23/04/2014
1
IFA Indonesia Seminar on
K+S Gruppe
Sustainable Fertilizer Management
K and Mg dynamics in oil palm nutrition
23.04.2014, Jakarta
Rolf Haerdter, Managing Director K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe
E-SEA: Potash use by crop type in % of total
0102030405060708090
Cereals Oil crops Others%
Source: Heffer, 2009
K+S Asia Pacific
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Oil palm highest oil production per unit area
2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Soybean Sunflower Rapeseed Oil palm
Pro
d. (m
io t)
% o
f to
tal a
rea
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Oil
yie
ld (
t/h
a)
Oil production (mio t) % of total area Oil yield (t/ha)
Source: based on Oil world, 2013
Oil production of various oil crops, 2013
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe
Growing use of palm oil as feedstock for biodiesel
Source: Oil World, 2013
29%
26%
24%
8%
7%6%
27%
20%
36%
6%
6% 5%
Soya oil Palm oil
Rape seed oil Used oil
Tallow Others
Feedstock for biodiesel 2013: (Total: 24.73 mio t)
Feedstock for biodiesel 2009: (Total: 16.18 mio t)
K+S Asia Pacific
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0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Oil p
alm
are
a (
Mio
ha
)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
K-u
pta
ke
(M
io t)
Malaysia Indonesia K uptake MY K uptake ID
Oil palm expansion, a driving force for K use
Source: USDA, 2010, MPOB, 2010, IPNI
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
19
61
19
67
19
73
19
79
19
85
19
91
19
97
20
03
20
09
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand
5
FFB production and yield in SE-Asian countries K+S Asia Pacific
FFB production (1000 t)
0
5
10
15
20
25
19
61
19
66
19
71
19
76
19
81
19
86
19
91
19
96
20
01
20
06
20
11
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand
FFB yield (t/ha)
Source: FAO, 2014 Current FFB yield in Indonesia only 17 t/ha!
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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Yield gap 3: Poor management
Yield gap 2: nutrient deficiencies
Yield gap 1: Max. economic yield
Yield potential of progeny for a given soil and climate
Source: Oberthuer and Donough, 2012
Yield Gaps . . .
K+S Asia Pacific
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K
Water regime
Photosynthesis
Stress factors (biotic)
Protein synthesis
Cell elongation
Enzyme activation
Phloem export of photosynthates
Role of K in crop production and plant metabolism
Respiration
K+S Asia Pacific
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01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 8 8
- potassium plays an important role in the conversation of light
in biochemical energy during photosynthesis
- potassium is the quantitatively most important cation
- potassium speeds up the flow of assimilates and promotes the
storage of assimilates
- potassium is required by more than 100 enzymes
- potassium improves the water utilisation of crops
- potassium is the most important inorganic osmoticum and
increases the drought tolerance of crops
Role of Potassium (K) in oil palm
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 9 9
Symptoms of K deficiency related to its function
Lack of K induces sudden cell damage of
isolated leaf regions ‘orange spotting’
K+S Asia Pacific
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N x K interaction: Yield contour plot
Source: Webb, 2009
Average yield response 2003-2005
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 11 11
Potassium promotes bunch development and
bunch yield! Source: Kusnu et al. (1996)
Yield of oil palm as affected by K and P supply
8.5
9.0
9.5
10.0
10.5
11.0
11.5
0 0.6 1.2
kg K2O palm-1
year-1
Bu
nch
nu
mb
er
pa
lm-1
ye
ar-1
0.28 kg
0.56 kg
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
0 0.6 1.2
kg K2O palm-1
year-1
Yie
ld (
FF
B p
alm
-1 y
ea
r-1)
0.28 kg
0.56 kg
P2O5 palm-1 year-1
P2O5 palm-1 year-1
P2O5 palm-1 year-1
P2O5 palm-1 year-1
K+S Asia Pacific
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Oil palm: Best management for larger yields
12 Source: Oberthuer et al. 2013
% y
ield
in
cre
ase*
*Fresh fruit bunch yield increase in Best management plots over reference plots
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe
Oil palm: BMP increases K application
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Site 1 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6
BMP REFkg K/ha/4y
*Total K application (organic plus inorganic) in BMP plots compared to REF plots over a period of 4 years
Source: Oberthuer et al. 2013
K+S Asia Pacific
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01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 14 14
• Protein synthesis
• Translocation of assimilates from leaves
to fruits, buds, & roots ( nutrient uptake!)
• Photosynthesis
• Central atom of chlorophyll
• Chloroplast function and activation
of CO2-Fixation (counter ion, pH changes)
• Activation of numerous enzymes
The roles of Mg in plant growth and metabolism
K+S Asia Pacific
Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 15
No expression of Mg deficiency symptoms under
Conditions of low light intensity!
Mg Status:
+ Mg
-Mg
Light intensity: low high
K+S Asia Pacific
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Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 16 16
Symptoms of nutrient deficiencies are related to
their function:
lack of Mg induces
oxidative stress, because
light energy cannot be used
to produce assimilates
(sugar)
Mg-deficient leaves are
more sensitive to sunlight!
Magnesium is required for chloroplast function and
activation of photosynthesis (CO2-Fixation)
K+S Asia Pacific
Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 17 Kieserit-Oilpalm.ppt
A P-deficient plant
translocates more
assimilates to the root,
enhancing root growth.
A Mg-deficient plant
responses the opposite way
and root growth is severely
inhibited.
This has major
consequences for nutrient
uptake! Control
Function of Mg in plants: No other nutrient is so critical for assimilate translocation to roots and fruits!
P-deficient Mg-deficient
K+S Asia Pacific
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Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 18 Source: Cakmak et al., 1994
Relative distribution of carbohydrates between shoot and roots
of 12-days-old bean plants grown in nutrient solution with
deficient supply of P, K and Mg
Function of Mg in plants: No other nutrient is so critical for assimilate translocation to roots and fruits!
84.3%
15.7%
77.3%
22.7%
96.6%
3.4% 99.2%
0.8%
Shoot Root
Control P deficiency
K deficiency Mg deficiency
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 19
Source: Dolmat, MPOB, 2005
• Magnesium (Kieserite) significantly increased FFB yield,
oil content (O/B) and oil yield
• An extra 0.57 t ha-1 year-1 oil was obtained by application of
1.5 kg Mg palm-1 year-1 as ESTA Kieserite
Treatment Year 5 Years 1-5 combined
Oil to bunch ratio
(t ha-1) (t ha-1)
N+P+K 4.35 b 6.00 27.90
N+P+K+1.5 Mg 5.92 a 6.54 28.49
N+P+K+3.0 Mg 29.27
The effect of Mg on FFB and oil yield
K+S Asia Pacific
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Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 20
0.5 1.5 3.0 4.520
22
24
26
28
30
Oil : bunch ratio (%)
- Mg+ Mg*
K-application (kg KCl palm )
The interaction of K and Mg on oil : bunch ratios
of oil palms
*+ Mg = 0.5 kg Kieserite per palm
-1
Source: Ochs and Ollagnier, 1977
The interaction of K and Mg on oil : bunch ratios of oil palms
K+S Asia Pacific
Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 21
The relation between leaf Mg contents and oil/bunch ratios
2022242628303234363840424446
27
oil/bunch (%)
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Leaf Mg (% Mg TB ). -1
The relation between leaf Mg contents and oil : bunch ratios
K+S Asia Pacific
Source: Based on Foster, 2003
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The 4 R’s principle (IPNI):
Right type - Magnesium fertilizers
Magnesium sulphate (ESTA Kieserit, MgSO4 H2O):
• does not affect soil pH
• fully water soluble, plant available
• availability not affected by soil pH
• also provides sulphur (S)
The choice of Mg fertilizer needs careful attention
Dolomite (CaCO3 MgCO3; dolomitic limestone, GML) Magnesit (MgCO3)
and calcined magnesit (MgO):
• increases soil pH when used in large amounts ( liming material!)
• not water soluble, not immediately available
• Mg availability dependent on soil pH
• Ca content may interfere with K or Mg absorption (Dolomite)
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 23 Kieserit-allg
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Type of Mg Fertilizer: Sulphate Oxide Carbonate
Mg availability (%)
Relation between soil pH and availability
of Mg from different sources
Soil pH: 5.0 6.0 7.0
Comparative efficiency as affected by soil pH
K+S Asia Pacific
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Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 24
Mean FFB yields (t·ha y ) on a Rengam series soil as affected by Kieserite and dolomite application (average of 7 years)
-1-1
Source: Mohd Hussin et al. (1998) Kemajuan Penyelidikan Bil. 31: 29-34
20
25
30
FFB (t·ha-1)
Control K* D** K D K D K D
0 0.12 0.24 0.36 0.48
* K = Kieserite
**D = Dolomite
kg MgO palm-1
Mean FFB yields on a Rengam series soil as affected by kieserite and dolomite application
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 25
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
1974-77 1978-81 1982-86 1974-86
Period
Me
an
Yie
ld (
mt/
ha
/yr)
Control (no Mg)
GML/Dolomite*
Kieserite*
* Equivalent to 0.80 kg MgO /palm/yr
mean
Effect of Mg Fertilization on Oil Palm Yield on Sedu series
Source: Gurmit Singh, 1990
K+S Asia Pacific
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Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 26
Source: Ng, Thong, Ooi & Leng, 1995
Impact of replacing Kieserite by Dolomite on K, Mg and Ca Contents of Frond #17, and Yield over 6 years
% K
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
6 to 8 9 to
11*
12 to
14
15 to
17
% Mg
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
6 to 8 9 to
11*
12 to
14
15 to
17
% Ca
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
6 to 8 9 to
11*
12 to
14
15 to
17
FFB (t/ha)
0.3
5.3
10.3
15.3
20.3
25.3
30.3
6 to 8 9 to
11*
12 to
14
15 to
17
* Start of GML/Dolomite use after 11th year using Kieserite
Strong antagonistic effect of calcium on
potassium and magnesium yield depression!
Avoid high Ca sources (dolomite, rock phosphate)
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 27
Nutrient interactions
Antagonisms (uptake of two nutrient shows negative
interference)
• Indirect (soil nutrient dynamics): One nutrient reduces
availability of another one (Ca precipitates phosphate in
soil)
• Plants have limited capacity for uptake of anions and
cations: Excessive supply of one nutrient impairs uptake
of those of the same charge ( uptake competition):
– Ca Mg competition and Ca-induced Mg deficiency
– Ca K competition and Ca-induced K deficiency
– K Mg interaction and K-induced Mg deficiency
Nutrient interactions (synergisms and antagonisms) K+S Asia Pacific
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Datum (JJMMTT), Titel, Autor/Zeichen K+S Gruppe 28
Magnesium alleviates aluminium toxicity and hence
ensures a high nutrient efficiency of crops grown under
acid soil conditions !!!
Agronomic features of ESTA Kieserite: Mg overcomes Al-induced root growth inhibition
K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 29
Source: Schaaf and Zech, 1991
Root concentration (mg l-1)
Effect of Mg-sources on root growth at low soil pH
K+S Asia Pacific
0-5
5-10
10-20
20-30
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
325
145
181
152
557
253
325
217
477
271
80
36
Soil depth (cm)
Control
Kieserite Dolomite
Distribution of feeder roots (< 2 mm) of Norway spruce on an acid forest soil (pH 3.7)
as affected by the Mg nutrition
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Oil palm has the greatest potential in producing vegetable oil
It is and will remain the driving force for K consumption in
Indonesia
Both expansion in suitable areas and intensification of
existing areas will lead to a higher input of this nutrient
For optimal exploitation of the yield promoting effect of K, its
application has to be well balanced with other cations, i.e.,
magnesium
Balanced application and matching availabilities is essential
to realize maximum economic yields, especially on the
widespread acidic conditions, where inhibited root growth is
limiting the water and nutrient uptake of the crops.
Summary K+S Asia Pacific
01.04.2014 / KALI-AP / Rolf Haerdter K+S Gruppe 31
Mg and K dynamics in oil Palm
K+S Asia Pacific
