01.

Research Title : Bio Environtmental Management of Oil Palm Plantation in

Riau-Indonesia
02. Brief outline of the project
The study is entitled Bio environtmental management of oil palm plantations
in Riau-Indonesia. It is based on problems that occur in oil palm plantations,
especially those related to climate factors (temperature, intensity of light, rainfall and
humidity), biological factors (weeds, plant age, types of seeds, space per hektar
(SPH), FFB productivity, pests and diseases) and land physical factors (topography
and soil type) and chemical factors (nutrient content, pH of soil, herbicides,
insecticides and fungicides). From all these factors, an entity should be integrated to
determine the policy decision of the problems in the oil palm plantations. This study
aims to gain technology, testing, and certification of oil palm plantation management
and implementation. The methodology in this study is included into the system as the
following framework:
DATA

MODEL

DATABASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
Data Early
Plantation

BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

MODEL
Determination of
Productivity Indicator
Model
Scoring models
Plantation Board

Plantation Expert Data

Data Resume AHP
Plantation

Model Combination
Productivity
Improvement Plantation

Productivity Indicator
Data Plantation

Simulation models
Plantation

Data Score Plantation

Centralized Management System

Dialog Management System
Users
Figure 1. Configuration data and models of oil palm plantations

The results of this study are expected to provide beneficial results for oil palm
plantation, which are capable of generating technology in certified management of
oil palm plantations. So that the plantation helps in answering problems that occur in
an integrated manner, improving the productivity of oil palm plantations to become
more effective and efficient.
03. Brief Introduction/Literature
Based on data from the ITC in June 2012, Malaysia is the country's largest palm oil
exporter in the world with a value of U.S. $ 17.49 billion in 2011. Second rank
followed by Indonesia with a value of U.S. $ 17.26 billion (ITC, 2012).
Table 1. Palm oil exporting country in the world
Rank

Exportir

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Trend
07-11

Growth
%07-11

Malaysia

8.25

12.74

9.26

12.41

17.49

15.91

112.07%

Indonesia

7.87

12.38

10.37

13.47

17.26

18.01

119.37%

Netherlands

1.02

1.67

1.16

1.16

1.64

6.00

60.44%

Source: ITC, 2012(billion US $)

In 2011, the plantation area in Indonesia is estimated at 9 million hectares,
with production of more than 23 million tons of CPO per year, with a composition of
5 million tons are consumed domestically, while the remaining 80% is exported
(Ministry of agriculture, 2011). Total palm oil production in 2010 amounted to
499,726.2 tons (Wijono, 2012).
Table 2. Growth of oil palm plantations in Indonesia
Year

Area

Growth Area %

2007

6.766.836

2,6

17.664.725

1,8

2008

7.363.847

8,8

17.539.788

-0,7

2009

7.508.023

2,0

18.640.881

6,3

2010

7.824.623

4,2

23.200.000

24,5

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, 2011

CPO
Production

Growth CPO
Production

Based on the data from existing Farmers Union Oil Palm, 8 provinces have
the largest oil palm plantations in Indonesia. Regency is one of the largest palm oil
producers in the province of Riau.
Table 3. 8 Provinces with the largest oil palm plantations in Indonesia
Province

2008

2009

2010

Sumatera Utara

3.882.401

3.862.399

3.981.649

Sumatera Barat

961.537

896.301

905.113

Riau

4.815.885

5.311.368

5.462.482

Jambi

1.626.461

1.499.891

1.530.821

Sumatera selatan

1.891.425

2.313.508

2.380.544

Kalimatan Barat

1.124.388

1.331.659

1.373.165

Kalimantan Tengah

1.295.729

1.798.102

1.828.662

Kalimantan Selatan

891.057

1.041.367

1.051.534

Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia and Directore General of Estate

Oil palm plantations in Indonesia are managed by the system nucleus,
plasma, goverment and farmer self-help plantations. Nucleus and plasma are
managed and supervised by the plantations, while the non-governmental estates that
have nurtured the company also expected RSPO standards (RSPO, 2005). The
nucleus and the plasma plantations is under supervision of a large company, but their
production quality and quantity are below the expectation.
Table 4. Productivity FFB nucleus and plasma plantation
Productivity CPO
Nucleus Plantation
Age

Productivity Palm Kernel

Plasma Plantation

Nucleus Plantation

Plasma Plantation

Rendem
en (%)

CPO
(Ton)

Rendem
en (%)

CPO
(Ton)

Rendem
en (%)

Palm
Kernel
(Ton)

Rendem
en (%)

Palm
Kernel
(Ton)

20,00

13.850,00

19,00

17.887,12

5,10

3.464,10

4,45

4.137,50

21,00

22.316,66

19,50

29.458,30

5,40

5.630,88

4,60

6.853,00

23,00

31.692,64

20,00

41.225,20

5,70

7.952,69

4,80

9.669,80

10

23,00

39.022,70

20,50

50.378,00

5,70

9.814,48

5,00

11.957,00

11

23,00

44.182,75

20,50

56.268,50

5,70

11.089,80

5,00

13.483,00

Pelalawan is one of the areas in Riau province, an area for this study.
Pelalawan currently has approximately 320 thousand hectares of oil palm plantations,
both owned by company and community. Pelalawan government strongly supports
the development of industry and the development of Pelalawan, with the availability
of abundant natural resources becomes a major factor in the establishment of
regional development teknopolitan. Teknopolitan is a complex area, where research
institutes, universities and industrial relationships gather in synergy to create,
produce and develop productive activities based on knowledge (BPPT, 2012).
Oil palm, a vegetable oil crops, is one of the plantation belle which became a
source of foreign exchange. Success in the management of oil palm plantations can
be achieved through good farm management ranging from land clearing to harvesting
and post- harvest. Good and poor maintenance of oil palm plantations will be
reflected from the harvesting and production. One cause of low productivity of oil
palm plantations are human resources, because the applied production technology is
still relatively modest, ranging from nursery to harvest. With the application of
appropriate farming technologies, will have the potency to increase the productivity
of oil palm. In addition, the above mentioned problems are usually fundamental
issues, such as the biology, climate, physical and chemical factors did not become an
integrated management policy at the plantation. Whereas if everything must wait for
the test results from the testing companies, it requires a long time to generate a
solution on recently faced problems. This is caused by laboratory testing and experts
who understand the problems in plantation are not even available in other areas, so it
requires an additional fee to obtain solutions to these problems. Therefore, we need a
model of control in oil palm plantation productivity that management of fresh fruit
bunches (FFB) remained stable. To manage the productivity, it is necessary to study
the composition of the necessary nutrients better after FFB are harvested and the
cause of nutrients loss due to the immobilization. So, the need of nutrients to the
roots, stems, leaves, and fruiting a always fulfilled.
Oil palm has a very wide range of usefulness of upstream and downstream
industries. Oil Palm Plantation requires proper management to produce the desired
productivity. There have been many studies on oil palm conducted and reported with
all sorts of advantages, but this study is different from previous existing research.
This study focuses on fundamental studies of FFB that affect the productivity due to
biologiical, climatic, physical, and chemical factors in integrated land management in

this study. The control is managed in an integrated and implemented way through the
design expert system models that can be used by users in the oil palm plantation. The
main advantages of this study is the ability of an expert system design models to
address problems in the field and obtain a solution, so as to reduce the costs as low as
possible because of the expertise possessed by the system, so that the productivity of
oil palm FFB remains high.
a. Bio Environtmental Management
Environment is complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors that act
upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and
survival. The major components of the physical environment are discussed in the
articles atmosphere, climate, continental landform, hydrosphere, and ocean. The
surroundings of an organism are known as its environment. Environments consist of
many components including both physical features, such as climate and soil type,
and biological features, such as predators and prey. The bio environmental has wider
connotations than ecology because it includes the study of humans in the
environment, so you will nd such subjects as agriculture, pollution and the
unnatural surroundings (Reiss & Chapnam, 2010).
Many technologies that have been used for development are basically
technologies or strategies for managing the environment, since they were developed
for the purpose of increasing mans power to extract resources and production from
nature, and/or to reduce the impacts of natures variability on society. A prime
example is modern industrial agriculture, which in order to solve the basic problem
of hunger, replaced natural nutrient cycles, climate, plant-plant/herbivore
interactions, and diverse ecosystems with fossil fuel energy, irrigation, man-made
chemical pesticides and specialized monocultural agro-ecosystems (Colby, 1991).
b. Morphology of Oil Palm Productivity Support influenced by Bio
Environtmental factors
-

Root of Oil Palm

Oil palm is a monocot plant that has root fibers (Fahmi, 2012). Root has the

function to (1) support the structure above ground stems, (2) absorb water and
nutrients from the soil, (3) run respiration apparatus. Palm root system consists of a
primary root diameter of 5-10 mm, 2-4 mm in diameter secondary, tertiary diameter
1-2 mm, and quaternary diameter of 0,1 0,3 mm with a distance of 2-3 m from the
base of the tree. Many palm roots are near the soil surface around 5-35 cm, rarely

exceeding a depth of 90 cm, whereas the water table is deep enough (Lubis and
Widanarko, 2012).
Table 5. dry weight and root length in the oil palm plantations of Malaysia
Plant
Dry weight root (kg/tree)
Estimates of root length (m/tree)
Age
Primer Sekunder Tersier & Primer
Sekunder Tersier Kuartener
(year)
Kuartener
1.5
3.8
3.1
1.2
530
2,540
5,820
16,150
2.5

8.1

6.2

1.8

1,130

4,030

8,730

24,320

4.5

19.1

12.5

4.9

2,660

7,460

16,220

45,010

6.5

28.1

9.0

3.5

3,920

3,690

11,580

32,130

8.5

25.1

14.1

4.3

10.5

33.4

11.5

4.1

14.5

48.7

15.8

4.4

17.5

44.1

14.2

3.2

27.5

90.4

30.3

10.1

Source Gray (1969)

Growth and root branching can inflame when the concentration of soil
nutrients (especially N and P) is quite large (Wright, 1951). Although feeding root
(root absorption) are mostly located in gawangan, fertilizer can be justified on the
disc for ease of control and execution of fertilizer dose. Based on the assumption that
each 1 cm tertiary roots (diameter 0.9 mm) has a root quaternary 2.75 cm (diameter
0.2 mm), each gram of root weight (fresh) is equivalent to the length of 520 cm, or
about 1,500 cm by 1 gram weight dry. If the root dry weight of tertiary and
quaternary 4 kg per tree root length mencapa then 60 km / tree or about 9,000 km /
ha at planting density is common. Thus, fertilizer plants on the disc is likely to be
absorbed by the plant roots ketaknya 1-2 tree of the disc. However, the amount of
fertilizer that is absorbed is not influenced by fertilizer placement on disk or
gawangan (Pahan, 2012).
-

Stem of Oil Palm

In the first year or two of oil palm growth, the growth of stems visible once
enlarged at the base, reaching 60 cm in diameter. After that, the stems will shrink,
usually only 40 cm in diameter, but faster growth. Generally, increase in plant height
can reach 35-75 cm per year, depending on environmental conditions and the
growing diversity genetik.Batang covered by the base of the leaf midrib old smpai
approximately 11-15 years of age (Pahan, 2012).

Stem has 3 main functions, (1) as a structure that supports the leaves, flowers
and fruit, (2) as vascular system that transports water and mineral nutrients from the
roots to the top as well as a result of photosynthesis from the leaves to the bottom,
(3) serves as a food hoarding (Lubis and Widanarko, 2012).
Table 6. Nutrient content of oil palm stem at different ages of plants
Plant age
1,5
2,5
4,5
6,5
8,5
10,5
14,5
17,5
(year)
Kandungan
76
186
160
410
353
419
765 1,132
N (g/tree)
Kandungan
155
631 1.328 2,285 2,153 3,268 3,357 2,307
N (g/tree)
Source. 1969
-

27,5
1,340
2,047

Leaves of oil palm

Leaves consists of several parts, (1) set of leaflets has a leaf blade (lamina)

and the child leaves (midrib), (2) leaf rachis is attached as a child, (3) the leaf stalk
(petiole), (4) sheath leaf as the protection of the bud and give strength to the stem.
Leaf area depends on soil fertility and moisture as well as the level of water stress
(stomata closure). Leaf production is also influenced by the seasons, the rainy
season, all leaves on the dashed phase and after the opening leaf, opening rate back
to normal. Production of leaves with the same genetic but grown on different
production environments will differ.
Leaf area depends on soil fertility and moisture as well as the level of water
stress (stomatal closure). N and K fertilizer application can increase leaf area, in
addition to the increase in leaf area with plant age due to increasing child and
average leaf size, including the length of the leaf . Leaf production is also influenced
by the seasons, the rainy season, all the leaves on the dashed phase and after the
opening leaf opening rate back to normal. Production of leaves with the same genetic
but grown in different environments will be different production.
The total number of leaves in the oil palm plantations is highly dependent on
the method of harvesting and pruning is done. In addition to light intensity factor to
the crop canopy also affect the number of leaves. On the normal density of 140-150
trees / ha with no leaf buds , leaves senescense started at 48-50. However, at high
density, can occur from the 35 of leaf. Filotaksis spiral arrangement of leaves
following the Fibonacci sequence, 1:1:2:3:5:8:13:21 and so on (Pahan, 2012).

Fruit of oil palm

Oil palm is a monoecious plant, male and female flower relationship

contained in one tree, but not in the same cluster. Sometimes there is also a
hermaphrodite. Flowers appear from the armpit leaves. Each leaf produces a
infloresen armpit (compound interest). Infloresen development of early initiation of
the process forms a complete infloresen in 2.5-3 years. Oil palm fruit considered
drupe fruit, composed of pericarp is encased by exocarp (skin), mesocarp, and
endocarp (shell) that wraps the 1-4 core / kernel (usually only one). Core has testa
(skin), the solid endosperm, and an embryo. Pisifera fruit types have alela
homozygous recessive so it does not form shells. Pisifera generally failed to form a
fruit that is not grown commercially in plantations. Type dura (2-8 mm thick shell)
has a dominant 9ontrollin alela which produces a thick shell. Hybrid of dura x
Pisifera are the types of plants that have alela 9ontrolling9 Tenera. Tenera has a thin
shell (0.5-4 mml) and is surrounded by a ring of fiber on mesocarpnya. Tenera
varieties are preferred for commercial cultivation because the oil content in
mesocarpnya is higher than the dura (Pahan, 2012).
c. Integrated various bio environtmental factors
-

Climate factors
Climatic factors that affect the productivity of oil palm plantations are the

intensity of sunlight, temperature, rainfall, and humidity. Palm plants require high
light intensities that are sufficient to perform photosynthesis, except in conditions of
juveniles in pre nursery. In the clear sky conditions in the equatorial zone, light
intensity of 1410-1540 J/cm2/day. Intensity of 1,410 occurred in June and
December,while 1,540 took place in March and September. The further a region of
the equatorial light intensity will decrease. Photosynthesis in leaves of palm oil will
increase in the cloudy sky conditions. FFB production/year was also influenced by
the number of hours of effevtive solar radiation. The fffect of irradiation time on
increasing production of 5.7 kg per 100 hour increases the effectivity of exposure
per tree. In the equatorial regions received more than 2,400 hours of effective
exposure time of year, the average yield per tree to a minimum of 125 kg or 18 tons
FFB / ha / year (Pahan, 2012).
According to Fauzi et al. (2008), oil palms in commercial plantations can
grow well in the temperature range 24-280C. FFB production is obtained from the
highest average annual temperature ranges from 25-270C. Water requirements for oil

palms in commercial plantations are around 1,950 mm / year. This may mean that oil
palm plantations require around 2.000 mm of rainfall that is evenly distributed
throughout the year without the dry months (water deficit) is real. Oil Palm Research
Center (2006) explains that there are some effects of drought and water deficit for the
production of oil palm. Water deficit is the available water supply conditions are not
able to meet the water requirements for crops. Length of exposure of the required
palm oil is 5-12 hours / day with 18% humidity conditions. Wind speed of 5-6
km/hours is very good to help pollination of oil palm.
-

Biological factors
Biological factors that affect the productivity of oil palm are weeds, pests,

diseases, plant age, Stand Per Hektar (SPH), and plant material. Weeds are easy to
grow in a nutrient-poor to nutrient-rich. Generally, weeds are easy to regenerate so
excelled in competing with the crop. Physically, weeds that compete with the crop in
terms of acquisition of space, light, water, nutrients, essential gases, and chemicals
(residues) are secreted. Unwanted weeds in the plantation can lead to the following
condition:
a) Reduction of the production of FFB due to compete in the retrieval of
nutrients, water, sunlight, and living space.
b) Reduction of the quality of FFB production due to contamination by weed
parts.
c) Removing residues compounds that can interfere with plant growth.
d) Being the host for pests, as well as pathogens that attack plants.
e) Interfering water use planning.
f) Increasing the cost of farming because it resulted in additional activities on the
estate (Pahan, 2012)
Efforts to detect pests and diseases at an earlier time must be executed. In
addition to facilitate the prevention and control measures, the advantage of early
detection is also intended to prevent uncontrolled explosion attack. Economically,
control costs through early detection certainly much lower than that of control of
pests and diseases that have spread widely. Pests that often attack oil palm crops are
such as fire caterpillar, caterpillar bags, mice, termites, Adoratus, Apogonia, and wild
boar. While the types of diseases that often attack them are palm leaf diseases on
seedlings, stem rot disease (ganoderma), bunches of fruit rot disease (Marasmius),
and bud rot disease (spear root).

High and low productivity of oil palm plantations is affected by the age
composition of plants. Lubis (1992) stated that the maximum productivity of oil palm
plantations can be achieved when plants are 7-11 years old. According to Pahan
(2012) optimal production can be achieved when the average age of the plant is 15
years. Reference for determining the age limit of 15 years based on the age of 15
years will reach peak production. According Sunarko (2007), the number of female
flowers on young plants is increasing, so that the fruit produces more, but the weight
of the resulting only reaches approximately 10-15 kg. Such conditions lead to low
crop productivity. Old crop weighs heavier bunches than young plants. Slender
weight average will be the same for each year when the plants are more than 10 years
(Adiwiganda, 2002).
Space Per Hektar (SPH) is one of the factors that affect the productivity of oil
palm plantations. Risza (2008) stated that there is a relationship between the
declining in production with planting density. Palm that live in a protected and get
less sunlight to elevated growth, abnormal, looks skinny, weak, little leaf number,
and reduced production of female flowers. The success of oil palm plantation
business, among others is also influenced by the plant material that has superior
properties. Seeds will ensure good growth and high level of productivity when
implemented optimally.
-

Physical factors
Optimal land for oil palm should be based on three factors, namely,

environmental, soil physical properties, and chemical properties of soil or soil

fertility. Oil palm can live in mineral soil, peat, and tides. The physical properties of
peat soils of them always under water, slow decomposition of organic materials,
loose consistency, low density period, and is like a sponge (to absorb and hold water
in bulk). Peatland drainage is usually followed by a mass depreciation and land
subsidence.
Aweto and Enaruvbe (2010) findings of this study, however, indicate that
within a limited area of a few hectares, soil properties vary along the catena on the
sedimentary soils, even under the same land use. Topographical position and ground
slope are the main factors accounting for variations in soil properties in the catena
studied. Soil pH, base saturation, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable calcium
and magnesium and extractable iron vary significantly between the upper, middle
and lower slope positions of the catena. The middle slope, which had higher clay

content and is also characterized by more gentle slopes, had higher cation exchange
capacity and exchangeable calcium while the lower slope had higher extractable iron
on account of the higher moisture content.
Grouping soil fertility aimed at physical and chemical properties of the soil
by the method of storie (Adiwiganda, 2005). Following parameters to determine the
level of fertility:
1. Effective depth
2. soil texture and structure
3. thickness of the peat
4. coarse ingredients
5. mineral reserves
6. cation exchange capacity of clay
7. base saturation
-

Chemical factors
Chemical properties of the peat soil, raw organic content is very high, and

fulfill high humid acid, soil acidity (pH 3-3.5), high N content, the content of C/N is
high, and the content of the element P, K, Mg, Cu, Zn and B deficient conditions
(Nurida et al. 2011). Diagnosis is done by chemical analysis of soil and tissue
(leave).
Table 7. Soil analysis data interpretation
Available Nutrients (ppm)
Type of
No.
Nutrient Very Low Low
Normal High
Very High
1
P
<20
20-50
50-100
100-200 >200
2
K
<50
50-100 100-175 175-300 >300
3
Mg
<20
20-40
40-80
80-180
>180
Type of
No.
Defisiensi
Normal
Berlebih
Nutrient
4
Mn
<25
100-500
>1,300
5
Zn
<0,6
1,0 5,0
>10
6
Cu
<1,0
2,0 10,0
>7
7
B
<0,5
0,5 2,0
>3
Source: Pahan (2012)

Extraction
Method
Bray II
Mehlich
Mehlich
Extraction
Method
AAAc
DTPA
AAAc-EDTA
Hot water

Much research has been done to look for the best part of the plant to assess
the nutrient status of plants. According to Chapman and Gray (1949), leaves to 17 is
the most sensitive because it shows the greatest difference in the levels of N, P, K.

Unit

Nutrient

Table 8. Nutrient concentrations in the leaves of oil palm

Keficience Conditions Optimum Conditions
Excessive Conditions
Young
plants <6
years

Old plants
>6 years

Young plants
<6 years

Old plants
>6 years

Young plants
<6 years

Old plants
>6 years

<2,5

<2,3

2,6-2,9

2,4-2,8

>3,1

>3,0

<0,15

<0,14

0,16-0,19

0,15-0,18

>0,25

>0,25

<1.00

<0,75

1,10-1,30

0,90-1,20

>1,90

>1,90

Mg

<0,20

<0,20

0,30-0,45

0,25-0,40

>0,70

>0,70

Ca

<0,30

<0,25

0,50-0,70

0,50-0,75

>1,00

>1,00

<0.20

<0,20

0,25-0,40

0,25-0,35

>0,60

>0,60

Cl

<0,25

<0,25

0,50-0,70

0,50-0,70

>1,00

>1,00

Ppm

<8

<8

15-25

15-25

>35

>40

Cu

Ppm

<3

<3

5-7

5-8

>15

>15

Zn

Ppm

<10

<10

15-20

12-18

>50

>80

Source: Von Uexkull (1992)

d. Nucleus and Plasma Oil Palm Plantations
Oil palm plantations began cultivated again as agro-industries since
the end of 1960 by a large plantation in the late 1970 and has been introduced
back to the community through a pattern of nucleus oil palm plantations
or Nucleus Estate Smallhoders (NES) (Deptan, 2011). The purpose of the model
nucleus oil palm plantations is not only limited to the physical construction of the
garden alone, but the wider community that builds planters are self-employed,
prosperous, and in harmony with the environment is carried out in the area of new
openings ultimately expected formation of the modern farmer. Conceptually, the
notion nucleus oil palm plantations is a pattern of implementation of plantation
development by using large estates as a core which helps and guides people's
plantation surrounding the plasma in a system of mutual cooperation, intact,
and sustainable, through the agribusiness system that starts from the provision of
inputs, production, processing and marketing (Budiasa, 2000).
Plasma core relationships and more likely just a business relationship, ie
(1). Farmers are required to sell the production to the company and the company's
core obliged to buy it. (2). As a result of the relationship that has not been well
established, farmers have always been in a weak position. Farmers as if only as

thus producing frequent conflicts between farmers and the nucleus plantations
(Malini & Aryani, 2012). The yield of FFB from smallholdings to practice
not

transparently

done

by

the

company's

core,

consequently

farmers

just received a report of CPO production amount of palm oil mill, this happens
because until now there is no agency special independent oversight of the
yield. Inequality between knowledge and market information core enterprise with
farmers, often occurs when purchase of FFB, the core company of farmers to buy
FFB local prices (dollars), while the core company sells CPO at $ (U.S. Dollars), this
happens because of the nucleus plantations have access to the export market, while
farmers have never know the price of CPO in the overseas market, the price disparasi
so often detrimental to the farmers (Budiasa, 2000).
The raw material is processed to result in palm oil and palm kernel is
FFB produced from the nucleus and plasma plantations. FFB produced from the
Plasma plantations was bought by a nucleus plantations with a price set and agreed
by both parties between the nucleus and plasma.
e. Integrating Expert System (ES) and Decision Support System (DSS)
Decision support system provides the flexibility and adaptability in dealing
with ill-defined problems, partial information, conflicting objectives and ad hoc
questions. Such a system is found particularly useful to support the solutions of a
wide range of semistructured and unstructured problems like strategic and tactic
planning. Knowledge-based expert system incorporates knowledge from experts to
provide users with expert level considerations. Most expert systems are developed to
support specific and narrow application domains. DSS and ES represent two kinds of
information technology tools serving for distinct purposes, yet they are not
necessarily conflicting to each other. In most situations, they can actually
complement each other . A combination of DSS and ES can yield an even better
result. User may use DSS regarding information acquisition and information
evaluation, and at the same time use ES to get intelligence for a particular domain
and a suggestion for the tentative decision. The joint effort can provide users with
better information to make final decisions (Chia & Jimming, 1990).
Expert system is a computer program that is designed to model problem
solving, like a human expert. An expert is an individual that has the superior
capability to solve the problem. The capability of the expert, such as recognizing and
formulating the problem, solving the problem in short time accurately, explaining the

solution, learning from experiences, restructurizing the knowledge, defining the

relevancy/relationship, and understanding the borderline of the capability (Tolle
2010)
Table 9. A Comparison of Human expert with Expert System
Factors

Human Expert

Expert System

Time Availability

Business Day

any time

Geografis

Local / specific

Wherever

Security

not replaceable

can be replaced

Perishable

Yes

not

Performance

Variables

consistent

Speed
Cost

Variables
High

Consistent & Faster

low

The Category Expert System Problems in general includes: (a) Interpretation

make inferences or description of a set of raw data. (b) Prediction projecting
possible consequences of certain situations. (c) Diagnosis determining cause
malfunctions in complex situations based on the observed symptoms. (d) Design
determining the configuration of the system components that matched with specific
performance goals that fulfill constraints. (e) Planning planning a series of actions
that will be able to achieve a number of goals with specific initial conditions (f)
Debugging and Repair defining and interpreting the ways to cope with
malfunctions. (g) Instructions detecting and correcting deficiencies in the
understanding of the subject domain. (h) Control 15controlling the behavior of a
complex environment (i) Selection identifying the best choice of a set of (list)
possibilities. (j) Simulation modeling the interactions between system components.
(k) Monitoring comparing the observations with the expected conditions.

Figure 2. Step expert systems work (http://obiwannabe.co.uk)

A main argument of the Decision Support System approach is that effective

design necessitates the technician's detailed understanding of management decision
processes and then relies on the manager's clear recognition of the requirements for
developping useful computer-based decision aids (Despres & Sabroux, 1992).
Moreover, the Decision Support System approach allows managers to initiate,
design, and control the implementation of a system. That is, a DSS is built around the
decision-making process. As Keen (1978) comments, there has been no universal
definition of a Decision Support System. Consequently we selected two definitions
stating our understanding. The first one according to Keen et al. (1978) where "DSS
improve the effectiveness of decision making rather than its efficiency" underlines
the effectiveness of decision making. The second provided by Levine and Pomerol
(1989) is: "DSS is a problem solver by making heuristic search. It constitutes an
interactive computer system where decision making is controlled by the user. The
control is founded on the user's evaluations". It emphasizes the end user role in the
decision-making process.
Many research have been done before, namely, design performance
improvement model agro on government plantations can provide a new achievement
of performance achieved plantations and the palm oil industry (Farida, 2012).
Sustainable oil palm plantations plasma enables achieved through engineering
management model supported by biophysical conditions, human resources and
government (Wigena, 2009). Design system with the oil palm agro-industry
development strategy could include farmer empowerment by having palm oil mills
that are economically profitable, and empowering farmers with this model can
increase the production of FFB farmers (Jatmika, 2007).
04. Problem Statement/Significance of Research
There are many inefficiencies oil palm plantation in Indonesia, since accurate
and quick information management system is not always available, such as eligible
laboratories for analyzing nutrients, weeds, pests, diseases; and experts who can
solve the problems.
Field maintenance and operations recommendations are implemented based
company set schedule, but the yield productivity is not obtained as expected.
Therefore integration among various environmental factors such as climate, biology,
chemistry, physics are necessary to take into planning consideration. Oil palm
plantations are very dependent on a few key climate elements and influence each

other in precipitation, sunlight, temperature, humidity, and wind. When the soil is
dry, the roots of plants are difficult to absorb minerals from the soil. Therefore,
prolonged drought will reduce production. Some regions such as Riau, Jambi, South
Sumatra have frequent sun exposure less than 5 hours on certain months. Less
radiation can lead to reduced assimilation and disease. Some of the aspects that
determine the physical properties of soil are texture, structure, consistency, land
slope, permeability, thickness of the soil layer, and the depth of the ground water
surface. Land is less suitable soil sandy beaches and thick peat soil. In addition to
low production, management does not meet the standards, and therefore it affects the
economic life of oil palm shorter than normal about 25 years. However, the reality in
the field is that the existing factors (such as climatic factors, biology, chemistry and
physics plantations) are not integrated. These are the aspects that need to be taken
into account in decision making for plantation management. This is the evidence
from policies of fertilization, spreading herbicides and insecticides, and other
policies that is still based on the schedule. On the other hand, the climate change and
crop conditions at the field and the productivity are not always the same. It takes a
political decision that combines all these factors in the decision making on the estate.
The nucleus and the plasma plantations is under supervision of a large
company, but their production quality and quantity are below the expectation. In
spite of various attempts that have been made from the company's plasma, simple
and suitable approach are necessary. Common problems faced by the smallholding
are that a farm management does not meet the recommended standard management,
especially after the conversion of the nucleus plantation to farmers. From the
physical aspect, this condition raises the risk of long-term decline in land
productivity and environmental pollution. Productivity of plasma plantation lands
which reflected lower average production of palm oil.
From the above mentioned explanation, differences in the quality of the oil
palm fruit production reveals ineffectiveness in organizing all factors in oil palm
plantations management. Moreover, the difference was compared between the
company, the nucleus and plasma plantations. Therefore the need for a management
decision to be developing the nucleus and plasma plantations. This suggests that
opportunities to increase the productivity of various types of orchard cultivation is
still there, so the movement increased productivity Riau-Indonesian oil palm
plantations should be an important focus in the development of oil palm forward.

Significance of study required in this study will determine the need for this
research. A Study for collecting and integrating several of eficient technology for
monitoring and management oil palm plantations is necessary. Expert and decision
support system and early warning are necessary for solution in oil palm plantations.
Simple and suitable approach that needs to be take into account for local wisdom is
necessary.
However, the highlight of this research is an approach to model a
management system that bio environtmental factors: combines biology, climate,
chemistry and physics in managing oil palm plantations. This model is expected to
be integrated into a decision as well as knowledge that can be applied by all
plantation companies, either for nucleus or plasma plantations, to generate optimal
and certified products. Expected contribution of this research: Efficient Technology
and management of oil palm plantations to produce high quality and quantity Fresh
fruit bunch. An Integrated decision and knowledge system that can be applied by all
plantation companies, either for nucleus or plasma plantations to generate optimal
and certified products.
05. Research Objectives
This study aims:
1. To determine some of the best simple and suitable technology / management
systems for the of efficient oil palm plantation.
2. To integrate various bio-environtmental factors that influence such biological,
climate, chemistry, and physic factors, in managing oil palm plantation so as to
obtain tested and certified products.
3. To design Expert Systems and Decision Support System for the nucleus and
plasma oil palm plantation companies in Indonesia

06. Brief Methodology / Flow chart

Data used in this study include primary data and secondary data. Primary data
obtained through a survey, interviews with experts and relevant actors (employees,
management of plantations) to obtain data on issues and policy management of
plantation productivity improvements both internally and externally on oil palm
plantations. The selection of experts is made to acquire the appropriate knowledge
base. Secondary data were obtained from the literature, benchmarking and the

publication of the institutions associated with this research study. Secondary data
include monthly and annual report data related components required data in this
research that bio environtmental factors: climatic factors (temperature, rainfall,
humidity, light intensity), biological factors ( type of seeds, weeds, pests, diseases,
SPH, palm age, FFB productivity), physical factors of land (land topography, soil
type), and chemical factors (Nutrient content, pH of soil, herbicides, insecticides,
fungicides)

including data on the size, the production of palm oil plantations,

improvement and development of plantation done.

The research will be carried out at oil palm companies in the province of Riau
Indonesia, from Januari 2013 to Agustus 2015. Riau Province was chosen as the
study case because it is included as the province with an area of oil palm plantations
in Indonesia and it is possible to run the development of oil palm plantations
governmental organizations. Data results of the literature and the data processed
condition 3 estates in accordance with the method of analysis used, namely:
Stage 1:
a. Identify the factors that affect the productivity of the BSC and interview
techniques.
b. Process the data to determine the estates strategy based on SWOT analysis and
expert interviews.
c. Perform data processing to determine the strategy map and BSC method
plantation with expert interviews
d. Perform data processing to determine the productivity of the BSC method and
expert interviews
e. Perform data processing to determine the alternative criteria in determining the
with BSC method, fuzzy pairwise comparison (Bojadziev, 1997) and expert
interviews.
Stage 2:
a. Analysis of soil and plant nutrients through laboratory testing, observation and
experts interview.
b. Processing the data to determine the target plantation with interview techniques
and benchmarking of various factors affecting the productivity of oil palm
plantations.

c. Perform data processing for plantation management assessment scoring board in

the sub- models is done by filling out the questionnaire and collection of
secondary data (data plantation year period from 2009 to 2013).
d. Policy decisions on fertilizer recommendations , crop management , and solution
of the problems on the estate
Stage 3:
a. Application of appropriate simulation models increase productivity desired target.
b. Verification and validation of models of DSS in oil palm plantations.
c. Implementation of the model in oil palm plantations.
Stage of the study can be seen in the following flow chart:

Figure 3. Flow Chart

07. Expected result

1. The best technology and management systems for the management of
efficient oil palm plantation.
2. Plant nutrition flow model, in managing oil palm plantation so as to obtain
tested and certified products.
3. Plantation management for Expert Systems to the nucleus and plasma oil
palm plantation companies in Indonesia.

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