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Nitrogen shortage in oil palm: signs and what to do

What it looks like

Whole crown pale yellow-green, including young leaves; growth slow. Often with weeds or waterlogging in the basin.

What to do

  1. Keep up urea in your fertiliser: IIOPR's basal dose for adult palms is 650 g urea per palm, or 5 kg urea per acre per month by fertigation.
  2. Keep the palm basin free of weeds and water from standing.

Questions

How do I recognise nitrogen shortage in oil palm?

Whole crown pale yellow-green, including young leaves; growth slow. Often with weeds or waterlogging in the basin.

What should I do about nitrogen shortage?

Keep up urea in your fertiliser: IIOPR's basal dose for adult palms is 650 g urea per palm, or 5 kg urea per acre per month by fertigation. Keep the palm basin free of weeds and water from standing.

Sources: ICAR-IIOPR Crop Calendar 2026, TNAU Agritech Portal: oil palm nutrients

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