Drought mitigation in sandy soil of oil palm plantation using apllication oil palm empty fruit bunch

Sandy soil in oil palm plantations has the potential to experience a higher water deficit during drought condition compared to other soil types. Application oil palm empty fruit bunch, which are co-product of oil palm industry, can be used to mitigate drought in sandy soil. This research aims to compare effective methods of applying empty fruit bunch on sandy soil in drought mitigation. This research was conducted in May-September 2023 at the Sei Rasau Region oil palm plantation of PT. BGA in Kendawangan, Ketapang, West Kalimantan. The research was carried out descriptively on block which are applied empty fruit bunch mulch (Block N21), applied focal feeder (Block P14), and applied combination mulch and focal feeder (Block P19). The technique for applying empty fruit bunch was observed directly and by seeking information from the company. Soil samples and plant vegetative data were also taken, while plant productivity was obtained from the company's secondary data. The results show that the implementation of empty oil palm fruit bunches as drought mitigation will be carried out intensively in 2022. Application empty fruit bunch as mulch are spread on the ground at a dose of 200 kg/tree and application as a focal feeder is carried out with empty fruit bunch inserted into a hole in the ground at a dose of 200 kg/hole. The microclimatic conditions in the three blocks of the research location are relatively same. The results of soil sample analysis show that soil with the application of empty fruit bunch mulch has the best soil moisture conditions and the lowest soil temperature. The lowest C/N ratio was in the combination application of mulch and focal feeder. The best plant vegetative conditions and plant productivity occurred in blocks with the application of empty fruit bunch mulch. So it can be concluded that the application of empty fruit bunch mulch provides the best drought mitigation benefits compared to the focal feeder applications and the combination application.