Nutrición con magnesio en palma de aceite : consideraciones y conclusiones de diferentes proyectos de investigación en Latinoamérica

World-wide increasing demand for vegetable oil and the steady developing technology for bio fuels are being considered important factors for continuous expansion of the oil palm area but as well for the ongoing intensification of research for improving the plant production systems for higher yields. Not only typical production countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia but also Latin American producers are stimulating growers to expand area and to increase productivity. As overall productivity is a function of many single factors a lot of research has to be done to tune these according to the local conditions and side factors. The mineral nutrition of oil palm is one of the decisive factors, being directly linked with growth performance and yield response. As oil palm is a typical crop with a distinct magnesium requirement, particular attention has to be paid when defining magnesium application and magnesium form adequate for this crop. For this reason two projects each were initiated in Costa Rica and in Colombia. In Costa Rica two projects were installed in the regions of Coto and Celajes of the Corredores district, South Pacific coast. The two locations are characterized by its different soil types and magnesium problematic. In Coto, its Inceptisols are characterized by high inherent magnesium levels and unbalanced cation ratios in the soil, and oil palm foliar analysis that seldom reach the optimum range 0,20 - 0,40 percent in the dry matter; while in the Celajes andisol, naturally low in soil magnesium but with balanced cation ratios, Mg foliar content is usually within the adequate range. These research projects included increasing application rates of magnesium where different magnesium sources were tested and evaluated for various yield parameters and its effect and efficiency on restoring soil and leaf magnesium levels. Research results from a four year trial period will be presented. In Colombia magnesium deficiency is a frequently encountered problem on the highly weathered soils in the tropical lowlands in the Llanos region and under intensive humid conditions at the pacific coast. Trial layout was similar to that used in Costa Rica but included flexible magnesium application based on nutrient export and leaf nutrient status.