ABSTRACT
The term "oil palm" generally refers to Elaeis guineensis, the "African oil palm," but should also include Elaeisoleifera, the "American oil palm." These palms are among the 273 genera and approximately 4000 species of mostly tropical "trees" which make up the Palm family. The African oil palm is indigenous to the west coast of tropical Africa from Guinea (10°N) to Angola (7°S) with considerable inland penetration in the Republic of Zaire. The American oil palm is indigenous in Central America as far north as Honduras (15°N) to the Amazon basin in Brazil (5°S). Many examples of yield increases through fertilization are reported for oil palm. In many cases these yield increases have an economic benefit above the cost of fertilization. In general, however, the magnitude of these yield increases is less than yield differences due to variations in the annual water deficit among growing areas. Soil nutrient status is a valuable general guide to oil palm nutrition.
