Oil palm plantation
Betong, Malaysia
Site Description
The Betong site is a 4-year-old oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation established on secondary peat swamp forest. The mean annual temperature is approximately 27°C, with annual precipitation ranging from 2,734 to 3,312 mm. Historically, the tropical peat swamp forest remained waterlogged year-round, except during the dry season (May to September), when groundwater levels temporarily receded below the peat surface.
The wet season, characterized by heavy rainfall, typically peaks in January and spans from November to March. Following land clearance, groundwater levels were artificially managed—either lowered or raised—to support the establishment of oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands. This was achieved through a system of drains, canals, and water-blocking structures (weirs).
Chemical fertilizers were applied to young oil palm trees by the plantation management two to three times per year, starting in June 2018. Subsequent applications occurred between April–May and September–October, avoiding periods of high rainfall intensity or extended drought. Fertilizer quantities were adjusted based on palm age and crop requirements.
Related Publications
Oil palm plantation on tropical peatland with managed water tables. Investigating GHG emissions under agricultural land use.
Site Description
The Betong site is a 4-year-old oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation established on secondary peat swamp forest. The mean annual temperature is approximately 27°C, with annual precipitation ranging from 2,734 to 3,312 mm. Historically, the tropical peat swamp forest remained waterlogged year-round, except during the dry season (May to September), when groundwater levels temporarily receded below the peat surface.
The wet season, characterized by heavy rainfall, typically peaks in January and spans from November to March. Following land clearance, groundwater levels were artificially managed—either lowered or raised—to support the establishment of oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands. This was achieved through a system of drains, canals, and water-blocking structures (weirs).
Chemical fertilizers were applied to young oil palm trees by the plantation management two to three times per year, starting in June 2018. Subsequent applications occurred between April–May and September–October, avoiding periods of high rainfall intensity or extended drought. Fertilizer quantities were adjusted based on palm age and crop requirements.