JAKARTA – Is it true that forest has better capability in harvesting solar energy compared to the oil palm plantations?. The following facts and descriptions will clearly answer the question.

Oil palm plantations stand as connecting chain between the sun as the only source of energy in the universe and humans. Through the process of photosynthesis in oil palm plants, light energy (photons) from the sun is captured/harvested and stored in the form of chemical energy, namely palm oil and biomass. A comparison of the ability to harvest solar energy between oil palm plantations and forests is shown in Table 1. Oil palm plantations are relatively superior to forests in terms of photosynthesis efficiency, radiation conversion, incremental biomass, and dry matter productivity.

Meanwhile, the relative superiority of forests lies in the leaf size index and total biomass stock indicators. Thus, for harvesting solar energy, oil palm plantations are superior to forests.

In case of how to produce more efficient energy, absorb more carbon dioxide (CO2), and produce more oxygen (O2), then oil palm plantations have better capability than forests. However, if what is needed is higher biomass storage or carbon stocks, then forests are better than oil palm plantations. (*) (Mitos 6-27)

Reference:

• PPKS (2004,2005)