Analysis of Agronomic Traits Influence Fresh Fruit Bunch Weight and Oil Extraction Rate in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in Uganda
Description
The dataset comprises 72 oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) sampled from Bundibugyo, Kanungu, and Kalangala districts in Uganda. Three fruit forms were represented: dura, pisifera, and tenera. For each palm, data were recorded on genotype classification, age (years since planting), canopy spread (m), trunk diameter at breast height (cm), fresh fruit bunch (FFB) weight (kg), and oil extraction rate (OER, %). Statistical analyses in R included multivariate methods, linear regression, and correlation. Results showed that age and genotype significantly predicted FFB weight, explaining 52.4% of the variance (adjusted R² = 0.48, F(6,65) = 11.91, p < 0.001), with a quadratic age effect indicating yield plateauing at maturity. Tenera hybrids produced heavier bunches than pisifera (mean difference = 12.1 kg, p = 0.027). In contrast, OER was not significantly associated with measured traits (R² = 0.086, p = 0.541), showing weak correlations with morphological variables.
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Data collection preceded the selection of Bundibugyo, Kanungu, and Kalangala districts to capture ecological and genetic diversity in oil palm cultivation. Farmers in Bundibugyo and Kanungu were recruited through snowball sampling due to the absence of registries, while in Kalangala, a stratified three stage sampling design was applied using the official KOPGT registry. From these farmers, ripe fruit bunches were systematically harvested from mature palms, yielding 78 samples, later reduced to 72 after outlier removal. Each sampled tree was georeferenced and assigned a unique code for traceability. For each palm, genotype classification was performed in situ based on fruit morphology, distinguishing dura, pisifera, and tenera forms. Age data were obtained from plantation records in kalangala and farmer interviews in bundibugyo and kanungu, then standardized to december 2024. morphological traits were measured, including canopy spread (crown diameter) and diameter at breast height (dbh), using calibrated instruments. Fresh fruit bunch (FFB) weight was determined on-site with a digital hanging scale, ensuring accuracy under field conditions. Oil extraction was conducted at NACRRI, where mesocarp samples were dried, pressed under controlled temperatures, and refined by centrifugation. The oil extraction rate (OER) was calculated using the Corley and Tinker formula, providing standardized yield estimates. Together, these steps produced a structured dataset linking genotype, age, canopy spread, dbh, FFB weight, and OER, forming the basis for statistical analysis of yield determinants in Ugandan oil palm systems.
Institutions
- Muni UniversityNorthern Region, Arua