Mechanical weeding enhances ecosystem multifunctionality and profit in industrial oil palm

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Najeeb Al Amin Iddris - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Greta Formaglio - , University of Göttingen, University of Montpellier (Author)
  • Carola Paul - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Volker von Groß - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Guantao Chen - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Andres Angulo-Rubiano - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Dirk Berkelmann - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Fabian Brambach - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Kevin F.A. Darras - , Westlake University (Author)
  • Valentyna Krashevska - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Anton Potapov - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Arne Wenzel - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Bambang Irawan - , University of Jambi (Author)
  • Muhammad Damris - , University of Jambi (Author)
  • Rolf Daniel - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Ingo Grass - , University of Hohenheim (Author)
  • Holger Kreft - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Stefan Scheu - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Teja Tscharntke - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Aiyen Tjoa - , Tadulako University (Author)
  • Edzo Veldkamp - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Marife D. Corre - , University of Göttingen (Author)

Abstract

Oil palm is the most productive oil crop, but its high productivity is associated with conventional management (that is, high fertilization rates and herbicide application), causing deleterious environmental impacts. Using a 22 factorial experiment, we assessed the effects of conventional vs reduced (equal to nutrients removed by fruit harvest) fertilization rates and herbicide vs mechanical weeding on ecosystem functions, biodiversity and profitability. Analysing across multiple ecosystem functions, mechanical weeding exhibited higher multifunctionality than herbicide treatment, although this effect was concealed when evaluating only for individual functions. Biodiversity was also enhanced, driven by 33% more plant species under mechanical weeding. Compared with conventional management, reduced fertilization and mechanical weeding increased profit by 12% and relative gross margin by 11% due to reductions in material costs, while attaining similar yields. Mechanical weeding with reduced, compensatory fertilization in mature oil palm plantations is a tenable management option for enhancing ecosystem multifunctionality and biodiversity and increasing profit, providing win–win situations.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)683-695
Number of pages13
JournalNature Sustainability
Volume6
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-9013-3784/work/186184577