ABSTRACT
Potassium efficiency in elite oil palm progenies: Growth, anatomical, and biochemical insights

Eka Tarwaca Susila Putra1*, Betha Silmia2, Sutan Tarmizi Lubis3, Cahyo Wulandari4, and Didik Indradewa1
 
Potassium (K) serves as a vital macronutrient determining oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) yield. This research aimed to determine K uptake and use efficiency levels across eight oil palm progenies (Yangambi, DP Avros, DP Langkat, PPKS 239, Simalungun, PPKS 718, PPKS 540, and Dumpy) under K fertilized (K1) and K-omission (K0) conditions, while identifying metabolite compounds and root anatomical properties beneficial for exploratory studies of K absorption and utilization efficiency. Conducted over 24 mo in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, using a randomized complete block design factorial with five blocks, the study monitored dry weight, K metrics, anatomical traits, and biochemical profiles. Significant progeny variation occurred 48 wk after planting (WAP) for dry weight, K content, K uptake, K uptake efficiency, and K use efficiency. Cluster analysis classified Yangambi and Simalungun as K-efficient progenies, whereas PPKS 239 was less efficient. During the immature crop stage (96 WAP), shoot dry weight and shoot K content differed significantly among progenies, while root morphology, K uptake efficiency, and K use efficiency showed nonsignificant progeny effects. Leaf sucrose concentration was highest in Yangambi under K fertilization (1.70% w/w) and lowest in Simalungun under K fertilization (0.12% w/w), while root xylem vessel diameter was greatest in PPKS 239 under K deficiency (75.04 μm) and smallest in Simalungun under K deficiency (34.51 μm). These findings suggest that leaf sucrose concentration and root xylem vessel diameter may be useful traits for exploratory studies of K uptake and K use efficiency in oil palm progenies.
Key words: Elaeis guineensis, fertilizer, leaf succinate, leaf sucrose, oil palm progeny, potassium efficiency.
1Universitas Gadjah Mada, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
2Universitas Trunodjoyo Madura, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agroecotechnology, Kamal, Madura, Indonesia.
3Politeknik LPP, Department of Plantation Management, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
4Universitas Gadjah Mada, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
*Corresponding author (eka.tarwaca.s@ugm.ac.id).
Received: 11 June 2026; Accepted: 10 September 2026, Available online: 29 October 2026.