Effect of Transplanting Time and Rainfall on the Establishment, Growth, Development and Yield of Oil Palm in the Semi-deciduous Forest Zone of Ghana

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) establishment, growth and yield depend to a large extent on physical and climatic characteristics of the environment in which the palm is established. A ten (10) year researcher managed on-station experiment was conducted from 1995 to 2005 to assess the effect of transplanting period on the establishment, growth and yield of oil palm in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana. Farmers need to know the appropriate time to transplant their seedlings in southern Ghana in order to minimise the seedlings lost at the time of planting. This work seeks to address which month(s) of the year is (are) appropriate to transplant oil palm seedlings in order to achieve high percentage establishment and high yields. In this study, twelve months old Tenera (Dura and Pisifera crosses) from OPRI, -(D x P ex OPRI)- oil palm seedlings were transplanted onto the field in May, July, September and November signifying different moisture/ rainfall regimes of the year. Treatments were arranged in Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replicates. It was observed that seedlings transplanted in July had better field establishment, growth, development and yield than those in May, September and November. The findings of this study have important ramification for oil palm farmers, extension services and future studies in order to maximise the yield of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). It is recommended that under current climate variability transplanting of oil palm seedlings should be done in July in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana.