Abstract

A field study was taken up to determine the physical, chemical and biochemical and microbial changes in the rhizosphere of oil palm trees cultivated under two systems of fertilizer applications namely drip fertigation and surface irrigation with fertilizer application. Soil samples were drawn at different depths (0-60cm) to assess the horizontal and vertical changes occur in rhizosphere of palm. Physical, chemical and biochemical characteristics of the soil were studied in both systems of fertilizer application. The data have shown physical and chemical properties were similar between two systems of fertilizer application. The microbial activities inclusive of mycorrhizal population were distributed uniformly in the entire root zone (up to 45 cm) in fertigation system while such distribution confined to a narrow zone in conventional system of fertilizer application. The data suggest that fertigation has direct role to play in improving rhizosphere activities (microbial population and biochemical changes) in the entire root zone of oil palm vis-a-vis nutrient availability.

Keywords: Drip fertigation, surface irrigation, rhizosphere, soil properties, oil palm.