OIL PALM

The study analyzed the profitability of oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) production in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, estimated the inputs and output quantities of oil palm FFB production in the study area, estimated the costs and returns of oil palm FFB production and its profitability at different ages of the palms in the study area, examined the factors affecting profitability of oil palm FFB production in the study area and identified the constraints faced by respondents in the study area. A two-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting the respondents for the research. A Total 109 copies of questionnaire were sent to the field to collect primary data and 70 copies were retrieved and data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and quantitative techniques. Result study showed that the oil palm produces were mainly male (71.4%), with a mean age of about 48 years and formal educational background. Oil palm FFB was found to be most profitable at the age range of 9-18years with an estimated Net Farm Income of N881644.71 per hectare. and there was profit for palm younger than 8 years at the Gross Margin level with an estimated gross margin of N253619.18 but the net income was negative meaning a loss in the long run

Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macronutrients needed for plant growth but its use efficiency is reduced due to adsorption sometimes caused by influence of pH. The study aimed at
determining the chemical and physical properties of the sampled soil as well as P sorption capacity at different pH in kulfo soil series of Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin city, Edo state. The study was conducted on twelve (12) samples collected from four (4) soil depths (0-30, 30-60, 60-90, and 90-120 cm) in four (4) replicates from the Kulfo soil series. Physical and chemical properties were determined following standard procedures while the P sorption capacity were determined by equilibrating 5 g soil for 24 hours in 25 ml of P retention solution containing 1000 mg P/L as KH2PO4. The P in the soil P retention suspension was read using the Nitric vanadomolybdate yellow method. The amounts of P adsorbed were calculated by plotting a graph of absorbency against % p retention (100, 80, 60, 40, 20 and 0%) of the standard serial solution. Afterward, P retention of the samples were determined from the regression equation of the curve. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Genstat statistical package. The means were separated at 5% level of probability using Duncan multiple range test. The physical properties indicated that the soil's textural class was predominantly sandy loam for all depths, except at 0-30 cm, where it was Loamy Sand. The chemical properties of the soils revealed that they were acidic, with a mean pH value of 4.71. Other soil properties such as K, Ca, Mg and Na were within the normal range of crop production. The % p sorption varied with soil depths at all pH level, the % P retention at pH (3.0, 4.6, 7.0 and 8.6) had a mean value of (23.5, 19.0, 13.85 and 14.15) respectively. The influence of pH on P sorption calls for a compressive P management approach for the soil, designing the best P management practice to reduce P sorption in soil.