Soil physicochemical properties change by age of the oil palm crop

Abstract Many controversies exist related to the changes generated by oil palm plantations in the physicochemical properties of the soil, soil biota, and their interactions. Consequently, the present study evaluated the changes in properties of the soil by the effect of the ages the oil palm on the physicochemical parameters of the soil in comparison with pasture plots (as a control) at a several ages of palm trees, the soil sampling was carried out around the oil palm (at 3, 5, and 15 years old) at distances of 1-, 2-, and 3-m from the trunk plant in a random sampling. The soil properties evaluated were soil pH, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, organic matter, total nitrogen, and minerals such as sulfur, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, and boron as total minerals were measured. The results showed that both the diameter and the fresh and dry root biomass increased in 15-year-old plantations compared with 3- and 5-year-old. In addition, correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that the parameters evaluated are associated with the adult age of the oil palm. Also, the results of soil physicochemical showed that low soil fertility was associated with an increase in the age of the palm.