Relationship between the 1997/98 El Niño and 1999/2001 La Niña events and oil palm tree production in Tumaco, Southwestern Colombia

Abstract

Although the relationship between ENSO events and oceanographic and meteorological conditions of Southwestern Colombia is well-known, very little work has been done to assess the related socio-economic impacts. This is the first effort made to determine the effect of such events on local climate and the impact of this variability on oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) production in the Tumaco municipality, which is located on Colombia's Pacific coast. First, we studied the correlation between sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) in the various El Niño regions and those observed off Tumaco. Next, we scrutinized the ENSO impact on regional climatic indicators, e.g. active solar radiation (hrs/day), air temperature ( • C), and rain (mm). Finally, we analyzed the relationship between ENSO, Tumaco climate variability, and oil palm production (tons/hectaremonth). Hours of active radiation increased (decreased) under El Niño (La Niña) conditions, as did average monthly precipitation rates and air temperature. ENSO-related climatic variability also had an important effect on the different developmental stages of the oil palm tree, thereby affecting its production. The worst scenario was found during La Niña, when reduced intensity of the rainy season (second semester) caused severe droughts in the region.

Long-term crop residue application maintains oil palm yield and temporal stability of production

“…No significant differences in yield stability were detected among the four treatments (F 3,12 = 2.35, P = 0.12). The units for yield stability is μ/σ, where μ is the temporal mean of crop yield and σ is the temporal standard deviation of crop yield over 15 years variations in Malaysian oil palm plantations (Chow 1992), while inter-annual variations in temperature and rainfall due to El Niño strongly influenced oil palm yield (Cadena et al 2006). Our findings suggest that the effects of climatic conditions on oil palm yield may be more pronounced than the effects of crop residue management.…”

Respons Fenologi Tumbuhan Terhadap Taburan Hujan di Johor Menggunakan Data Indeks Tumbuhan Satelit MODIS-Aqua

“…Dalam keadaan hujan yang banyak hasil kelapa sawit dijangkakan meningkat dan dalam keadaan air yang terhad pula hasil dijangkakan berkurangan (Ariffin et al 2001;Cadena et al 2006). Puah dan Madihah Jaafar (2011) mendapati hujan lebat dan suhu yang tinggi merupakan keadaan yang paling sesuai untuk penghasilan buah kelapa sawit di Pantai Barat Sabah.…”

A Hybrid Approach to Modelling the Climate Change Effects on Malaysia’s Oil Palm Yield at the Regional Scale

“…In a pioneering study [3], the effects El Niño and La Niña events of in the local climate and on oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) production in the Tumaco situated in the Pacific Coast of Colombia were reported. In that study, it was established that El Niño and La Niña events had lagged (previous period) and conflicting impacts on oil palm yields.…”