The main aim of the PNGOPRA Agronomy Section is to increase and sustain high fresh fruit bunch yields with the best agronomic practices over time. This is achieved by determining the optimum nutrient requirements for oil palm plantations from the analysis of nutrition trials, and the understanding of the processes within the soil which influence and regulate plant nutrient uptake.
1.0 Research Areas (Current and Past)
1.1 Nutrition Trial (Current)
| Number | Trial Number | Type | Location |
| 1.1.1 | 516 | NK fertiliser trial | Milne Bay |
| 1.1.2 | 522 | NPK fertiliser trial | Milne Bay |
| 1.1.3 | 335 | NP fertiliser trial | Popondetta |
| 1.1.4 | 336 | New fertiliser trial | Popondetta |
| 1.1.5 | 217 | NPK fertiliser trial | Hargy |
| 1.1.6 | 220 | NPKMg fertiliser trial | Hargy |
| 1.1.7 | 221 | NPKMg fertiliser trial | Hargy |
| 1.1.8 | 222 | NPKMg fertiliser trial | Hargy |
| 1.1.9 | 154 | NK fertiliser trial | Dami |
| 1.1.10 | 155 | NK fertiliser trial | Dami |
| 1.1.11 | 158 | Routine bimonthly sampling | Dami |
| 1.1.12 | 160 | NPKMg fertiliser trial | Dami |
| 1.1.13 | 162 | New fertiliser trial | Dami |
| 1.1.14 | 164 | New fertiliser trial | Dam |
| 1.1.15 | 703 | New fertiliser trial | GPOL |
| 1.1.16 | 801 | New fertiliser trial | POL – NIP |
| 1.1.17 | 605 | New fertiliser trial | RAIL |
| 1.1.18 | 606 | New fertiliser trial (Markam farm | RAIL |
1.2 Agronomic Management Trial (current)
| Number | Trial number | Type | Location |
| 1.2.1 | 163 | Slow-release fertiliser | Dami |
1.3 Soils/Land Sustainability Trials (current)
| Number | Trial number | Type | Location |
| 1.3.1 | 157 | Cover crop scoring | Dami |
| 1.3.2 | 159 | Soil sampling strategy | Dami |
| 1.3.3 | 161 | Soil water content determination | Dami |
1.4 Collaborative Projects
1.4.1 200 – 2007, Stabex 4.22 Eu Funded: PNGOPRA and Massey University. Nitrogen loss pathways in oil palm on volcanic soils.
1.4.2 1996 – 1997, PNGOPRA funded; PNGOPRA and Massey University NZ. A comparative study of the phosphorus characteristics of oil palm volcanic soils in PNG and NZ.
1.4.3 2002 – 2008 SMCN/200/046, ACIAR Funded. PNGOPRA, James Cook University and CSIRO. Overcoming magnesium deficiency in oil palm crops on volcanic ash soils of Papua New Guinea.
1.4.4 2009 – 2013 SMCN/2009/013, PNGOPRA, James Cook University and CSIRO. ACIAR Funded. Sustainable management of soil and water resources for oil palm production systems in Papua New Guinea.
1.5 Past Nutrition Trials
| Number | Type and Location |
| 1.5.1 | New Ireland Province |
| 1.5.1.1 | 251 N, P, K & Mg, Maramakas |
| 1.5.1.2 | 252 N, P, K & Mg, Luburua |
| 1.5.1.3 | 254 B Maramakas |
| 1.5.2 | West New Britain Province |
| 1.5.2.1 | 101 N, P, K & Mg Mn, S, P Bebere |
| 1.5.2.2 | 106 N, P, K & Mg in replant, Bebere |
| 1.5.2.3 | 107 N, P, K, Mg & Cl, Bebere |
| 1.5.2.4 | 108 Systematic N, Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.5 | 110 N/anion, Bebere |
| 1.5.2.6 | 111 N, P Malilimi |
| 1.5.2.7 | 116 Systemic N, Bebere |
| 1.5.2.8 | 117 Systemic N, Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.9 | 118 Systemic N, Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.10 | 119 N/anion trial, Malilimi |
| 1.5.2.11 | 120 N/anion trial, Dami |
| 1.5.2.12 | 122 N & crop residue, Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.13 | 125 N source, Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.14 | 126 M, P, K, Mg & Cl, Malilimi |
| 1.5.2.15 | 129 Crop residue & fertiliser placement |
| 1.5.2.16 | 132 P, K, Mg.B Haella |
| 1.5.2.17 | 135 Effect of fertiliser on Crown disease Haella and Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.18 | 136 Monthly leaf sampling NBPOL 5 sites |
| 1.5.2.19 | 137 Systemic N, Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.20 | 138a Systemic N, Haella |
| 1.5.2.21 | 138b Systemic N, Haella |
| 1.5.2.22 | 139 Spacing Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.23 | 142, N Large Progeny Kumbango and Bebere |
| 1.5.2.24 | 144 Mg, K Waisisii |
| 1.5.2.25 | 145 Mg source Walindi |
| 1.5.2.26 | 146 Mg source/placement Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.27 | 148 Mg Response/Progeny Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.28 | 149 B response/progeny Kumbango |
| 1.5.2.29 | 201 N, P, K & Mg, Hargy |
| 1.2.5.30 | 204 N, P, K & Mg, Navo |
| 1.2.5.31 | 205 P, K, EFB, Progeny Hargy |
| 1.2.5.32 | 209 N, P, K, & Mg, Hargy |
| 1.2.5.33 | 211, Systematic N, Hargy |
| 1.2.5.34 | 212, Systematic N, Hargy |
| 1.5.2.35 | 213 N & P, Hargy |
| 1.5.2.36 | 214 P placement trial |
| 1.5.2.37 | 401 N, P, K, Mg Kautu |
| 1.5.2.38 | 402 N, P, K, Mg, & EFB, Bilomi |
| 1.5.2.39 | 403 Systemic N, Kapiura |
| 1.5.3 | Oro Province |
| 1.5.3.1 | 305 N, P, K, & Mg, Arehe |
| 1.5.3.2 | 306 N, P, K & Mg, Ambogo |
| 1.5.3.3 | 309 N, K, Cl & S, Ambogo |
| 1.5.3.4 | 310 C, Cl, S, Ambogo |
| 1.5.3.5 | 311 N, K & EFB, Isavene |
| 1.5.3.6 | 312 N, K & EFB, Ambogo |
| 1.5.3.7 | 317 N, P, K & Mg, Lower Terrace, Mamba |
| 1.5.3.8 | 378 N, P, K & Mg, River Terrace, Mamba |
| 1.5.3.9 | 324 N source, Sangara |
| 1.5.3.10 | 326 N, EFB Sangara |
| 1.5.3.11 | 329 N, P, K & Mg fertiliser Trial, Lower Terrace, Mamba |
| 1.5.3.12 | 331 Spacing/Density, Ambogo |
| 1.5.3.13 | 334 N and P fertiliser trial, Sangara |
| 1.5.4 | Milne Bay Province |
| 1.5.4.1 | 501 N, P & K, Hagita |
| 1.5.4.2 | 502 (a) N, P, K EFB Hagitai |
| 1.5.4.3 | 502 N, P, K & EFB, Waigani |
| 1.5.4.4 | 502b N, P, K, EFB, Waigani |
| 1.5.4.5 | 504 N & K, Sangarai |
| 1.5.4.6 | 511 N, P, K and EFB, Waigani |
| 1.5.4.7 | 513 Spacing and Density Palipadi |
| 1.5.4.8 | 517 N, K Hagita (South Maiwara) |
| 1.5.4.9 | 521 Sustainability (Bunebune) |
| 1.5.5 | Morobe/Madang Province (RAIL) |
| 1.5.5.1 | 601 N, P, K, S Gusap |
| 1.5.5.2 | 602 N, P, K, S Gusap |
| 1.5.5.3 | 603 N, P, K, S Gusap |
| 1.5.6 | Solomon Islands |
| 1.5.6.1 | 701 N & K, Nglimbu Division, SIPL |
| 1.5.6.2 | 702 N, P, k, Mbalasuna Division, SIPL |