Organic matter is an important constituent of soil health. It needs to be maintained at a healthy level for sustainable crop production.

Malaysian soils, like most tropical soils, are low in organic matter. The situation in some areas is further aggravated by the fact that oil palm is already in the second or third generation of planting where organic matter depletion can be a serious problem.

Besides improving oil palm growth and yield, the recycling of the pruned fronds, trunks at replanting, spent male flowers and empty fruit bunches on land, on mineralisation, release large quantities of locked carbon and plant nutrients to the soil. The total organic matter recycled on land in United Plantations Berhad in year 2001 amounted to 350,000 tonnes, equivalent to 140,000 tonnes of carbon. The fertiliser value of the recycled biomass was calculated at RM 12 million.

Herein, it is gratifying to note that the maintenance of the carbon cycle by returning the biomass to the field has enabled scout harvesting to commence at 28 months after planting rather than 36 months.

-Please click here to view Oil Palm Biomass Recycled on Land and its Contribution to the Carbon Economy of the Soil

-Please click here to view Production and Level of Utilisation of Oil Palm Biomass Residues in UP and Fertilizer Equivalent and Monetary Value of Palm Biomass Residues Recycled On Land in UP

Felling of palms (Zero burning during replant)

Based on UP’s zero burning policy, palm trees are felled and chipped in order to ensure that organic matter is recycled back into the soil.


Mulching of chipped trunks

Mulching with Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB)