Cover Crops and Frond Piles for Improving Soil Water Infiltration in Oil Palm Plantations

Abstract

Oil palm plantations may cause problems in the hydrological cycle due to a low soil water infiltration capacity. In this study, we (a) compared oil palm plantations with other land use types, and (b) within oil palm plantations, analyzed whether legume cover crops and the deposition of frond piles can change soil water infiltration. The study was conducted in the lowlands of Sumatra in mixed jungle rubber stands, and in monospecific rubber and oil palm plantations by using ring in filtrometers. Observed in filtration rates in jungle rubber and monospecific rubber stands (approximately 20 cm h−1) were about 5 times higher than in oil palm plantations, underlining the problem. Within the oil palm cultivation system, a legume cover crop, as well as the deposition of palm fronds, significantly enhanced infiltration rates. We conclude that indeed low soil water infiltration is very low in conventional oil palm plantations. Management including the planting of cover crops and deposition of fronds may offer options for improving the situation.