Study the Availability of Naturally Dispersed Oil Palm Seedlings in Nakiyadeniya Region

Abstract

Palm oil consumption is only second to coconut oil in Sri Lanka. It is one of the rapidly expanding equatorial crops in the world. The aim of the study was to find out the availability of naturally germinated oil palm seedlings in Nakiyadeniya region. The objectives of the study were (1) to find out natural seed dispersed density along the roads and water canals (2) identify the main natural seeds dispersal methods in the plantation (3) identify the natural oil palm dispersal problems faced by the outsiders and inside workers of the plantation. The sampling size was 90 for the survey and 700 m distance plots were used for field experiment. Purposive sampling technique for the survey was conducted within three months interval along the water streams and road for randomly selected seven plots. Descriptive data analysis followed by Microsoft Excel 2010 and inferential data analyzed using t-test by Minitab 17 software were undertaken. Majority of outside respondents of (56%) were female and inside only 30% of weeders were female. In both population majority were in 41-50 age group and majority of employer’s educational level was below to O/L. Inside respondents of 54% identified as seed dispersed mainly through birds and outside 72% and 68% responders were identified it is due to transportation ways and water canals, respectively. Seedlings density along the water canals has significantly different between inside and outside of the plantation. The oil palm seeds disperse mainly through the water canal and main dispersal methods are water, animals, birds and mechanical methods