Comparative Fruit Quality Evaluation of Two varieties of Elaeis guineensis Jacqin. in Two Oil Palm Plantations of the Niger Delta

This study evaluated the fruit quality of two commercial varieties of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Dura and Tenera) cultivated in two major oil palm plantations, SIAT (Rivers State) and PRESCO (Edo State), located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Fruit bunches were randomly collected from palms aged four and five years in each plantation. Moisture content and free fatty acid (FFA) levels were determined using standard analytical procedures, while the physicochemical characteristics of the plantation soils were also assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (Version 21) with significance set at P ? 0.05. Results showed that the Moisture content in SIAT, Dura (0.25%) and Tenera (0.20%) were relatively higher but still below the SON maximum limit of 0.29%. In contrast, PRESCO Dura (0.11%) and Tenera (0.14%) exhibited significantly lower moisture levels. FFA content in SIAT Dura (6.0%) exceeded the SON-recommended threshold of 5.0%, whereas PRESCO Dura (4.9%) was within acceptable limits. SIAT Tenera (2.0%) and PRESCO Tenera (3.1%) displayed better FFA profiles compared to their Dura counterparts. Soil analysis indicated non-acidic pH values (>5.0) in both locations, with good levels of total organic carbon (TOC), but poor total organic nitrogen (TON) values, suggesting limited fertility for long-term productivity. The findings highlight the influence of varietal type and edaphic conditions on oil palm fruit quality. Regular monitoring and adherence to processing standards are recommended to mitigate quality degradation and potential food safety risks.