Plantation Crops

Disorders in oil palm

Bunch failure
Failure in the development of bunches at any stage during anthesis to harvest is referred as bunch failure. Periodical palm cleaning reduces the load of inoculums and fresh incidence.

Cause : Not specifically known
1) Excess pruning,
2) mutual shading,
3) under pollination : Release of pollinating weevil
4) Moisture stress/ Prolonged drought
5) Inadequate nutrient status
6) Over bearing etc ., increases bunch failure.

Control measures
There is no recovery once bunch failure has started and hence all control measures must be aimed at avoiding those conditions favoring bunch failure.