Light Interception, Photosynthetic Performance, and Yield of Oil Palm Interspecific OxG Hybrid (Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés x Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) under Three Planting Densities

Abstract

Environmental conditions are crucial for crops’ growth, development, and productivity. One of the most important physiological factors associated with the production of crops is the use of solar radiation for the photosynthesis process, which determines the amount of assimilates available for crop growth and yield. Three age classes (4, 6, and 14 years) and three planting densities (143, 128, and 115 palms ha−1) were evaluated in a commercial interspecific Elaeis Oleifera x Elaeis guineensis hybrid Coari x La Mé. The light interception patterns and the photosynthetic performance were determined. Measurements were taken of the leaf area, the number of leaves, and incident and photosynthetically transmitted active radiation. Also, photosynthetic rates, light, and yield were measured. The canopy extinction coefficient (Kc) was estimated using the Monsi and Saeki model. Under the evaluated conditions, the average Kc value for 4-year-old palms was 0.44; for the 6-year-old group of palms, the average value was 0.40, and 0.32 for the 14-year-old palms, with coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.8. A pattern associated with the age of the crop was observed, where the Kc decreased in groups of adult palms. The results showed increased Kc as the planting density decreased. No statistically significant differences were observed between planting densities or ages in the light and CO2 curves regarding photosynthesis. The leaf level in which the measurement was made influenced photosynthesis. Thus, the highest values of the photosynthesis parameters were observed in leaf 17. The crop yield tended to stabilize 8 years after planting under 143 and 128 palms per hectare, but 14 years after planting, the Fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production was still growing under 115 palms per hectare. The results showed that, up to year 14 after planting, the highest cumulative yield was achieved with 115 palms per hectare. This was partly caused by a sharp decline in production observed under 128 palms per hectare, which could indicate that in the long production cycle of the OxG hybrids, the 115-palms-per-hectare planting density would result in higher cumulative FFB production. Furthermore, the results showed that the optimum planting density for the hybrids of the present study would be 120 palms ha−1, corresponding to a planting distance of 9.8 m between plants.