Control of Frond Number and Root Pruningto Improve Growth and Development of Palm Oil (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq) for 6 Months

M. Amrul Khoiri, Jajang Sauman Hamdani, Cucu Suherman, Ruminta

Abstract: This study aims to determine the effect of frond number and root pruning on yield and root development of oil palm. The research was conducted for 6 months, from February 2018 to August 2018. It was carried out at the farmer field in Petapahan village, Tapung District, Kampar Regency, Riau. Root was analyzed at the Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Riau. This research was conducted experimentally using Split Plot Design. Treatments were grouped based on different ages (5 years, 10 years and 15 years). The main plot was frond pruning (p1 = normal 0%, p2 = light pruning 25%, and p3 = hard pruning 50%), while subplot were root pruning (a1 = 75%, a2 = 50%, and a3 = 25%). Data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance and continued by Duncan's multiple distance test at the 5% significance level. The results showed that the frond pruning affected the root dry weight and the number of secondary roots, while the root pruning affected the primary root numbers, primary root length, secondary root numbers, secondary root length, and tertiary root numbers.

Keywords: Palm oil, frond pruning, root pruning