AFTER TREATMENT: Hareesh Joshi, head, department of zoology, St., Aloysius College, Mangalore, showing samples after the vermi manure treatment. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: Application of vermi manure to help control mite menace in coconut palms has shown positive results in a trial done by a zoology professor here.

The mite infection caused by a pest, "Aceria guerreronis" (Eriophyidae: Acari) has affected a number of plantations in the State.

The severity of the disease was noticed four years ago.

Hareesh Joshi, head, department of zoology, St. Aloysius College, said mites affected the coconut palms in his house three years ago.

Most of the tender nuts were losing their colour and were shrinking and turning black before falling. There were fissures and gummosis on the nuts.

Vermi compost

Recently he applied 60 kg of home-made vermi compost to three coconut palms. The compost was prepared using degradable household waste.

Following this the fall of nuts has stopped for the past two months. Coconuts in those trees are normal in size and have normal green colour. But it needs to be observed for some more time before categorically arriving at a conclusion, he said. Dr. Joshi said that vermi manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It also contains calcium, sulphur, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, copper and organic carbon. Vitamins, minerals, plant growth substances and hormones are also found in vermi manure.

When the vermi compost is applied micronutrients in the compost enter the stem thus providing the tree the required nutrients.

Consultation

Following this Dr. Joshi consulted a tissue culture expert. The latter suggested to him to observe it for some more time.

Dr. Joshi, in his trial, did not feed any chemical fertilizer to the three coconut palms. "I never allow even the bathroom water to go in to the trees," he said.

Case study

The professor said he had learnt that in G. Thimmapura village, Kadur taluk, Chikmagalur district that a woman had also obtained positive results in controlling the disease after she let earthworms in her coconut plantation to produce vermi compost.

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