Pest and disease management in coconut
Coconut is the major crop cultivated by small and marginal farmers of south India, particularly Kerala. This perennial crop is affected by many pests.
The major pests attacking coconut are rhinoceros beetle, red palm weevil coconut eriophyid mite and coreid bug and termites in nursery and diseases are root (wilt), leaf rot, bud rot, stem bleeding etc.
For every farmer, the practical difficulty in carrying out plant protection in coconut is the cost and unavailability of labourers.
However a comprehensive approach in management and plant protection work considering the cost of operation can collectively save the coconut farmers of South India.
Management practices
Open the basins during April-May with the receipt of initial rains and apply1 kg lime and after one week, apply Farm Yard Manure 25kg per palm.
Sow 30 grams per palm green manure seeds of sun hemp or cowpea in the basins and incorporate into the soil during August- September or apply 50-100 kg green leaf manure during June-July or October -November.
To minimise heat load during summer, apply lime solution on the trunk up to a height of 2-3 mts at the start of the season.
Dosage application
Apply one-third of the recommended dose of fertilizer viz. urea - 250 gm, rajphos - 280 gm and potash - 360 gm during April-June and the rest two third, urea - 500 gm, rajphos - 570 gm and potash - 720 gm during September -October
Yellowing symptoms
Apply Borax at 150 gm per palm to those with boron deficiency symptoms like choking and unfurling of leaves during April- May and 500 gm of Magnesium sulphate to the palms which show yellowing symptoms
Clean the crown of palms during April-May. Hook out Rhinoceros beetle adults from the attacked palms using beetle hook.
Fill the inner most three-leaf axils with a mixture of 250 gm neem cake +250 gm sand against rhinoceros beetle and red palm weevil during April- May and September - October
G. Suja, T.N. Vilasini
& M. Indira
Onattukara Regional
Agricultural Research Station
Kerala Agricultural University, Kayamkulam
Alappuzha, Kerala
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