MPOB F7 Controlled Release Fertilizer
A polymer coated controlled release fertilizer developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board together with Smart Fert. One application a year for nursery, young palm and replanting – and up to 42% lower cost at replanting.
Why MPOB F7 was developed
The problem did not start in a laboratory. It started in the nurseries.
Members of the Malaysian Oil Palm Nurseries Association (MOPNA) were being sold products marketed as controlled release fertilizer that did not behave like one. With no recognised local standard for what a controlled release fertilizer had to do, there was no way for a nursery operator or a farmer to tell a genuine product from one that simply carried the label. MOPNA’s vice-chairman raised the underlying gap: nurseries needed a controlled release fertilizer, there was no local product that met the requirement, and imported alternatives cost too much to use at scale.
Smart Fert was introduced to MPOB for evaluation and laboratory testing. What followed was a three-year programme of laboratory work and field trials, at the end of which the formulation was certified and released as MPOB F7 – the seventh generation in MPOB’s fertilizer improvement programme, and the first of them to use controlled release technology.
The three years matter. Many fertilizer products reach the market on a single season of data. MPOB F7 carries three years of trial results across nurseries, replanting sites and laboratories in six states, which is why MOPNA members and Malaysian growers can use it with a certification behind it rather than a claim.
One application a year instead of four or five
At the replanting stage, a young palm on conventional fertilizer needs roughly 2.5 kg spread across four to five rounds a year. Each round is a trip to every tree across the block.
MPOB F7 replaces that with a single application of 600 g per tree on peat soil, or 800 g on mineral soil. The coating keeps releasing nutrients through the year, so the palm is fed continuously without anyone going back.
That is where the cost saving comes from: less product, far less labour, and less fertilizer washed past the roots before the palm can use it.
Tested across 18 sites over three years
MPOB F7 was not released on a single trial. The development programme ran across 18 separate locations, covering every stage the product is designed for.
Locations: MPOB headquarters, Selangor ยท Bagan Datuk, Perak ยท Hulu Paka, Terengganu ยท Segamat, Johor ยท Sessang, Sarawak ยท Lahad Datu, Sabah.
Across those trials, MPOB F7 reduced nutrient lost to leaching by 56% compared with conventional fertilizer, and trial plots showed larger girth measurements and higher SPAD readings than both conventional fertilizer and competing controlled release products.
Source: MPOB, 2026.
What MPOB F7 saves
The cost savings recorded during the MPOB F7 trials varied depending on the stage of oil palm development. The results below show the savings recorded for small nursery, large nursery and replanting applications.
Assumptions: Savings are based on the trial conditions and application basis shown above. Actual savings may vary depending on site conditions and application requirements.
Source: MPOB, 2026.
How to apply MPOB F7
Rates below are MPOB’s recommendations by growth stage.
MPOB F7 specification
Formulation |
19-8-13-2.5-0.4B +TE |
|---|---|
Type |
Polymer coated controlled release fertilizer |
Developed by |
MPOB with Smart Fert Sdn Bhd |
Designed for |
Oil palm nursery, early growth and replanting |
Application |
Once per year |
Why Oil Palm Nurseries Are Switching to MPOB F7
Less Nutrient Lost to Rain
Because nutrients are released gradually rather than all at once, less is washed away during heavy rain, a common problem with conventional fertiliser in Malaysia’s wet nursery conditions.
More Value From Every Bag
A slower, steadier release means more of what you apply is actually available to the plant over time, rather than leaching out before the seedling can use it.
A Lighter Footprint on
Soil & Waterways
Reduced nutrient runoff also means less nutrient reaching drains and waterways around the nursery, supporting the same sustainability goals MPOB has been pushing across the wider palm oil sector’s fertiliser practices.
Frequently Ask Questions About MPOB F7
What is MPOB F7 controlled release fertilizer?
MPOB F7 is a controlled release fertilizer developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and launched in June 2026. It’s coated with a plant-based polymer and was formulated specifically for oil palm nurseries.
How is MPOB F7 different from regular fertilizer?
Regular fertiliser releases its nutrients quickly, so a large share can be lost to rain before the plant uses it. MPOB F7’s polymer coating releases nutrients gradually, matching the seedling’s uptake over time.
Where can I buy MPOB F7 in Malaysia?
Smart Fert is the commercialisation partner for MPOB F7 and supplies it to nurseries and growers. Contact Smart Fert to check current availability or learn more information.
How much MPOB F7 does a palm need at replanting?
600 g per tree on peat soil and 800 g per tree on mineral soil, applied once into the planting hole. Conventional fertilizer at the same stage needs around 2.5 kg per year across four to five applications.
How is MPOB F7 different from MPOB F4?
They are different formulations for different stages. MPOB F4 is a bio-chemical fertilizer built around zeolite, formulated 9-6-18-2-0.5 and generally used on established palms. MPOB F7 is a polymer coated controlled release fertilizer, formulated 19-8-13-2.5-0.4B +TE, designed for nurseries, young palms and replanting. Learn more about how MPOB fertilizer formulations differ.
Is MPOB F7 certified?
Yes. It was developed with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board over three years of laboratory and field trials across 18 sites, and released as MPOB’s seventh generation fertilizer formulation.