With effective implementation of IPM, expenditures on pest control on deep peat can
be greatly reduced. In IPM, the amount of chemicals is reduced, to minimize the
impact on beneficial and non-target organisms. Chemical treatments are only carried
out by using selective pesticides at low rates and timely applications to ensure
minimum impact on the biodiversity and environment.
IPM strategies in oil palm have focused on targeted chemical control,
non-chemical management to reduce pest numbers and transmission, targeted management to increase the abundance of key pest control agents and breeding of pestresistant plant stock. So far, much of this management has been at the single species
level, although it is clear that suites that control species can interact to control
outbreaks more effectively.
Oil palms should be examined regularly especially for young palms due to their
greater susceptibility to insect damage. Inspections can be less frequent for palms
above 4 years old. The objective of such assessments is to detect and measure the
extent and severity of any infestation and to determine whether short-term insecticide treatment is required until the pest population returns to normal.
There is a natural balance between pests and their natural enemies; so, a small
amount of leaf damage might sometimes be seen without any significant effect on
palm growth and development (Beaudoin-Ollivier et al. 2017). Some flowering
weed species such as Euphorbia prunifolia, Ageratum conyzoides and Turnera
subulata should be maintained and/or actively planted in oil palm fields to encourage
parasites and predators. A fauna/flora combination which provides food and resting
sites for parasitoids and predators amongst the palms and along roadsides, where it
does not compete with the crop is always advisable.
18.5.4 Ground Cover Management
It is recommended to maintain a natural cover of soft vegetation and mosses or
Leguminous Cover Crop (LCC) in oil palm plantations on peat for the following
reasons: soil moisture conservation; to reduce direct exposure of the peat surface to
sunlight (which enhances decomposition); to improve soil fertility; weed management; and to reduce the risk of peat fire. Blanket weeding, which can lead to
exposure and irreversible drying of the surface peat layer, is discouraged. Apart
from the palm circles, soft weeds and ferns are encouraged in the avenues (Gurmit
1999). The moist environment in peatland encourages luxuriant growth of weeds.
However newly drained peatlands are relatively weed free for about 6 months after
land preparation.
With zero burning, most of the early weed species are indigenous, mainly ferns
(especially Nephrolepis biserrata, Stenochlaena palustris, Dicranopteris linearis),
sedges (e.g. Fimbristylis acuminata, Cyperus rotundus) and woody species
(e.g. Uncaria spp., Macaranga spp., Melastoma malabathricum) (Lim and Bit
2001). Subsequently, other species are brought in by agricultural activities, road
materials, wind and water.
18 Role of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Tropical Peatland. . .
521
be greatly reduced. In IPM, the amount of chemicals is reduced, to minimize the
impact on beneficial and non-target organisms. Chemical treatments are only carried
out by using selective pesticides at low rates and timely applications to ensure
minimum impact on the biodiversity and environment.
IPM strategies in oil palm have focused on targeted chemical control,
non-chemical management to reduce pest numbers and transmission, targeted management to increase the abundance of key pest control agents and breeding of pestresistant plant stock. So far, much of this management has been at the single species
level, although it is clear that suites that control species can interact to control
outbreaks more effectively.
Oil palms should be examined regularly especially for young palms due to their
greater susceptibility to insect damage. Inspections can be less frequent for palms
above 4 years old. The objective of such assessments is to detect and measure the
extent and severity of any infestation and to determine whether short-term insecticide treatment is required until the pest population returns to normal.
There is a natural balance between pests and their natural enemies; so, a small
amount of leaf damage might sometimes be seen without any significant effect on
palm growth and development (Beaudoin-Ollivier et al. 2017). Some flowering
weed species such as Euphorbia prunifolia, Ageratum conyzoides and Turnera
subulata should be maintained and/or actively planted in oil palm fields to encourage
parasites and predators. A fauna/flora combination which provides food and resting
sites for parasitoids and predators amongst the palms and along roadsides, where it
does not compete with the crop is always advisable.
18.5.4 Ground Cover Management
It is recommended to maintain a natural cover of soft vegetation and mosses or
Leguminous Cover Crop (LCC) in oil palm plantations on peat for the following
reasons: soil moisture conservation; to reduce direct exposure of the peat surface to
sunlight (which enhances decomposition); to improve soil fertility; weed management; and to reduce the risk of peat fire. Blanket weeding, which can lead to
exposure and irreversible drying of the surface peat layer, is discouraged. Apart
from the palm circles, soft weeds and ferns are encouraged in the avenues (Gurmit
1999). The moist environment in peatland encourages luxuriant growth of weeds.
However newly drained peatlands are relatively weed free for about 6 months after
land preparation.
With zero burning, most of the early weed species are indigenous, mainly ferns
(especially Nephrolepis biserrata, Stenochlaena palustris, Dicranopteris linearis),
sedges (e.g. Fimbristylis acuminata, Cyperus rotundus) and woody species
(e.g. Uncaria spp., Macaranga spp., Melastoma malabathricum) (Lim and Bit
2001). Subsequently, other species are brought in by agricultural activities, road
materials, wind and water.
18 Role of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Tropical Peatland. . .
521