Oil Palm - Elaeis guineensis

Description and Uses

Elaeis guineensis (Oil Palm) is a tropical palm from West Africa. It is mainly grown for its oil crops (long shelflife), but also Other uses include; alcohol, apiculture, fodder, fuel, medicinal, oil and ornamental can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 2 - 3 years. The first yield will be 3 t/y/ha but in its top season there will be a yield of 12 t/y/ha. The fruit is edible. Medical uses include; Array The fresh leaf contains Ferulic acid (0.17 mg/g - 0.50 mg/g). There is palm oil extracted by expeller pressing from the palm`s fruit yielding 45 - 50% oil. The palm`s wood is called n/a and has a density of 480 - 520 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the palm`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 3900 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 23 years the palm can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Elaeis guineensis has a lifespan of 120 years.

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Environmental limitations

The palm is 20 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than shade tolerant. Elaeis guineensis has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus etunicatum fungus. (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The palm`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bees. Elaeis guineensis is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Elaeis guineensis thrives in an altitude of 0 to 900 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 16°C and optimally between 27 - 35°C. The optimal rainfall is 3500 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 2000 - 3000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 4.0 - 6.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

is susceptible to Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus as pest and to Basal stem rot as disease diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are intermediate and can be stored for 6 months. There are approximative 5750 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.

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