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Drainage associated with land use change in tropical peatlands has increased the rate of decomposition of peat soils and contributed to CO2 emissions. Increased decomposition may result in changes in the composition of the soil organic carbon (SOC). We examined the carbon functional group composition and degree of decomposition of peat soils under five different land uses to understand the effects of changing management intensity on tropical peatland soils. Samples were collected from seven sites spanning five different land uses (forest, shrubland, fernland, revegetation, smallholder oil palm) at the Pedamaran peatland in South Sumatra, Indonesia. SOC composition, measured by Solid-state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, was dominated by the alkyl carbon (C) functional group in managed peatlands. However, in the forest far from drainage canals, the SOC comprised predominantly O-alkyl C. The contributions of the functional groups ketone C, carbonyl C and O-aryl C were low and tended to occur in stable proportions throughout the soil profiles. Drainage and land use change significantly affected peat carbon chemistry. The effects were greatest under oil palm, where O-alkyl C had been depleted rapidly under aerobic conditions leading to a change in the dominant carbon functional group from O-alkyl C to alkyl C. Furthermore, our results indicate that the alkyl C:O-alkyl C ratio is a more useful and informative indicator of the degree of decomposition of peat soil than the traditionally used C:N ratio. This more nuanced understanding of the different types of carbon that make up tropical peat soils under different land uses can be applied to support peatland restoration. In particular, nutrient cycling and water availability are likely to be influenced by carbon functional group and degree of decomposition. In order to reduce fire risk and support Indonesia's aspirations to manage the national forest estate as a net carbon sink, further research into the links between peat soil organic carbon chemistry, revegetation performance and new peat accumulation is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaysia's palm oil exports may experience a steady increase due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although the demand for palm oil is increasing, there is still a significant labor shortage in the plantation industry. As a result, the use of machinery has become a key component in Malaysia's oil palm plantation industries, particularly for in-field collection. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of a three-wheeler machine and BAIC as a harvesting mechanization in the oil palm estate. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study involved a time and motion study to make a comparison between the performance of a three-wheeler machine and BAIC. Findings: The trials proved that the total average productivity for three-wheeler machines and BAIC is 12.81 mt/day and 4.55 mt/day, respectively. Additionally, the average productivity for each harvester that uses a three-wheeler machine is 3.2 MT/day/harvester, while for BAIC it is 2.27 MT/day/harvester. The cost-effectiveness of a three-wheeler machine is MYR 7.28/mt/harvester, while for BAIC it is MYR 1.41/mt/harvester (MYR = Malaysian Ringgit). Conclusion: The use of a three-wheeler machine has been proven to increase the productivity of FFBs. Although using a three-wheeler machine requires more caution, it really makes the in-field collection process for labour much easier for the laborers, ultimately improving productivity rates and increasing laborers' pay. Research Limitations: It is quite difficult to find an estate that still uses buffalo for in-field collection because most of the estates have switched to machinery. Practical Implications: This research can be used as a reference and guidelines to improve estate management and ensures the sustainability of the oil palm industry around the world. Contribution to Literature: The literature on BAIC will be expanded by this study, particularly in the area of oil palm plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil palm plantation industry has been competitive in the face of the global economy. Competitive advantage can be created through employees and organizations. Work engagement is the primary antecedent of a successful organization. This study is to investigate work-family conflict, and personality traits that determine work engagement among oil palm plantation officers. Participants were 782 executive officers from 36 oil palm plantation estates. The Hierarchical regression analysis showed that work-family conflict and personality traits are predictors of work engagement. Work-family conflict and neuroticism traits are associated with a low level of work engagement. Meanwhile, extraversion trait, agreeableness trait, openness to experience trait, and conscientiousness trait are associated with a high level of work engagement. The demands of work, job resources, and personal resources contribute to work engagement. These findings could be a policy in balancing work-family and training programs to develop employment opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural-land use policies play a crucial role in shaping agroecological landscapes globally. The evidence suggests that some of these policies tend to have undesired feedback/trade-offs, particularly about coastal resource use and conservation planning. The present study explores how agricultural policies influence land use/land cover (LULC) transition patterns in Ghana's Rain Forest Agroecological Zone (RFAZ). Landsat satellite images for 1991, 2008, and 2022 were acquired for the LULC mapping. Change detection and Intensity analysis were used to assess the pattern of land change. Also, documentary research processes were used to review and assess agricultural land use policies. The results showed that before rubber-related policy implementation, oil palm plantation was the dominant LULC type in the 1990 s. In the 1990 s and early 2000 s, there was a conscious government drive to leverage oil palm plantation development. This led to the growth in the size of oil palm plantations within the RFAZ landscape, considering the zone's conducive natural environment. However, between 2008 and 2022, corresponding to the period of the increased promotion of rubber cultivation through the Outgrower project in the RFAZ, rubber plantations became the predominant land use, with an area of 11,763.81 ha in 2008 and 21,611.61 ha in 2022. The results from the LULC mapping and the intensity analysis showed that the Rubber Outgrowers Plantation Project (ROPP) and Norpalm Smallholder Scheme Project (NSSP) have degraded the natural cover through rubber and oil palm cultivation. The authors conclude that landscape dynamics, particularly in rainforest agroecological zones, represent a nexus challenge transforming policy adaptation's discursive context. The study recommends that agriculture and landscape policy/projects must have/take intermediary steps to address the feedback/trade-offs from well-intended initiatives. The study further suggests that management plans and strategies in the RFAZ should be consistent with the strict protection of forest reserves and water bodies. • Agriculture and development policies and interventions drive land use change. • Rubber Outgrowers Plantation Project drives increased rubber plantation coverage. • Conservation objectives are limited in most agricultural land use policies. • The trend of land change coincided with Ghana's population and economic growth. • Integration of geospatial technology and intensity analysis increase understanding of land change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are crucial in maintaining the balance of many ecosystems and provide various ecological services. Understanding their sensitivity to human disturbances should be prioritized in understudy areas for effective conservation practices. Using mist nets, this study characterized mostly understory bird communities (insectivorous, frugivorous, granivorous, and nectarivorous birds) in three habitat types (pristine forest, selectively logged forest, and young oil palm plantation) in the Talangaye rainforest, Southwest Cameroon. A total of 845 birds belonging to 27 families and 85 species were recorded in the three habitats after 294 h of mist netting. Overall, the mist-netted community was largely dominated by insectivores, followed by frugivores, nectarivores, granivores, and carnivores. Although mean species richness, abundance, and Simpson diversity index did not vary significantly among habitat types, mean species abundance and diversity index decreased in selectively logged forest and young oil palm plantation and species richness increased in both habitats. The species richness, abundance, and diversity index for insectivorous and frugivorous birds were lowest in the young oil palm plantations. For granivores, species richness and abundance increased following selective logging and the establishment of oil palm plantation. The highest mean species richness and diversity index in nectarivores were recorded in the young oil palm plantations. The study showed that selective logging and establishment of oil palm plantation had variable effects on the bird communities in the Talangaye rainforest. Also, the frugivorous birds appeared to be more sensitive to both types of disturbances, while the insectivores were more sensitive to habitat loss/conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are crucial in maintaining the balance of many ecosystems and provide various ecological services. Understanding their sensitivity to human disturbances should be prioritized in understudy areas for effective conservation practices. Using mist nets, this study characterized mostly understory bird communities (insectivorous, frugivorous, granivorous, and nectarivorous birds) in three habitat types (pristine forest, selectively logged forest, and young oil palm plantation) in the Talangaye rainforest, Southwest Cameroon. A total of 845 birds belonging to 27 families and 85 species were recorded in the three habitats after 294 h of mist netting. Overall, the mist-netted community was largely dominated by insectivores, followed by frugivores, nectarivores, granivores, and carnivores. Although mean species richness, abundance, and Simpson diversity index did not vary significantly among habitat types, mean species abundance and diversity index decreased in selectively logged forest and young oil palm plantation and species richness increased in both habitats. The species richness, abundance, and diversity index for insectivorous and frugivorous birds were lowest in the young oil palm plantations. For granivores, species richness and abundance increased following selective logging and the establishment of oil palm plantation. The highest mean species richness and diversity index in nectarivores were recorded in the young oil palm plantations. The study showed that selective logging and establishment of oil palm plantation had variable effects on the bird communities in the Talangaye rainforest. Also, the frugivorous birds appeared to be more sensitive to both types of disturbances, while the insectivores were more sensitive to habitat loss/conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale conversion of tropical forests into agricultural plantations, particularly oil palm (OP) across South East Asia exerts enormous pressure on freshwater systems. To mitigate impacts on aquatic ecosystems, the retention of riparian buffer zones along stream banks are often advocated for freshwater management. However, there is a severe lack in ecological information available on tropical stream systems advising on the efficacy of different riparian buffer types (with varying quality) to mitigate stream physico-chemical properties after conversion for agricultural use. To test the hypothesis that greater riparian disturbance will have negative effects on stream geomorphology and water quality, we assessed the impacts of riparian vegetation structure and density on stream chemical and physical properties in different riparian buffer types commonly used in OP plantations subjected to a gradient of disturbance: (i) Native forest (NF); (ii) OP – forested buffer (OPF); (iii) OP – untreated palms buffer (no fertilizer and pesticide application) (OPOP); and (iv) OP – treated palms (OPNB). Across the disturbance gradient, riparian species diversity and density decreased with taller trees and high foliage cover. Foliage cover heavily influenced the amount of light received at the stream, bank and buffer zone that concur with stream water temperatures. In-stream litter substrate decreased with increased riparian disturbance. OP streams had higher phosphorus and potassium concentrations that can be attributed to the use of fertilizers while sodium concentrations were higher in NF streams. Generally, OPF was most similar to NF sites whereas OPOP and OPNB sites had similar characteristics showing that riparian vegetation type influences the physical and chemical characteristics of streams. Thus, the use of high quality riparian buffers with forested riparian vegetation in OP plantations to reduce the impacts of land conversion on streams is supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of fundamental aspects of ecology such as species richness and distribution, and the factors affecting them, is increasingly used to identify priority areas for conservation and to effectively manage threatened species.We investigated the species richness and distribution pattern of nonhuman primate communities inhabiting 10 sampling sites in four different habitat classes corresponding to increasing habitat disturbance level, that is, old growth forest, twice logged forest, repeatedly logged forest, and oil palm plantation, in and around Kalabakan Forest Reserve, in central Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. By using direct and indirect survey methods, we confirmed the existence of 9 out of the total 10 primate species, found in Sabah, within the surveyed areas. Based on the monthly number of primate species detected, our results indicated a general trend of decreasing primate species richness with increasing habitat disturbance level. However, the response within the disturbed forest sites showed some variations with some sites in repeatedly logged forest displaying comparable primate species number to that of the undisturbed forest sites.We also found that within the forest habitats, tree density is a good predictor of the richness of the primate community with a positive effect. Hence, tree density may be a key indicator for evaluating primate communities in forest habitats. Overall, the results of our study suggest that although not equivalent to areas of undisturbed forest, degraded forests--including those that have been repeatedly logged--are still valuable for primate conservation. In contrast, oil palm plantations have mainly negative effects on the primate community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of N-fertilizer application on the emission of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) in oil palm plantations. The soil sampling was undertaken at three different oil palm plantations of different land use, i.e. transformed land use (large and small-scale) and a logged-over forest. The soil samples were analysed for N, P and K contents and soil organic carbon. It was found that despite different amount of N-fertilizer applied at the plantations (in the range of 99-155 kg N/ha), immature palm development seems to release relatively higher amount of N 2 O compared to mature stage. However, further estimation of carbon equivalent emission (CO 2 -eq) would be a more useful means for estimating the impact of N-fertilizer on greenhouse gas emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of oil palm plantations should consider many criteria and implemented by the garden manager. If the estate is managed in accordance with the rules and requirements of plants it will affect the productivity improvement of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB). Criteria that must be considered is the land selection, planting materials, technical management, harvesting and environmental. If all categories in oil palm plantations can be managed and integrated with each other will be obtained by the production of fresh fruit bunches and plenty fit the desired production. This paper also explains that the use of information and communication technologies have a positive effect on the process of managing a more improved and efficient start of the selection of land to harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Method comparison of soil bulk density value as an indicator of soil compaction was studied in oil palm plantation soil, as oil palm tree has high root occupancy in the soil and is estimated has high difficulty in soil bulk density sampling process. The study was compared the value of soil bulk density extracted by volumetric cylinder and rectangular box. The samples were obtained from one, five, ten, and fifteen-year age of oil palm plantation as well as natural forest. Sampling processing were conducted at front stack zone, circle zone and harvesting zone with 0-10cm, 10-20cm, and 20-30cm of soil depth. Soil bulk density measured from volumetric cylinder is 6.83% higher than measured from rectangular box with root correction. Being compared to soil bulk density from rectangular box without root correction, bulk density from volumetric cylinder is 8.42% higher. Oil palm root evidence trapped in the rectangular box show a significant difference impact to the bulk density value in which the value with root corrected was higher than uncorrected one. The biomass of oil palm root in the rectangular box was found higher in fifteen years ages, indicated the difficulty of soil sampling using this apparatus compared to five and ten years age of oil palm plantation. Comparing sensitivity of the apparatus revealed that rectangular box confirmed the heterogeneous condition in the field than volumetric cylinder. Sensitivity of both apparatus was significantly difference in loamy and clay loam soil texture, while the sensitivity in sandy loam soil was not significantly different from loamy and clay loam soil texture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In 2005, natural epizootics were observed during an outbreak of Setothosea asigna (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) larvae in an oil palm plantation in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The causative agent was filterable, which implied it was a virus. Since preliminary testing using reverse PCA gave a positive result for the Thosea asigna virus (TaV), we experimented with the purification of the viral agent from the diseased larvae. Electron microscopy revealed nonenveloped virus-like particles that were spherical in shape and about 40 nm in diameter. eDNA cloning followed by sequencing demonstrated that RNA purified from the particles contained two large openreading- frames (OAFs) with a partly shared sequence and extensive homology (> 98% identity at the nucleotide level) with OAFs of TaV encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the capsid protein, respectively. 3' RACE suggested that there is, like in TaV genomic RNA, no poly(A) tract at the 3'-terminus of the RNA. The pathogenicity of the purified particles against Limacodidae larvae in Japan was demonstrated to be very strong for Monema f/avescens and Austrapoda dentata. These results indicated that the agent causing the epizootic disease among S. asigna larvae in the oil palm plantations was TaV which also has potential as a biological control agent for Limacodidae pests in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We estimated the required sample sizes for estimating large-scale soil respiration (for areas from 1 to 2ha) in four ecosystems (primary and secondary forests, and oil palm and rubber plantations) in Malaysia. The soil respiration rates were 769±329mgCO2 m−2 h−1 in the primary forest (2ha, 50 sample points), 708±300mgCO2 m−2 h−1 in the secondary forest (2ha, 50 points), 815±363mgCO2 m−2 h−1 in the oil palm plantation (1ha, 25 points), and 450±178mgCO2 m−2 h−1 in the rubber plantation (1ha, 25 points). According to our sample size analysis, the number of measurement points required to determine the mean soil respiration rate at each site with an error in the mean of no more than 10% ranged from 67 to 85 at the 95% probability level. These results suggest that evaluating the spatial heterogeneity of soil respiration rates in the tropics may require more measurement points than in temperate forests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Fuzzy GIS-based land suitability modelling to determine available lands for sustainable palm oil. • Identified locations that will not cause deforestation, biodiversity loss and land use change emissions. • Available land areas are fragmented so socially and economically challenging to develop. • Policies should focus on yield improvement, over land expansion, and supporting smallholdings. • Require plantation heterogeneity, conservation set-aside and no-access to vulnerable forests. Current consumption of palm oil accounts for one third of the growing world demand for vegetable oil. Amidst the burgeoning industry, huge ecological costs have been accrued within just three decades due to the rapid oil palm expansion in many parts of the world. Many oil palm plantations are linked to deforestation, biodiversity losses, land use change emissions, among other ecological problems. Total replacement of palm oil could result in even greater adverse environmental consequences as alternative crops will require more land. To satisfy the growing demands in a sustainable manner, any new plantations must be located in environmentally-benign lands. This study identifies and quantifies the potentially available lands in Malaysia and Indonesia through a novel fuzzy GIS-based land suitability analysis. Three maps were generated: biophysically suitable land, based on optimal conditions for oil palm cultivation, excluding peatlands and existing protected areas; environmentally suitable land, further excluding forest cover; and potentially available land, further excluding existing plantations and other land uses. About 4.5 million hectares of available land for new plantations have been identified that could provide 1.3 million tonnes per year of sustainable palm oil. However, most of these areas are fragmented and scattered throughout the entire archipelago, which could pose economic and socio-political hurdles to developers of sustainable palm oil. With affordable and fairer certification schemes, sustainable oil palm plantations can be achieved by smallholders on these potentially available lands. Yield improvement and biodiversity restoration of existing plantations should be the focus through revitalised sustainable agriculture and strategic forest conservation policies, respectively. The maps provide valuable policy insights into the possibility of future sustainable oil palm plantations and a starting point for on-the-ground assessment and further verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyzed LULC over 22 years in eastern amazon and we found 10 major transitions to oil palm. • Thirty percent of the primary forest was converted to oil palm. • Changes in landscape structure were related to increasing fragmentation, isolation and reduction of forest remnants. • Sustainable expansion of palm oil should adopt initiatives to environmental regulation of large areas of monoculture. In the Brazilian Amazon, land use and land cover changes (LULC) are extremely heterogeneous, in both spatial and temporal terms. Understanding the long-term trajectory of changes in LULC, and the resulting impact on landscape structure, is essential for the development of adequate, environmentally sound land use policies. To this end, we characterized the spatiotemporal aspects of LULC changes, and their effects on the landscape, in an agricultural backdrop of oil palm cultivation, based on a multi-temporal analysis of the period between 1991 and 2013. We classified Landsat images and analyzed landscape changes in 2588.72 km² of the oil palm expansion zone (polo do dendê), located between the municipalities of Moju, Acará, and Tailândia (called Moju region), northeastern Pará, Brazil. We found that, during this period, 47.7% of the primary forest was converted for other uses, degraded forest increased by 17%, and oil palm plantation increased by 11%. Thirty percent of the primary forest was converted to oil palm plantation during the 22-year study period, however, between 2005 and 2013, primary forest conversion to oil palm increased by just 2%. In contrast, changes in landscape structure were related to the fragmentation of the forest cover, leading to an increasing isolation of forest patches and reduction in the area of forest remnants. These data offer a clear warning sign that for future expansion of palm oil plantations in the Pará state we need to adopt strategies focused on landscape integrity, and develop initiatives towards the regulation of large areas of monoculture, helping guarantee the region's environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]