FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Increasing coconut yield in coastal sandy soils
M.J. PRABU
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Coir pith incorporation increases the water holding capacity of the soil
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Photo: CPCRI
ABUNDANCE: From a hectare about hundred tonnes of green fodder can be harvested.
COCONUT PRODUCTION has been observed to be low especially in coastal areas of India compared to other places where the crop is being cultivated.
Researchers at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, Kerala have conducted several experiments in a number of coastal farms to increase coconut yield.
The reason for the poor nut yield is that the sandy soils have poor retentive capacity for water and nutrients, according to Dr. P. Subramanian, senior scientist, CPCRI, Kasaragod.
Grass varieties
One of the methods to increase nut production is growing different grass varieties in coconut gardens using husk and coir pith, according to Subramanian.
"From a well-managed one hectare coconut garden about 14-16 tonnes of dry material is available from the coconut trees in the form of leaves, bunch waste and husk," he said.
Water holding capacity
Coir pith and husk have a high water holding capacity of 5-6 times their weight. "It has been found that by incorporating coir pith in the sandy soil, the water holding capacity of the soil increases by about 40 per cent," Dr. Subramanian said.
A trench of about 30 x 30 cm has to be dug and one layer of coconut husk has to be applied in a concave manner inside the trench.
In the case of coir pith, a similar trench has to be dug and the raw coir pith is placed inside the trench to a height of about 5cm.
Application of farmyard manure and vermicompost at the rate of 5 tonnes each has to be done, according to him.
The trenches are then filled with sand and hybrid grass varieties such as bajra, napier and Co-3 planted 50 x 50 cm apart.
Fertilizer application of about 50 kg urea, 40 kg phosphorus and 40 kg potash has to be done at the time of planting. Sprinkler irrigation has to be done once in 3-4 days, according to Dr. Subramanian.
The grass can be harvested in about 80 days after planting. Subsequent cuttings can be done in 45-50 days intervals, according to him. By adopting this technology, from one hectare about 100 tonnes of green fodder can be harvested.
The green fodder can be used by farmers maintaining their own dairy unit or can be sold.
Revenue potential
A farmer intercropping coconut with grass and maintaining a dairy unit of about 6-8 milch cattle can realise a net income of Rs.75,000 to Rs.1,00,000every year, explained Dr. Subramanian. "He can also get about 20 to 25 tonnes of cow dung and cow's urine that could be effectively recycled for biogas production and used as a manure for increasing nut productivity," he said.
"This husk and coir pith technique also has the advantage of becoming a natural barrier for the entry of seawater into the villages at the time of natural calamities such as tsunami," he said. The intercropped coconut trees along the coastal belt were able to withstand the saline concentration and water logging compared with other trees in the coastal regions.
For more information, readers may contact Dr. Subramanian, Principal Scientist, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala, mobile: 94473-79490, email- subbucoconut@yahoo.com
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