS analysis. The QUEFTS model predicted a linear increase in grain yield if nutrients were taken up in balanced amounts until yield reached about 60–70% of yield potential. To produce 1000 kg of single-season rice grain, 14.8 kg N, 3.8 kg P, and 15.0 kg K were required in the above- ground plant dry matter, and the corresponding internal efficiencies (IEs) were 67.6 kg grain per kg N, 263.2 kg grain per kg P, and 66.7 kg grain per kg K. For early/middle/late rice, the amount of 17.1 kg N, 3.4 kg P, and 18.4 kg K were required in the above- ground plant dry matter to produce 1000 kg of grain, and corresponding IEs were 58.5 kg grain per kg N, 294.1 kg grain per kg P, and 54.3 kg grain per kg K. The QUEFTS model provides a scientific foundation for filtering high-yielding and high-efficiency variety, optimizing fertilizer application rate and developing nutrient management strategies to increase yield and nutrient use efficiency. This is the first report on comparison of the nutrient uptake of different ecology types in rice production area of China using QUEFTS model and test their feasibility through field validation.