Table 3. Soil moisture content (% dry basis) around palms under different palm shell (PS), empty fruit bunches (EFB), and fertilizer (F) application treatments.

Means 1990 1991
Feb.13
60 DAT
Mar.6
87 DAT
Jan.9
396 DAT
Tester 28.5 24.7 27.0
PS 30.0 27.3 32.0
PS+F 22.5 29.3 39.1
F 16.3 20.6 23.5
EFB 38.0 32.6 25.3
EFB + F 36.3 35.1 26.6
Double EFB + F 35.1 35.6 27.6

Composite soil samples were taken at 1.5 m from the trunk at 0-15 cm depth. DAT= Days after treatment application.