COCONUT AGRONOMY PRACTICE

Introduction

The coconut palm is referred to as “Kalpavriksha” the tree of heaven” as each and every part of the palm is useful in one way or other. It is an important crop of Goa and plays an important role in the social, economic and cultural activities of the people.

Area

The total area under coconut is 25,160 hac. The talukas wise area in Goa is as under: –

Source:Directorate of Agriculture, Goa

Season

Generally seedlings are transplanted with the beginning of South West monsoon i.e.June,where irrigation facilities are available planting can be done in the month of May,so that the seedlings get well established before the onset of heavy rains.

Soils

Coconut comes up well in a variety of soil ranging From sand to clay loan. It performs well in soils rich in organic with good water holding capacity.Depth of soil should be atleast 1.0 to 1.5 mts. Soils should be drained.

Climate

1. Temperature:- Mean annual temperature of 27°C with a diurnal variation of 5 – 7cC is ideal.
2. Rainfall:- 1800 to 2500 mm. per year, well distributed.
3. Humidity:- 80 – 90% relative humidity is ideal.

Land Preperation

The pit for planting coconut seedlings should be dug well before the onset of monsoon. In normal soils, the size of the pit should be 1 mt. x 1 mt, x 1 mt. It the soil is hard the size of pit can be increased.

Planting method

Fill the pit with topsoil mixed with powdered compost/cowdung/neem cake.

In well drained soil where water stagnation is not a problem, the coconut seedling should be planted 30- 45 cm. deep

In areas where water stagnates during rainy season, the seedling should be planted at ground level

Plant the seedling in the centre of pit. After care:

a) Provide regular irrigation during summer months. b) Provide proper drainage facilities in ill drained areas. c) Remove weeds from the pit regularly. d) Fill the pit gradually as the seedling grow.

Spacing

For realizing better yield from coconut, an optimum plant density must be maintained in the field. A spacing of 8 mt. x 8 mt. is generally recommended for coconut with spacing of 8 mt. x 8 mt., 160 coconut seedlings can be accommodated in an area of 1.0 hac.

Manures & Fertilizers

Regular manuring right from the first year of planting is essential for good vegetative growth, early flowering and bearing and for obtaining high yields of coconut palms.

The fertilizer doses generally recommended for coconut palm is as below:-

To give the above nutrients for a coconut palm the below mentioned fertilizer combination can be applied.

Under irrigated conditions fertilizer may be applied doses avoiding heavy rainfall season. The 15′ dose of fertilizers is to be applied 3 months after planting.

Method of application of fertilizer

1st Method

Open a circular basin of 1.8 mt. radius with a depth of 20 – 25 cm. at the end of the basin (see figure) and apply the recommended doses of fertilizers along with conpost and green leaves.

2nd method:

Dig a circular trench of 30 cm.wide and 20- 25 cm. depth about 1 mt.away from the tree (see figure) and apply recommended fertilizers alongwith compost & lot of green leaves and cover the basin with top soil.

Inter-cultivation

Weed Control:-

Weeds complete with coconut palms for water and nutrients. Hence if the weeds are not removed, productivity of coconut will be adversely affected.

• Inter-cultivation by ploughing or digging the interspaces during monsoon season will be beneficial to control weeds.
• Weeds can be controlled by spraying herbicides.Spray “Paraquet 24% SL” (Gramaxone) by mixing 50 ml. /10 litre of water or spray “Glyphosate 41% SL” (Glycel/Roundup) by mixing 30 ml./10 litre of water on the weeds.

Irrigation

Giving irrigation during summer months increases the yield of the coconut palms.

Methods of irrigation

1. Basin irrigation:
   In basin irrigation, water is applied in the basin of 1.8 mt. radius around the palm either through hosepipe or by irrigation channels. In this method, there is loss of water through deep percolation and surface evaporation.
2. Sprinkler Irrigation:
   Sprinkler irrigation is most suited in coconut garden where inter or mixed cropping is practiced.
3. Drip Irrigation
   Drip irrigation is ideal, as it saves waters, energy and labour. The water use efficiency is high in this type of irrigation.

Quantity of irrigation water required

At seedling stage, 45 litres of water once in four days is required.

For adult palm, 200 litres of water per palm once in 4 days is required, through basin irrigation.

For drip irrigation, 32 litres of water per palm per day is required.

Mulching: (Soil moisture conservation)

Proper soil moisture conservation practices are vital for better performance of coconut palm, especially in non-irrigated areas.

• Regular ploughing or digging of the interspaces at the end of the monsoon help in moisture conservation.
• Mulching the coconut basin, at the end of the monsoon, with green leaves, coconut leaves, coconut husks, coconut coir helps in conserving soil moisture.
• Application of sufficient quantity of organic manures help to enhance the moisture retention capacity of the soil.

Subsidiary crops in coconut plantation (inter cropping )

Coconut as a monocrop does not utilize the basic resources such as soil and sunlight available in the plantation. The rooting pattern in coconut is such that only 25% of land area is effectively. Rest 75% area can be used for subsidiary crops.

1. 1. During 1st 8 years of planting, there is good light transmission in the plantation. During this period intercrops like banana, chillies, vegetables, pulses, groundnut, flowers, etc, can be successfully planted.
   2. During 9 – 25 years of planting, the light transmission in the plantation is reduced and this period is not very suitable for taking up intercrops.
   3. After 25 years of planting, the light transmission/penetration increases and this period is ideal for cultivation of annual and or perennial crops like banana, pineapple, pepper, (trailed on coconut palms), nutmeg etc.

Cultivation of subsidiary crops gives the adthtional Income to the farmer.

Nursery

Selection of Mother Palms

For obtaining good quality seednuts, trees with the following characteristics should be selected.

1. 1. 1. The tree should be between 20 – 60 years.
      2. Regular bearer with an annual yield of more than 80 nuts per palm per year and free from any disease.
      3. Avoid palms growing in very favourable conditions e.g. tree crowing near compost pits.

Collection of seed nuts

Seednuts should be collected during the period January, April only fully matured nuts i.e. about 12 months old should be harvested.

Raising Nursery

1. 1. 1. Sow the seednuts in the month of June.
      2. Select well-drained and coarse textured soil.
      3. To keep white ants away, mix “Phorate 10G” b© 10 gram per square meter in the soil or drench the soil with “Chloropyriphos 2OEc” @ 4 ml. per litre of water
      4. Nursery site should have partial shade only.
      5. Dig the soil and open trenches, of 20 – 26 cms. Depth.
      6. Maintain a distance of 40 cm. between 2 trenches.
      7. After every 3 trenches, maintain the distance of 1 mt.
      8. Sow the seednuts in the trenches by maintaining distance of 30 cm. between two seednuts
      9. Nuts can be sown vertically or horizontally.

Nursery care

1. 1. 1. Water the nursery regularly.
      2. Keep nursery free of weeds.
      3. Remove those nuts, which have not sprouted even after fine months of sowing.

Seedling selection

The vigorous seedlings, which are one year old, having minimum of 6 leaves and girth of 10 cms. At the collar should be selected for planting.