Oil palm tree pruning involves the practice of removing excess branches to give plant exposure to sunlight. Also a properly pruned palm tree should carry 30-60 fronds.
Additionally pruning palm fronds allows light penetration that converts, energy, water into carbohydrates. Furthermore, pruning palm trees is beneficial as it helps to remove dirt, damaged, diseased and old fronds, ease harvesting and maximize yield. Always during palm harvesting ensure to wear protective gears like gumboots, hand gloves and gaggles.
Pruning methods
Pruning young palms before harvest method , this involves removing basal fronds to ease harvesting.
Corrective/rehabilitation method, this is done were palms have not been pruned for more than one year, however this method is laborious. Additionally, this should be done before the main production season to maximize yields.
Maintenance/ routine method, this is carried out every 6 months and usually 2 times each year
Operation practices
Always avoid removing healthy green fronds from palms 3-8 years after planting. Also at age of 5-7 years retain 48-56 fronds per plant with 2 healthy fronds between each bunch. Additionally, at the age of 8-15 years ensure to retain 40-48 fronds and above 15 years retain 40 fronds with one healthy frond beneath each bunch.
Lastly during oil palm harvesting ensure usage of proper harvesting tools such as sharp chisel and sickle, long rod and cutters and also after harvesting, cut and allow pruned fronds to decompose, this increases soil nutrient content thus boosting yields.
