MPOB Code of Practice

MPOB CoP 1001:2015

Code of Good Nursery Practice for Oil Palm Nurseries

Content

Introduction

Scope

Definitions

Requirements

Traceability

MPOB Act and its Subsidiaries

Planting Material

Nursery Site Selection

Site Preparation

Growing Medium

Irrigation

Nursery Management and Practices

Pre-nursery

Main nursery

Advanced Planting Materials (APM)

Record keeping and labelling

Culling

Dispatch of seedlings or ramets

Fertiliser and nutrient managements

Pesticides management

Continuous improvement

Complaints and grievances

Legal requirements

APPENDIXES

Guidelines for The Storage Of Pesticides

Guidelines for the Disposal of Pesticides

Guidelines for the Disposal of Empty Pesticide Containers

Guidelines for the Suitable Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) To Be Worn During Handling of Pesticides

Pesticide-Related Accident Handling Procedure

1. INTRODUCTION

Productivity of an oil palm plantation depends on many factors, including quality of planting materials raised at the nursery. This Code of Good Nursery Practice for Oil Palm Nurseries (CoPN) stipulates the general requirements for the production of high quality oil palm seedlings and ramets. The nursery is the beginning of the supply chain for palm oil production and therefore traceability, commencing from seed or ramet production from licensed seed or ramet producers, is essential.

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2. SCOPE

The Code of Good Nursery Practice for Oil Palm Nurseries covers the aspects of raising oil palm planting materials in the nursery from receipt of germinated seeds or ramets until the stage at which they are ready for field planting.

3. DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this standard, the following definitions shall apply:

3.1 abnormal seedling or ramet

An oil palm seedling or ramet is considered abnormal with appearance or characteristics, such as a twisted shoot, crinkled leaf/leaves, collante, juvenile, a flat top, limp, short internodes, wide internodes and chimaera.

3.2 advanced planting material (APM)

Seedling or ramet that is kept in the main nursery between the ages of 14 to 24 months.

3.3 competent agriculturists

Individuals with formal training in agriculture, e.g. passed certified MPOB course in nursery management or having the relevant expertise in oil palm nursery management.

3.4 culling

Culling is the process of identifying, removing and destroying abnormal oil palm seedlings or ramets in the nursery.

3.5 germinated seed

An oil palm seed with an emerged root (radicle), and a shoot (plumule), that is ready to be planted.

3.6 growing medium

A suitable top soil, suitable soil mixture or decomposed organic materials used to fill the polybags or containers for growing oil palm seedlings or ramets.

3.7 integrated pest management (IPM)

A management system using suitable techniques and methods in a manner, as compatible as possible, in maintaining the pest population at levels below those causing economic losses.

3.8 main nursery

The site of a double-stage nursery, where the seedlings or ramets aged up to three to four months from the pre-nursery, are transplanted and left to grow for another seven to 10 months when they are ready for field planting. In the case of a single stage nursery, the germinated seeds or ramets are planted directly into large polybags and left to grow up to 14 months when they are ready for field planting. For advanced planting materials (APM), the duration could be extended up to 24 months.

3.9 oil palm planting material

Oil palm planting material refers to oil palm seed, oil palm seedling, oil palm semiclonal seedling, oil palm bi-clonal seedling and oil palm ramet.

3.10 polybag

A suitable black perforated plastic bag filled with a growing medium to grow oil palm seedlings or ramets.

3.11 pests and diseases

Organisms, capable of causing injury or damage to the oil palm seedlings or ramets. They include insects, other invertebrates, fungi, bacteria, viruses and vertebrates.

3.12 pre-nursery

A site or stage where the germinated seed or ramet is planted and allowed to grow for three to four months.

3.13 ramet

A plant of a clone from tissue culture propagation process.

3.14 seedling

A young plant grown from seed or ramet.

4. REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Traceability

4.1.1 The oil palm planting material produced shall be traceable to a registered or licensed seed or ramet producer.

4.2 MPOB Act and its Subsidiaries

4.2.1 The nursery operator shall to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board Act 1998 and its subsidiaries especially the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (Licensing) Regulations 2005 and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (Quality) Regulations 2005

4.3 Planting Material

4.3.1 All germinated seeds shall be sourced from Malaysian Standard MS 157 certified suppliers and licensed by MPOB. Records of purchase and receipt of planting materials shall be kept for traceability purposes.

4.3.2 All ramets shall be sourced from Malaysian Standard MS 2099 certified suppliers and licensed by MPOB.

4.3.3 All consignments received shall be checked to ensure that the oil palm planting materials are in good condition. Defects and damaged oil palm planting materials shall be removed, recorded and should be reported to the supplier.

4.3.4 Germinated seeds should be planted as soon as possible after receiving, or should be kept at temperatures of 18°C-30°C for not longer than four days.

4.4 Nursery Site Selection

4.4.1 The site selected shall have legal rights for agriculture purposes.

4.4.2 The site selected shall not be proned to flooding or water-logging.

4.4.3 The area shall be or of gentle slope with a gradient of not more than 15°.

4.4.4 The area shall be near to a shall be to ensure continuous and sufficient supply for irrigation.

4.4.5 The site should be accessible by motor vehicles.

4.5 Site Preparation

4.5.1 The site shall be completely cleared and cleaned of any timber, stumps, vegetation or plant debris.

4.5.2 The site shall be an and free from shade.

4.5.3 Where the site is located on a slope with a gradient of more than 15 degree, broad terraces shall be constructed.

4.5.4 Adequate should be constructed to drain excess water.

4.5.5 Sufficient access roads and working paths should be constructed for easy access and transportation of planting materials.

4.5.6 The area should be fenced and protected to prevent attacks by vertebrate pests such as wild animals, livestock or human intrusion.

4.6 Growing Medium

4.6.1 The growing medium shall be loose in texture, free from , , roots and clods of more than 1 cm diameter.

4.6.2 The growing medium shall not be sourced from areas that have evidence of Ganoderma incidence.

4.7 Irrigation

4.7.1 Water for shall be free of contaminants. Untreated waste effluent shall not be used for irrigation.

4.7.2 Control measures shall be established and implemented to ensure that nursery activities will not pollute water sources and water ways.

4.8 Nursery Management and Practices

4.8.1 Pre-nursery

4.8.1.1 Type of polybag or containers

  1. The polybag shall be black polythene perforated and of a size not less than 15 cm x 23 cm (6 inch x 9 inch) and of 250 gauge (0.0625 mm) thickness.
  2. Other suitable containers such as pot trays may be used.

4.8.1.2 Filling of polybags

  1. The polybags or containers should be filled compactly with the growing medium and watered daily.
  2. As the growing medium settles, the polybags shall be topped up with growing medium before planting the germinated seeds or ramets.

4.8.1.3 Arrangement of polybags

  1. he polybags should be correctly arranged in an upright position in the pre-nursery bed.
  2. There should be no spacing between polybags in the pre-nursery.

4.8.1.4 Planting of germinated seeds or ramets

  1. The germinated seeds shall be planted at approximately 2 cm deep with the root (radicle) pointing downwards and the shoot (plumule) upwards.
  2. Germinated seeds shall be carefully covered with a thin layer of the growing medium and shall not be compacted or pressed down too hard.
  3. The root parts of ramets shall be planted then covered and compacted adequately with the growing medium.
  4. Watering shall be carried out after planting the germinated seeds or ramets.

4.8.1.5 Watering

  1. All seedlings or ramets shall receive until they are ready for transplanting to the main nursery.

4.8.1.6 Fertiliser

  1. All seedlings or ramets shall be provided with sufficient and balanced fertilisers until they are ready for transplanting.
  2. The type and rate of fertiliser applied should be in accordance with science-based recommendations by a competent agriculturist.

4.8.1.7 Weed control

  1. The use of herbicides should be avoided at the pre-nursery.
  2. Weeds in small polybags and between beds should be removed manually.

4.8.1.8 Pest and disease control

  1. Implement effective monitoring and control measures to avoid or minimise seedling or ramet damage caused by pests and diseases.

4.8.1.9 Seedlings or ramets appearance

  1. Seedlings or ramets for transplanting shall be in a good condition, normal, healthy and free from pests and diseases based on visual inspection.

4.8.2 Main nursery

4.8.2.1 Type of polybags

  1. The polybag shall be black polythene perforated and of a size not less than 38 cm x 45 cm (15 inch x18 inch). The thickness should be 500 gauge (0.125 mm).
  2. Polybag size of not less than 30 cm x 38 cm (12 inch x 15 inch) may be used provided the seedlings or ramets are kept in the polybag not exceeding 11 months after sowing of the germinated seeds or ramets.

4.8.2.2 Filling of polybags

  1. The polybag should be filled compactly with growing medium and watered daily.
  2. As the growing medium settles, the polybags should be with growing medium up to 2 cm below the upper edge of the polybag before transplanting of seedlings or ramets from pre-nursery.

4.8.2.3 Arrangement of polybags

  1. Polybag of size 38 cm x 45 cm (15 inchx18 inch) shall be arranged at not less than 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m (36 inch x 36 inch x 36 inch) measured centre to centre to achieve an equilateral triangular spacing.
  2. Polybag of size 30 cm x 38 cm (12 inch x 15 inch), shall be arranged at not less than 0.75 m x 0.75 m x 0.75 m (30 inch x 30 inch x 30 inch) measured centre to centre to achieve an equilateral .

4.8.2.4 Transplanting

  1. In double-stage nursery, pre-nursery seedlings or ramets shall be into large polybags at the age of not more than four months.
  2. Seedlings or ramets from the small polybags or other planting containers together with the growing medium core should be placed at the center of the large polybags.
  3. Immediately after transplanting, the seedlings or ramets shall be watered.

4.8.2.5 Number of seedlings or ramets

  1. Main nursery with polybag distance of 0.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.9 m, and with road network is able to accommodate up to 14 000 seedlings or ramets ha-1.
  2. For nursery with polybag of 0.75 m x 0.75 m x 0.75 m, 1 ha land area shall be able to accommodate 20 000 seedlings or less.

4.8.2.6 Watering

  1. All seedlings or ramets shall receive sufficient quantity of water until they are ready for field planting.

4.8.2.7 Fertiliser

  1. All seedlings or ramets shall be provided with sufficient and balanced until field planting.
  2. The type and rate of fertiliser applied should be in accordance with science-based recommendations by a competent agriculturist.

4.8.2.8 Weed control

  1. in polybags shall be removed manually.
  2. in between rows should be removed manually or treated by spraying approved herbicides using appropriate nozzle.

4.8.2.9 Pest and disease control

  1. Integrated management is encouraged.
  2. Advice on pesticide and fungicide applications from a competent agriculturist is encouraged.

4.8.2.10 Seedling or ramet appearance

  1. seedlings or ramets to be transferred out for shall be in a good condition, normal, healthy and free from pests and diseases based on visual inspection.

4.8.3 Advanced Planting Materials (APM)

4.8.3.1 Type of polybags

  1. The polybag for advanced planting material shall be black polythene perforated and with a size of not less than 48 cm x 60 cm.

4.8.3.2 Arrangement of polybags

  1. The polybags shall be arranged at not less than 1.5 m x 1.5 m x 1.5 m measured centre to centre.

4.8.3.3 Fertiliser

  1. All seedlings or ramets shall be provided with sufficient and balanced fertilisers for field planting.
  2. The type and rate of fertiliser applied should be in accordance with science-based recommendations by a competent agriculturist.

4.8.3.4 Weed control

  1. in the polybags should be removed manually.
  2. in between rows should be removed manually or treated by spraying with approved herbicides using an appropriate nozzle.

4.8.3.5 Pest and disease control

  1. Advice on pesticide and fungicide applications from a competent agriculturist is encouraged.

4.9 Record keeping and labelling

4.9.1 A nursery operator shall keep up-to-date daily records and monthly statements in accordance with the and the (Act 582).

4.9.2 The nursery operator shall be able to provide on every batch or block of seedlings or ramets with the , number of seedlings or ramets, date of sowing or transplanting.

4.9.3 A signage carrying information or proof of such information on the name of the licensee, license number, address and telephone number shall be placed at the premises licensed by MPOB.

4.10 Culling

4.10.1 Culling of abnormal seedlings or ramets shall be done at least three times for seedling ages of (a) three to four months, (b) seven to eight months, and (c) at 10-12 months, or prior to field planting.

4.10.2 Seedlings or ramets under four months old (before transplanting for the main nursery) which are culled include a twisted shoot, grassy leaves except ramet, rolled leaves, collante, crinkled leaves, chimaera (variegated) and other abnormalities.

4.10.3 Seedlings or ramets below 12 months old at the main nursery which are culled include stunted, erect fronds, flat top, limp, juvenile, wide internodes, narrow pinnae, acute pinnae insertion, pinnae, chimaera, and other abnormalities.

4.10.4 Identification of seedlings or ramets shall be carried out by a competent personnel.

4.10.5 Culled seedlings or ramets shall be and disposed at a .

4.11 Dispatch of seedlings or ramets

4.11.1 Seedlings or ramets shall be watered before dispatch for field planting

4.11.2 Seedlings or ramets shall be carefully handled when loading onto transporting vehicles.

4.12 Fertiliser and nutrient managements

4.12.1 There shall be fertiliser programmes for the pre and main nurseries.

4.12.2 Fertilisers shall be in a covered, and dry location preferably in a fertiliser store.

4.12.3 The fertiliser store should be clearly indicated with appropriate signage.

4.12.4 Fertiliser shall be made available upon request.

4.12.5 Fertilisers shall be physically separated from germinated seeds, ramets, personnel protective equipment (PPE) and pesticides.

4.13 Pesticides management

4.13.1 Nursery operators shall only use under the Pesticide Board Approved List.

4.13.2 Instructions for use on the label shall be strictly followed. The Latest (SDS) for the use in the nursery should be made available.

4.13.3 of pesticides should follow the guidelines in Appendix I.

4.13.4 Workers who apply pesticides should be given adequate on safe handling and use of pesticides.

4.13.5 The disposal of surplus mix, obsolete pesticides, pierced empty containers and rinsed water should follow the guidelines in Appendix II and III.

4.13.6 The safety of the workers should be given priority by providing them with suitable (PPE) and to ensure that they wear the PPE properly.

Appendix IV provides guidelines on suitable PPE to be used during handling of pesticides.

4.13.7 should be suitable for use in the oil palm nursery and should be properly labeled according to the use, properly maintained, regularly calibrated and should be used according to the recommendation of the supplier.

4.13.8 Accident handling procedure, as outlined in Appendix V, should be established and displayed at the workplace. The nursery operator is to ensure that everyone in the nursery is aware of the existence of the handling procedure and understand the flow of action in case of a pesticide-related accident.

4.14 Continuous improvement

4.14.1 Nursery operators should monitor and review their activities and develop and implement action plans.

4.15 Complaints and grievances

4.15.1 A record or system for dealing with complaints and grievances should be established and documented.

5 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

5.1 All oil palm nursery activities and products shall in all aspects comply with the requirements of the legislation currently in force in Malaysia.

 

APPENDIXES

Appendix I

GUIDELINES FOR THE STORAGE OF PESTICIDES

1. PESTICIDES STORE SHOULD:

  1. be located not less than 7 m away from dwelling.
  2. be covered, dry, water resistant, well-lit, well ventilated and able to retain spillage.
  3. be away from source of water and not sited on a flood-prone area to prevent contamination of water sources.
  4. be locked, and keys and access limited to designated personnel.
  5. have powdered pesticides stored on shelves above the liquids or in separate compartments.
  6. keep pesticides in their original packaging with original label intact.
  7. have first aid kit outside the store.
  8. have of skull and crossed bones placed on the access door or at a visible location.
  9. display (SDS) at easily visible area.
  10. have an inventory of the pesticides stored available for inspection.
  11. have fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguisher, sand and water.
  12. have shelves of non-absorbent material to contain leakages.
  13. segregate pesticides from fertilisers.
  14. have suitable for measuring and mixing of pesticides.
  15. have supply of clean water near to the mixing area.

2. PESTICIDES STORE SHALL NOT:

  1. store food, fresh produce and planting materials.
  2. store chemical in the food or drinking water packaging.
  3. store PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment).

Appendix II

GUIDELINES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDES

The disposal of pesticides includes disposal of residues of pesticides such as in washings, rinsates, surplus spray mix as well as the pesticides itself should adopt the following:

1. Disposal of pesticides (Refer to Appendix III)

Actions listed below are TOTALLY PROHIBITED:
  1. Disposal of pesticides to water sources such as drain, stream, river, lake, sea or other water sources.
  2. Burying of pesticides.
  3. Use the pesticides for purposes other than recommended on the label.

2. Disposal of washings and surplus spray mix

Washings and surplus spray mix should be disposed at a designated area away from water sources or waterways to prevent contamination.

Appendix III

GUIDELINES ON THE DISPOSAL OF EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS

1. SEND TO AUTHORISED DISPOSAL CENTRE

  1. Empty pesticide containers (High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) type) shall be rinsed three times and pierced with at least three holes. The rinsates can be used for the preparation of spray mix.
  2. Empty pesticide containers shall be stored in a locked dedicated storage area that has no potential of contaminating water sources and water ways located not less than 7 m from dwelling.
  3. All empty pesticide containers shall be delivered to a scheduled waste collector authorised by the Department of Environment.
  4. Quantity of the empty pesticide containers disposed should be recorded.

2. REUSE OF EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS

  1. Empty pesticide containers (HDPE type) may be used to prepare and carry pesticide spray mix or water for mixing pesticides.
  2. Empty pesticide containers for reuse shall be rinsed at least three times and clearly marked with hazard warning signage TOXIC or equivalent for example RACUN.
  3. The rinsed, pierced empty pesticide containers may be used for non-food purposes.

Appendix IV

GUIDELINES FOR SUITABLE PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) TO BE WORN DURING HANDLING OF PESTICIDES

1. DURING HANDLING

  1. Rubber gloves
  2. Plastic apron
  3. Rubber boots

2. DURING MIXING

  1. Rubber gloves
  2. Mask
  3. Goggles
  4. Long-sleeved shirt
  5. Long pants
  6. Rubber boots
  7. Plastic apron

3. DURING SPRAYING

  1. Rubber gloves
  2. Mask
  3. Goggle
  4. Long-sleeved shirt
  5. Long pants
  6. Rubber boots
  7. Plastic apron

4. DURING WASHING OF SPRAYING EQUIPMENT AND EMPTY CONTAINER

  1. Rubber gloves
  2. Long-sleeved shirt
  3. Long pants
  4. Rubber boots
  5. Plastic apron

Appendix V

PESTICIDE-RELATED ACCIDENT HANDLING PROCEDURE

1. PESTICIDE USER:

  1. Move the person involved in the accident away from the source of accident.
  2. Remove the contaminated clothing.
  3. Wash the affected body parts with plenty of water.
  4. Send to the doctor as soon as possible.
  5. Bring along the pesticide container with label intact or (SDS).

2. SPILLAGE:

  1. Contain and divert the spillage using adsorbents such as sand or saw dust.
  2. Collect all the pesticides absorbed and transfer into a dedicated container.
  3. Clean the spilled area.
  4. Ensure that the wash water is not contaminating water sources or water ways.
  5. Dispose the adsorbed pesticides away from water sources or water ways.

3. EMERGENCY CONTACT

should be placed outside the store
  1. Officer in charge :
  2. Nearest hospital :
  3. Nearest clinic :
  4. Nearest police station :
  5. Nearest fire station :

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