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Paddy as intercrop in young oil palm

Inter-cropping rain-fed paddy between rows of young oil palm is documented as an efficient land-use option for the non-bearing phase of oil palm establishment. The practice is recognised by ICAR-IIOPR (Pedavegi, formerly DOPR) and by global oil palm extension as a way to capture food and income from the inter-row space before the palm canopy closes.

Principle

Oil palm bunches first appear at about year four after planting, and the inter-row space between palms remains substantially open through years one to four. Because the young palms cast limited shade in these years, a 5-6 month rain-fed paddy crop can be grown in the inter-row, contributing food, fodder, mulch and farmer cash flow during the non-revenue phase of palm establishment.

Implementation

Paddy is established as a short-duration rain-fed crop in the kharif inter-row, typically broadcast or transplanted depending on soil type and water availability. Standard nursery and transplanting practices apply where transplanted (Transplanting Paddy), or direct-seeding (Direct Seeded Rice Broadcast, Dry Direct Seeded Rice) can be used to reduce labour and water demand. Spacing must keep paddy outside the palm circle (the cleared and mulched ring around each palm) so as not to compete for fertiliser and water.

Adoption context

ICAR-IIOPR runs training and advisory programs on oil palm establishment, intercropping and protection across the Indian oil palm belt. The practice is most relevant during years 1-4 of oil palm plantation establishment, after which canopy closure makes paddy growth uneconomic.

Limitations

Heavy shade beyond year four reduces paddy yield to below threshold. Competing pesticide programmes between the two crops, and the need to avoid grain shattering near the palm circle, require coordinated planning. Weed management (Paddy Weed Management) overlaps with palm-circle weeding, so herbicide selection must avoid actives that injure young palms.

See also: Direct Seeded Rice Broadcast, Dry Direct Seeded Rice, Transplanting Paddy, Paddy Weed Management.

References

  1. ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research. India Science and Technology Portal.
  2. Growing rice as an intercrop in oil palm estates to secure food security. Palm Oil Magazine.