Oil Palm Block Efficiency Indicator

Scirj Volume II, Issue IV, April 2014 Edition
ISSN: 2201-2796

Oil Palm Block Efficiency Indicator

Henderson William, Tjeuw Juliana, Purba Olivia, Immanuella Hana

Abstract: Growers need to be creative in identifying techniques to monitor and understand planting material variation within and between blocks. Being creative does not necessarily mean being complicated. The Block Efficiency Indicator (BEI) is a simple, reliable and repeatable concept that fills a management gap allowing growers to identify which of five variables are influencing block-planting material efficiency, positively or negatively. BEI is a percentage calculation compiled by dividing actual values by theoretical values for planting density, yield, bunch weight, frond production, and block sex ratio. When actual values equal theoretical values, BEI is 100 and block-planting material is achieving its expected commercial potential. A reduction in average frond rate from 17 to 15 fronds/yr for example produces a BEI of 77.9, while a reduction in block sex ratio from 0.7 to 0.6 produces a BEI of 73.5, equivalent to a loss of 16 and 19 palms/ha respectively. When the effects were combined, BEI is 57.2, equivalent to a loss of 33 palms/ha. The Block Performance Indicator helps growers to understand cause and effect, allowing them to develop strategies to maximise production and efficiency.

Reference this Paper: Oil Palm Block Efficiency Indicator by Henderson William, Tjeuw Juliana, Purba Olivia, Immanuella Hana published at: "Scientific Research Journal (Scirj), Volume II, Issue IV, April 2014 Edition, Page 1-4 ".

Search Terms: oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), Block Efficiency Indicator (BEI), planting density, yield, bunch weight, frond production, Block Sex Ratio (BSR)

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