AA Vitroa I – owing to the success of our first commercial planting of clonal palms in 1997, we decided to set up a commercial tissue culture laboratory in 2008 to scale up production of ramets. Located in Ijok, Selangor, our 35,000 square feet laboratory was built with an annual production capacity of 1 million saleable ramets. Over the past 30 years, we fine-tuned our protocols and tested the performance of our clonal palms in both experimental plots and commercial fields. As of 2020, our high oil-bearing clones have been planted on more than 69,000 hectares of oil palm fields in our principals’ and clients’ estates in Malaysia.

Performance of AA Vitroa I

• 8% higher fresh fruit bunch (FFB) compared to DxP in field trials *
• 20% higher oil yield (OY) compared to DxP in field trials *
• Consistent high OER of above 24% when tested in commercial mills **
• Desirable vegetative palm characteristics: Slim petioles, slow height increment and uniform in growth to ease harvesting burden.
• All ramets are produced under stringent quality control of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

*   Recorded at various trial sites; averaged from at least 5 years’ yield data
**  Recorded at 4 different mills; crops for clonal data include bunches of young plantings, scout harvesting and 20% DxP palms.

AA Vitroa I is the product of stringent selection process and our many years of experience as well as long-standing expertise in oil palm tissue culturing. Cloning will allow the industry to reduce yield fluctuation common to the heterogenous DxP. Plantations with palm oil mills will certainly benefit from planting of our high oil-bearing AA Vitroa I.

Your Solution To Higher Profitability

ESIGEL is a superior product for latex stimulation based on improved formulation of ethephon prepared by Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd.. This formulation incorporating amendments, enhances the efficiency of ethephon by early release of ethylene gas into the tree system.

Using the groove technique of application, ESIGEL was found to give a higher yield response than traditional ethephon formulations. As price of ESIGEL is competitive and comparable with traditional ethephon formulations, a yield advantage may be obtained at no extra cost.

ESIGEL is available in 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0% ready to use formulations. Guildlines for use of ESIGEL are given in the labels. It should however be borne in mind that yield response to ESIGEL will depend on several other factors i.e type of clone, age of material, tapping system, nutritional status of the trees, etc.

• Reduce circle weeding for the first 18-24 months, therebysaving on labour and materials
• Save on fertilizer application as one application lasts up to 14 months* (Similar to application of slow release fertilizers)
• Reduce fertilizer loss
• Avoid chemical phytotoxicity and scorching of palm leaves, resulting in better palm growth and high early yields

* Depends on soil type and rainfall

• Conserve soil moisture
• Obtain better growth especially in areas with extreme climate eg. very low or very high rainfall
• Give better growth than EFB mulching on poor shallow soils such as lateritic and very sandy areas

AAR maintains a specialist team of Research Officers and technicians to carry out the following comprehensive analytical and diagnostic services needed to support its agronomic advisory work and supplementary adhoc studies which are needed by its Principals and Clients:

AAR Field Diagnostic Services

Specially trained AAR staff visit the advisory estates annually to assess palm growth and sample the leaves (and where appropriate, the rachis) and soils with specified standard sampling techniques for chemical analysis. The results are used to diagnose growth and nutrient deficiencies and formulate annual fertiliser recommendations and required corrective inputs. All the diagnostic data, fertilisers applied and yield achieved are collected and stored in AAR’s extensive Agronomic Advisory Database.

Supplementary field observations including drainage status, ground vegetation conditions, field accessibility, pest attacks and disease infections requiring improvements are made as well.

AAR technicians are now equipped with handheld digital recorders to collect geo-referenced field data and sampling details directly for improved integrity and accuracy of data collected.

AAR Chemistry Laboratory

Our commercial chemistry laboratory has been in operation since 1986. We have a team of experienced lab assistants specialize in a wide range of chemical and physical testing for plants and soils and fertilisers. Besides our principals (KLK Berhad and Boustead Plantations Berhad), we also provide commercial nutrient analysis services to external plantation clients and fertilizer companies from Southeast Asia and Oceania Regions.

Our laboratory is MS ISO/ISE 17025:2017 accredited under the Laboratory Accreditation Scheme of Malaysia (SAMM). All our lab personnel are proficient and well-versed in various spectroscopic and analytical techniques necessary to deliver results of the highest quality to our clients. We have a strict legislation to ensure compliance of standard laboratory operating techniques, safety and process assurance of good laboratory practices.

The accuracy and consistency of our chemical analysis results are constantly attested in the Proficiency Testing (PT) Programme held locally and internationally. At the international level of interlaboratory comparison, our testing performance has continued to be accredited by the Wageningen University International Plant Analytical Exchange. We also subscribe to the PT programme established by the Agriculture Laboratory Association of Malaysia (AgLAM) for plant, soil, fertilizer and compost.

We have long been recognised as one of the leading chemistry laboratories in Malaysia. While our reputation in the agricultural industry has been established for more than three decades, we remain committed to deliver precise, accurate, timely and quality results of the highest constancy to our clients.

Average number of leaf, soil, fertiliser and other samples the Chemistry lab analysed in the past 5 years:

Sample preparation for fertiliser testing

Nutrient content determination
using NIR

Fertiliser nutrient analysis with ICP-OES technique