Manejo de cultivos de palma de aceite frente a adversidades climaticas | 54° Congreso Palmero

Scientific concepts, discoveries, and nature/climate phenomena mentioned

Climate drivers and projections (El Niño / La Niña; “Super El Niño”)

• El Niño / La Niña driven by changes in sea surface temperature (SST):

  • SST increases → El Niño
  • SST decreases → La Niña
  • ~0.5°C SST changes can trigger alerts.
  • Reported current/expected changes include values near ~2°C, raising concern for “Super El Niño.”

• “Super El Niño” scenario:

  • Defined when average SST exceeds ~2.5°C
  • Requires persistence for ~5 consecutive months to generate alerts.

• Frequency shift in climate events:

  • Historically ~every 5–6 years → now every ~3 years or less, attributed to SST pattern changes.

• Temperature and rainfall variability vs long-term climate change:

  • Climate change = long-term planetary average shifts (approaching ~1°C since the industrial era mentioned).
  • Climate variability = short-term fluctuations, with reported average maximum temperatures >2°C and more frequent extremes.

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Hydrometeorological impacts on Colombia / areas of oil palm

• Non-uniform impacts across regions:

  • Some areas experience flooding; others experience water deficit/drought simultaneously.

• Example of intense rainfall:

  • Experimental field (Barrancabermeja; “Palmar de la Vizcaína”): ~240 mm in 2 days
  • Emphasis: soil cannot store all that water when rainfall is too intense and short-lived.

• El Niño vs La Niña hydrology (as described):

  • El Niño: droughts, fires, and also torrential rainfall (extreme rainfall intensity still possible)
  • La Niña: drought in some areas but excess moisture in many areas, especially northern and central regions.

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Soil–plant physiology under water stress (deficit) and flooding

• Water deficit effects:
  • Root activity declines → reduced uptake of water and nutrients
  • Nutrient uptake efficiency drops, especially nitrogen (N) and potassium (K)

Reported reductions include:

- Moisture-efficiency comparisons:
    - **~78% (N)** and **~57% (K)** reductions
- Field tests:
    - **up to ~40% less N** and **~50% less K** uptake (deficit vs adequate-water treatments)

Production impacts referenced under deficit:

- Potential **up to ~43% production reduction** in the northern zone under critical evaluation conditions
- For *E. guinensis* cultivar:
    - **100 mm deficit** → **~1.5–2 tons/ha** reduction
- Under “Super El Niño” assumptions:
    - deficits up to **~700 mm**, with large expected production losses
    - part attributed to effects occurring **~33 months before harvest**

• Flooding effects:
  • Even with drainage, excess water from extreme rain harms palms
  • Documented impacts include reduced/impacted:
    • root development
    • leaf area
    • plant nutrition
  • Nutrient uptake efficiency decreases under flooding/temporary excess moisture, for example:
    • ~34% reduction in nutrient intake overall
    • ~23% less N, ~25% less Ca

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Temperature effects on nutrient cycling and production

• Temperature increases are measured and linked to variability and impacts.

• Why temperature matters:

  • Higher soil temperature → more evaporation → less available water longer-term for palms
  • Higher temperature increases nitrogen volatilization risk

• Production under temperature projections (model associations):

  • ~20% production reduction with higher temperature increases (as framed)
  • Additional described association:
    • ~2°C increase → ~15% production drop
    • ~4°C → up to ~30%

• Temperature increase magnitude (projection period):

  • Expected changes around ~1–3°C in key periods/locations (e.g., by November, Casanare mentioned)

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Pollinators, fruit set, and yield/oil content

• Climate variability can alter pollinator populations, affecting pollination outcomes.

• Main pollinating insect for E. guinensis mentioned:

  • Elaeidobius kamerunicus (“Cameroonian aidobios”)

• Impacts when pollinator populations decline (from deficit/excess rainfall extremes):

  • Up to ~42% reduction in bunch weight
  • Up to ~48% reduction in oil content
  • Reduced fruit set / pollination percentage

• Milestone emphasized:

  • Introduction of Elaeidobius kamerunicus credited with >10 percentage points gain in extraction
  • Therefore, pollinator suppression can substantially reduce oil quantity and profitability.

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Fertilizer price volatility and underlying economic/physical chain

• Fertilizer prices are described as rising due to:

  • Middle East crisis affecting nitrogen fertilizer supply chains
  • Nitrogen fertilizers rely on:
    • natural gas → ammonia
    • ammonia and nitrogen sources depend on oil and gas prices
  • Freight/transport costs increase due to higher fuel/energy costs

• Practical conclusion (scientific/management implication):

  • Producers can’t control world fertilizer prices directly, so focus shifts to:
    • efficiency
    • timely, right-target fertilization

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Practices / methodology mentioned (implementation-oriented bullet list)

Mitigation strategy for oil palm under climate adversity (water, soil, nutrition, climate-ready management)

• Crop information readiness

  • Survey crop polygon using CISPA stand guidance (process/best practices for managing production information).

• Moisture conservation / soil coverage

  • Manage cover crops / hedges:
    • Benefits claimed (measured):
      • ~20% higher soil moisture
      • ~25% less runoff
      • ~30% less erosion
      • up to ~10°C lower temperature
  • Use soil cover from biomass:
    • pruning/harvest residues
    • compost
    • organic matter

• Water harvesting and efficient irrigation

  • Promote efficient irrigation systems:
    • efficiency claims:
      • ~30% for some surface irrigation systems
      • up to ~90% for “customized” irrigation
  • Water balance tool:
    • calculate water surplus/deficit for irrigation and drainage using local rainfall, soil traits, and weather stations.

• Efficient drainage and monitoring

  • Verify drainage infrastructure and functionality.
  • Monitor groundwater levels to ensure soil aeration and root-zone conditions (preserving ~60 cm free soil volume mentioned).

• Biomass/organic matter use

  • Proper use of pruning/harvest leaves and processing by-products:
    • dry-period soil moisture improvements:
      • biomass/inputs: up to ~13% higher moisture
      • compost: up to ~16% higher moisture
  • Nutrient recycling:
    • example nutrient amounts estimated from applying ~350 kg biomass per palm (including KCl, ammonium phosphate, borate amounts as stated)

• Soil biology and “accompanying vegetation” (not weeds)

  • Maintain associated vegetation/cover to:
    • support microorganisms that convert urea into plant-available forms (ammonium/nitrate)
    • enhance nutrient-use efficiency and reduce fertilizer loss in runoff
  • Claimed functional benefits:
    • up to ~11× more dry biomass
    • up to ~1 kg K per palm equivalent stored in biomass
    • ~2× less nitrate concentration in runoff water
    • increased microbial diversity (micro/macroorganisms)

• Soil compaction management

  • Target soil porosity:
    • stated ideal >50% porosity
    • compacted soils may drop to ~20–30%, reducing water storage capacity.

• Legume cover crops / biological nitrogen fixation

  • Use legumes to reduce dependence on oil-linked nitrogen prices.
  • Mechanism:
    • nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available nitrogen.
  • Claims:
    • legumes can supply >160 kg elemental N/ha/year
    • during early palm years, covers may contribute up to 100% of N requirements until year 3 (as stated)

• Pruning and leaf-area management

  • Reduce excessive leaf number:
    • example optimal: ~32 leaves, leafing index ~5 for best production (hybrids)
  • Expected benefits:
    • lower evaporation/evapotranspiration
    • reduce pest risks
    • improve nutrient recycling.

• Fertilizer efficiency framework (“4Rs”, referred to as “4Cs”)

  • Apply the right fertilizer practice:
    • Correct dose (critical due to price)
    • Right source
    • Right timing/window (windows shrink under El Niño)
    • Right place (apply where roots/moisture/coverage are abundant; not bare ground)
  • Tool mentioned:
    • Seniat Nutrition (calculates appropriate dose using 4Rs plus production/foliar dry matter/efficiency estimates)

• Nutrient focus under heat/variability

  • Ensure adequate potassium (K), chlorine (Cl), boron (B) for transpiration regulation under heat stress.
  • Don’t neglect N and phosphorus because they support K uptake.

• Planting window guidance and nursery strategy

  • Prefer ideal planting months (zone-dependent):
    • until June in eastern zone
    • until July in central zone
  • If planting later:
    • extend nursery cycle to improve control before field transfer
  • Ensure newly planted palms have irrigation and diverse legume cover; transport biomass for soil protection.

• Pest management adjustment

  • Expect potential shifts in pest cycles.
  • Encourage natural biological control and avoid creating pest “focus groups.”

• Pollinator monitoring and action (Elaeidobius kamerunicus)

  • Monitor pollinators using Senipalma methodology (QR mentioned).
  • If needed:
    • extreme actions such as pollinating or relocating pollinator populations to areas with guineensis
  • Emphasize balanced nutrition, ambient humidity, and monitoring to support pollination.

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Fire risk preparedness

• Mentioned a 10-point plan from Fedepalma for fire practices:
  • prepare brigades
  • install firebreaks
  • implement prevention actions

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Research/extension tools platform and data-driven decision support

• Palma Data platform containing:
  • yield simulator (using precipitation, temperature, radiation)
  • water balance / climate favorability tools
  • palm detector
  • storage optimizer (logistics/harvest-related storage placement)
• Tools described as downloadable (Excel, QGIS/free software).

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Researchers or sources featured (as stated)

• Dr. Nolbert Arias — coordinator of the agronomy program, research department of Senipalma (presenter)
• Senipalma — research center/publisher of tools and publications referenced
• Fedepalma / Fed Palma — mentioned as having a fire practices 10-point plan
• CISPA — stand providing crop polygon surveying guidance
• Elaeidobius kamerunicus — Cameroonian pollinator (scientific name of the pollinating insect discussed as a key biological agent)