Oil Palm Water Balance; a tools for Analysing Oil Palm Water Footprint and Root Water Uptake Distribution in Root Zone

Abstract

The varying condition of climate, soil properties, crop stage, ground water existing in oil palm cultivation require the specific water balance model to perform the precision crop water use. The purposes for this research were to develop oil palm water balance model for calculating the hydrological parameter of oil palm and analysing oil palm water footprint and root water uptake distribution in root zone. The model of oil palm water balance was developed through the following step: oil palm root architecture study, instrument installation and data observation, model development and calibration. The oil palm water balance tool was developed by inputting the data base including climate, soil properties, crop stage, root density and root zone layer as well. The results in the case for 11th year oil palm tree on soil type ultisol in Central Kalimantan during the simulation climate data pointed out that the average root water is 3.46 mm/day and distributed 63% on 2st root zone. From the total water usage and the average production 14.19kg/month, it resulted the 1.053 m3/kg water footprint of FFB (76 % green water and 24% blue water).