The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed a series of fertilizer formulations for oil palm, released over many years and numbered in sequence. Growers searching for “MPOB fertilizer” usually arrive with a specific question: which one do I need?
The short answer is that they are not competing versions of the same thing. They were developed at different times to solve different problems, and they suit different stages of the crop. This article sets out what the two most asked-about formulations are and where each fits.
What the numbering means
The F number is a generation, not a grade. MPOB F1 through to the most recent release represent successive rounds of development in MPOB’s fertilizer programme. A higher number means a later formulation, not automatically a more suitable one for your situation. The right question is not “which is the newest” but “which stage am I fertilising”.
MPOB F4
MPOB F4 is a bio-chemical compound fertilizer, formulated 9๎6๎18๎2๎0.5 – nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and boron. Its distinguishing feature is the inclusion of zeolite, a mineral that raises the cation exchange capacity of the soil, helping it hold nutrients and water rather than letting them drain away.
The high potassium share and the balanced magnesium and boron reflect what a mature, fruiting palm draws down. It is commonly used on established palms, and its zeolite content makes it a frequent choice on sloping ground and problem soils where retention is the main difficulty.
MPOB F4 is produced under licence by a number of Malaysian fertilizer manufacturers, so it is widely available from agricultural suppliers.
MPOB F7
MPOB F7 is a controlled release fertilizer, formulated 19-8-13-2.5-0.4B +TE, and it works on a different principle. Each granule is coated in a polymer membrane. Water passes through the coating, dissolves the nutrients, and they move back out gradually over months rather than becoming available all at once.
The nitrogen share is much higher than F4’s, and the reason is the stage it serves. F7 was developed for nurseries, young palms and replanting – stages dominated by vegetative growth, where nitrogen demand is high, where the root system is small and vulnerable to loss, and where going back to re-apply four or five times a year is expensive.
It was developed by MPOB together with Smart Fert over three years, across 18 trial locations, and is the seventh generation in the programme. MPOB’s trials measured a 56% reduction in nutrient lost to leaching against conventional fertilizer, and cost savings of up to 40% in the small nursery, 27% in the large nursery and 42% at replanting.
Side by side
| Comparison | MPOB F4 | MPOB F7 |
|---|---|---|
| Formulation | 9-6-18-2-0.5 | 19-8-13-2.5-0.4B +TE |
| Type | Bio-chemical compound with zeolite | Polymer coated controlled release |
| Nutrient release | Conventional, aided by zeolite retention | Gradual, governed by the coating |
| Intended stage | Established, mature palms | Nursery, young palm, replanting |
| Typical use case | Maintenance rounds; sloping and problem soils | Single annual application where re-applying is costly |
So which one
It follows from the stage, not from the number:
- Nursery, from germinated seed to planting out – a controlled release formulation. 5 g per germinated seed in the small nursery, 80 g per palm in the large nursery.
- Replanting and the first years after – a controlled release formulation. 600 g per tree on peat, 800 g on mineral soil, into the planting hole.
- Established, fruiting palms on a maintenance programme – a compound fertilizer matched to the block’s leaf analysis and soil type. This is where F4-type products are normally used.
If you are unsure, the deciding factor is usually not the product at all. It is whether your palms are still building frame or already carrying fruit.
Further reading
For how coated fertilizers work in general, see our guide to controlled release fertilizer. For full trial data, rates and specification on the controlled release formulation, see MPOB F7.