Agronomic evaluation and economic efficiency of fertilization strategies in OxG oil palm nurseries at the Latitud 0 Experimental Station
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is one of the most efficient agricultural systems for vegetable oil production; however, its productivity depends critically on the quality of nursery seedlings, where fertilization plays a determining role in structural development and in the economic efficiency of the system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic and economic performance of different fertilization strategies by comparing compound fertilizers (T1: 10-30-10; T2: YaraMila; T3: Urealina) against simple fertilizers (T4), using an experimental approach and cost-benefit analysis. A randomized complete block design was used, and growth indicators were evaluated, including plant height, leaf dimensions, stem diameter, and number of leaves. The results showed significant differences at p ≤ 0.05 according to Tukey's test, with compound treatments showing greater structural development; T1 stood out with the highest values for all variables evaluated, whereas T4 showed the lowest performance. From the economic perspective, T1 recorded the lowest cost and the highest cost-benefit ratio (2.19), followed by T2 and T3 with marginal differences, while T4 showed substantially lower efficiency (1.35), attributed to increased operating costs. The results demonstrate that balanced fertilization simultaneously optimizes seedling growth and system profitability, consolidating it as a key strategy for efficient production in oil palm nurseries.