OIL PALM BIOMASS WASTE AS ROOTING MEDIA FOR TOBACCO TRAY SEEDLINGS AND AS A FUEL FOR CURING OF FCV TOBACCO

Abstract

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), the most efficient oilseed crop cultivated in many countries of world. Malaysia and Indonesia produce about 85% of the world’s palm oil. Andhra Pradesh has been the leading palm oil producing state in India contributing approximately 85 per cent of country’s production.The oil palm plantations produce a significant amount of biomass residues concomitant to the production of palm oil, with pruned trunks and fronds remaining in situ and oil palm empty fruit bunches (OEFB) as a by-product at the processing plant. Investigations were carried out to effectively utilize this biomass waste. The waste has been tried as rooting media for tobacco tray seedlings and fuel for curing of FCV tobacco. Results indicated that oil palm fronds (OF)biomass (50%) + coirpith (50%) and oil palm trunk(OT)biomass (50%) + coirpith (50%) shown positive response for growth of the tobacco tray seedlings. Oil palm empty fruit bunches and oil palm empty fruit bunch briquettes were tried as an alternative fuel for curing of FCV tobacco. Results indicated that oil palm empty fruit bunch briquettes were able to save wood fuel to an extent of 19%. As a fuel, OEFB Biomass consumed for curing of 1kg cured leaf is 4.0kg. Whereas, Fuel wood consumed was 5.6 kg for curing of 1kg cured leaf. The equivalent weight of fuel wood with that of OEFB biomass was 1.4kg for curing of FCV tobacco. OEFB Biomass can be effectively utilized as a fuel for curing of FCV tobacco. Utilization of Empty fruit bunch alone as a fuel for Curing in entire northern light soil region (NLS) region of Andhra Pradesh will save 15.6 % of wood fuel.