INTEGRATED WEED

MANAGEMENT OF OIL
PALM IN MALAYSIA


INTRODUCTION
TROPICAL CLIMATE
HIGH RAINFALL
HIGH HUMIDITY
ABUNDANT SUNLIGHT
FAVOURS OIL PALMS
ALSO FAVOURS MANY WEEDS

WEED PROBLEM IN
OIL PALM SMALL PLANTING
WEED PROBLEM IN
OIL PALM PLANTATIONS
HOW IS INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT DEFINED ?
Definition given by PANEL OF Experts on
Integrated Pest Control, Rome (FAO 1968).
A pest management system that, in the
context of the associated environment and
the population dynamics of the pest species,
utilizes all suitable techniques and methods
in as compatible a manner as possible and
maintain the pest population at levels below
those causing economic injury
pest species in the broad sense = animal
pests, insect pests, disease causing agents
and weeds
INTEGRATED WEED
MANAGEMENT
easy to understand definition using all the
available tools to manage weeds in an
economical and environmentally safe
manner
tools - different categories.
Cultural
Mechanical
Biological
Chemical
CULTURAL CONTROL
- destroying weeds or preventing weeds by
cultural practices
- involve using manipulations of how and
where the crop is grown to avoid or
reduce weed problems.
i. manual weeding,
ii. planting of LCC,
iii. maintenance of ground covers,
iv. EFB mulching,
v. frond placement


MANUAL WEEDING
IN NURSERY hand pulling
IN IMMATURE PLANTING manual
decree ping to remove weed
encroachment
LEGUME COVER CROPS
One sound method of weed management is the planting
of legume cover crops, commonly practiced in the
immature phase of oil palm cultivation.
Conventional LCC mixtures = a mixture of 2 or 3 species
Pueraria phaseoloides or P. javanica
Centrosema pubescens
Calapogonium mucunoides
Calopogonium caeruleum
Mucuna cochinchinensis
Mucuna bracteata - vigorous
pure legume cover or at least 80 % coverage
LEGUME COVER CROPS
PREVENT & SUPPRESS WEED GROWTH
NATURAL GROUND COVERS
LESS COMPETITIVE INDIGENOUS
PLANTS
prevent soil erosion
conservation of soil humus
reduce competition from weed growth
improve aeration
improve soil nutrient status
LOW LYING FLOOD PRONE AREAS
CONTRAINTS TO PLANT LCC
NATURAL COVER CROPS
PREVENT & SUPPRESS WEED GROWTH
Paspalum conjugatum
Ottochloa nodosa
Axonopus compressus
Nephrolepis biserrata
MULCHING
Weed growth can be suppressed by
applying dead mulches, and by covering
the soil with black plastic sheets. Cut
grasses, crop residues and other plant
materials, manure etc., can be used as
mulch. In the nursery, weed growth in the
polybag is prevented or suppressed by
mulching with a layer of broken shells or
cut lallang.
EFB MULCHING
PLACEMENT OF CUT FRONDS -
mulching
Mechanical control
The clearing of previous vegetations in
land preparation involves several types of
mechanical equipment. During the working
of using equipment, weeds are destroyed
or buried by ploughing / rotovation.
Physical removal by mowing, slashing,
tilling, etc.
MECHANICAL WEEDING
slashing the path
MECHANICAL WEEDING
Land preparation
AFTER
TERRACING






BEFORE
TERRACING
Biological Control
organized livestock grazing
the use of insect pests, plant
diseases and other biotic agents to
suppress, control or manage weed
problems.




ANIMAL GRAZING
Sheep, goats, cattle and buffaloes are common
domestic animals left to graze in the mature
plantings of oil palm plantations.
Not suitable for immature plantings.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL of Asystasia
using parasitic plants Cuscuta sp ; seen
in small oil palm plantings
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
The control of a woody weed, Cordia
curassavica (Jacq.) R&S in Malaysia by a leaf
eating beetle, Schematiza cordiae Barks
(including the larval stage), was reported to be
successful.
CHEMICAL CONTROL
the application of chemical substances
(fertilizers, weedicides and plant growth
regulators PGR) to prevent or suppress
weed growth.
destroying weeds using herbicides that
do not adversely affect the crop and
desired plant community
WEED MANAGEMENT
Where legume covers, or natural ground covers are
maintained, four types of weeding operations will be
necessary
1. clean weeding of circle to prevent competition from weeds
and to facilitate loose fruit collection
2. strip weeding to provide access for harvesting and other
field operations
3. selective spot weeding to remove noxious weeds from
legume covers or natural covers
4. periodic control of legume covers and ground covers, if
growth is too vigorous
CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL IN
NURSERY
SPRAYING AT SMALL WEED STAGE
CAREFUL SPRAYING USING SPRAY
SHIELD

CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL
PLANTING OF LEGUME COVER CROPS
PRE-PLANTING BLANKET
WEED SPRAYING
POST PLANTING SPOT
SPRAYING
POST PLANTING SPOT WEEDING
CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL IN
IMMATURE PLANTINGS
SPRAYING OF PALM CIRCLES
SPRAYING OF STRIPS ALONG PALM ROWS
CAREFUL SPRAYING USING SPRAY SHIELD
SPOT SPRAYING OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

SPRAYING OF STRIPS ALONG
PALM ROWS
Circle spraying
Strip spraying
CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL IN
IMMATURE PLANTINGS
SPRAYING OF PALM CIRCLES
SPRAYING OF STRIPS ALONG PALM ROWS
SPOT SPRAYING OF NOXIOUS WEEDS
PALM POISONING

NEW ISSUES AND
CHALLENGES IN IWM
STATUS OF WEED FLORA
IWM STRATEGY
WEED DISPERSAL AND SPREADING
ERADICATION/MANAGEMENT OF NEW WEEDS
WEED BIOLOGY AND SEED BANK
EFFICACY OF WEEDICIDES
HERBICIDE RESISTANCE
OSH REQUIREMENTS
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
BENEFICIAL PLANTS
REHABILITATION OF BARE GROUNDS


STATUS OF WEED FLORA
Weed survey / census - to
determine and record
Weed species
Area infested
Weed density
Topography
Soil types

Information incorporated
into a map that shows the
location, type, and size of
weed infestations / for
evaluating the success of
a weed management
plan.



Criterion 4.6 :
NO PROPHYLACTIC
SPRAYING
WEED WATCH
Prevention is still the best solution
Learn to identify noxious weeds & early
eradication
Mimosa pigra, open & low lying
IWM STRATEGY
Prevention
Detection
Eradication
Management
Pennisetum
polystachyon
Early detection and
systematic eradication of
weed colonization
WEED DISPERSAL AND SPREADING
DISPERSAL BY SPECIALIZED MECHANISMS FOR
TRANSPORT BY WIND, WATER, ANIMALS AND MAN
(VEHICLES)



Pennisetum & Imperata
flowering & spread by wind
Early detection and
systematic eradication of
weed colonization

Eradication of satellite colonies
before large infestation in
blanket sheet conditions
ERADICATION / MANAGEMENT OF
NEW WEEDS
Central to IWM
Eradication
programme
Delimiting the
boundaries of
infestation
Proper control
procedure
Number & timing of
follow up sprayings
WEED BIOLOGY AND SEED BANK
MANY SPECIES AND
TYPES OF WEEDS
MANY MEANS OF
REPRODUCTION -
rhizomes, runners,
bulbs, tubers,
stolons, and offsets.
"SEED BANK"

WEEDS PRODUCE MANY SEEDS
Failure to control 1 weed plant now will
need to control many plants in the next
generation
SEED BANK
An important factor determining weed succession
pattern.
More weed seeds will remain on soil surface when
tillage is reduced or no tillage is carried out
Asystasia
EFFICACY OF WEEDICIDES
(grass killers)
herbicides action rate
glyphosate systemic 1.5 litres
Paraquat 13% contact 5.6 litres
Sodium chlorate contact 5.5 kg
Glufosinate-
ammonium
contact 3.3 litres
RSPO 4.6 : do not permit use of Class 1 pesticides
Rain fastness
EFFICACY OF WEEDICIDES
(broadleaf killers)
herbicides action rate
2,4-D amine systemic 1.4 litres
dicamba systemic 1.5 litres
trichlopyr systemic 1.5 litres
floroxypyr systemic 1.5 litres
metsulfuron-methyl systemic 75 g
metsulfuron-methyl systemic 150 g
PHYTOTOXIC to immature oil palm
HERBICIDE RESISTANCE



Glyphosate inhibits the
enzyme 5-enolpyruvyl-
sikimate-3-phosphate
synthase (EPSPS)
Heavy reliance
Strong selection intensity
favouring weeds
possessing gene traits
enabling glyphosate
survival
Eleusine indica survived
spraying of glyphosate
OSH REQUIREMENTS
Criterion 4.6 : Agrochemicals are used
in a way that does not endanger health
or the environment


Criterion 4.7 : An occupational health
and safety plan is documented,
effectively communicated and implemented.

PPE & SPRAY CONTAMINATION STUDIES
OSH REQUIREMENTS
wearing PPE & SPRAY CONTAMINATION STUDIES
Body regions CKS + 5/64 fanjet +
shield for nursery
weed control
CKS + cone nozzles
spraying pest to
seedlings of 50 cm
height
CKS + cone nozzles
spraying pest to
immature palms of >
2 m height
Back shoulder Nil Nil Few
Forehead Nil Nil Many
Chest Nil Nil Many
Waist Nil Few Many
Left hand Nil Few Many
Right hand Nil Many * Many
Thigh Few Many Many
Knee moderate Many Blotches
Foot Blotches Blotches Blotches
(* holding spray lance )
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(oversea examples)
Phytophagous insects
Fungal diseases
Mycoherbicides
Myco = fungus
Herbicides = plant killer
Criterion 4.5 : Pests, diseases, weeds
and invasive introduced species are
effectively managed using appropriate
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques

Emphasis on biological control
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Phytophagous insects
Actinote thalia pyrrha originates from the region between
eastern and western Mexico through to Costa Rica,
Venezuela, Brazil and Columbia. This coincides with the
same geographical range of host plants Mikania micrantha
and Chromolaena odorata.
Biology and Life Cycle
The life cycle of A. thalia pyrrha is completed in 92-102 days in
the insectary but decreases to 73-84 days with an increase in
temperature. Under these warmer conditions, the number of
larval instars decreases from 6 to 5.
http://www.spc.int/lrd/mikania/Actinote_spp.htm
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLARS !
The rearing of an insect colony
requires the preparation of
hundreds of healthy mikania
plants.
Steps in developing a mycoherbicide I
Look for suitable pathogens (if not already known).
Identify highly pathogenic (disease causing
isolates that produce no or few toxins.
Develop an efficient way of mass-producing the
spores and ensuring their stability and shelf life.
Determine the optimum conditions for infection
and disease development.
Check that the pathogen can be used in a manner
that will minimize the risk of serious damage to any
susceptible non-target plants.

Steps in developing a mycoherbicide II

Develop an appropriate formulation and
application technology.
Test in the field and improve formulation if
necessary.
Obtain registration for the product.
Find commercial backing for producing, marketing
and distributing the product.

http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/weeds/biocontrol
/inundativemycoherbicides.asp
MYCOHERBICIDE COLLEGO
Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes
aeschynomene.
Control northern jointvetch (Aeschynomene virginica),
black seeds contaminate harvests of rice and soya
beans.
Dry formulation consisting of 15 per cent viable spores
and 85 per cent inert ingredients,
Can be stored for long periods at room temperatures.
Each package contains 757 billion spores, which will
treat about 2.5 hectares.
Dilute into 250 litres water and sprays the suspension,
of 18 million spores per square metre, to well watered
crop and relative humidity is likely to be high for the
following 12 hours.
MYCOHERBICIDES COLLEGO

Within 1 2 weeks the vetch plants begin to show
lesions that gradually encircle the stem. Most of the
plants die within 5 weeks.
A single application of Collego in the growing season
is needed
A few stunted plants may survive treatment but cannot
keep up in competition with the crop
reduced the input of pesticides by nearly 500 000 litres
since its introduction.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12717324.600
-weeding-with-fungi-just-as-fungal-diseases-can-
devastate-acrop-so-too-can-they-destroy-weeds-a-
herbicide-made-from-fungi-could-bethe-ideal-means-
of-weed-control-.html
BENEFICIAL PLANTS ??



Criterion 5.2
The status of rare, threatened or
endangered species and high
conservation value habitats,
Large Melastoma malabathricum

Ficus epiphytes
BENEFICIAL PLANTS ??



Large Melastoma
plants provide
nesting sites for
many small birds.
How many / ha ?
Alternate host plants
of Adoretus beetles,
leaf eating insect
pest

Melastoma
malabathricum
BENEFICIAL PLANTS ??



Large Ficus plants
produced many
small fruits and
provide food for
many small birds.
How many / ha ?
Serious epiphytes on
mature oil palms

Ficus sp
REHABILITATION OF BARE GROUNDS


Surface water run-off
Top soil erosion
Criterion 4.2 : Practices maintain
soil fertility

Monitoring of soil organic matters
.

RSPO Criterion 4.3 : Practices
minimise and control erosion and
degradation of soils.

Bare ground conditions in mature
plantings may render topsoil being
eroded away easily, especially
during high rainfall seasons.
Efforts must be made to retain
soft grasses in the fields.
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
IWM IS A CONTINUOUS IMPROVING STRATEGY
AND ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY R&D IN WEED
MANAGEMENT
MUST BE COST-EFFECTIVE
ENHANCE CROP PRODUCTION AND REDUCE COST
OF WEED CONTROL
MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT AND
END USER EXPECTATIONS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND IN-SERVICE
TRAINING TO MANAGEMENT AND SPRAY
OPERATORS
MANAGEMENT MUST BE MORE PERSISTENT THAN
THE WEEDS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
THANK YOU FOR INVITATION
FORMER COLLEAGUES IN EBOR RESEARCH &
ESTATES -
GRATEFUL FOR THEIR
SUPPORT AND COOPERATION GIVEN
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION