Evaluation of Co-compost of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch and Cow Dung as Fertilizer in Oil Palm Nurseries

Abstract

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) is one of the readily available crop residues that can serve as cheap organic fertilizer source for crop. EFB-cow dung composts (EFB: cow dung ratios of 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, and 0:100) pre-treated by soaking in water, unsoaked and sole cow dung (all on dry weight basis) were incubated in an Alfisol under laboratory conditions for 10 months. These treatments were also used to raise oil palm seedlings in the nursery. Nutrient release pattern of unsoaked EFB: cow dung (60:40) was significantly (p<0.05) better than other EFB compost treatments. Correlation coefficient (r) between phosphorus released and ECEC with time of incubation were 1.00 and 0.98 (p<0.01) respectively. Unsoaked EFB cow dung (60:40) was as effective as mineral NPKMg fertilizer in enhancing plant dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake.