Search

A field experiment on drip irrigation for Chowghat Orange Dwarf X West Coast Tall (COD X WCT) coconut hybrid was conducted in laterite soil at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod (Kerala, India) to study the drip irrigation requirement and its influence on growth and yield. The treatments included were three levels of drip irrigation (at 33, 66 and 100% E0 daily), basin irrigation (100% E0) and rainfed control. The experimental results revealed that annual leaf production and leaf nutrient status of coconut palm was significantly higher in the irrigated treatments compared to the rainfed control. The female flower production and nut yield with 66 per cent of Eo was on par with 100 per cent of Eo through drip and 100 per cent of Eo through basin irrigation and significantly superior compared to drip irrigation at 33 per cent of E0 and rainfed control. Drip irrigation equal to 66 per cent of open pan evaporation (Eo) proved to be the economically efficient method of irrigation with water saving of 34 per cent compared to 100 per cent of Eo through basin and drip method.

A field experiment on drip irrigation for Chowghat Orange Dwarf X West Coast Tall (COD X WCT) coconut hybrid was conducted in laterite soil at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod (Kerala, India) to study the drip irrigation requirement and its influence on growth and yield. The treatments included were three levels of drip irrigation (at 33, 66 and 100% E0 daily), basin irrigation (100% E0) and rainfed control. The experimental results revealed that annual leaf production and leaf nutrient status of coconut palm was significantly higher in the irrigated treatments compared to the rainfed control. The female flower production and nut yield with 66 per cent of Eo was on par with 100 per cent of Eo through drip and 100 per cent of Eo through basin irrigation and significantly superior compared to drip irrigation at 33 per cent of E0 and rainfed control. Drip irrigation equal to 66 per cent of open pan evaporation (Eo) proved to be the economically efficient method of irrigation with water saving of 34 per cent compared to 100 per cent of Eo through basin and drip method.

A field experiment was conducted at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, India for six years (1993-1999) to study the impact of drip irrigation levels and mulching on coconut in littoral sandy soil. The treatments consisted of three levels of drip irrigation (66, 100, and 133 % of open pan evaporation (E0)) along with basin irrigation (100 % of E0) and rainfed control as main plot treatments and mulching with coconut leaves and no mulching as sub plot treatments. The experimental results revealed that annual leaf production and leaf nutrient status of coconut was better in the irrigated treatments compared to the rainfed control. The drip irrigation at 66 per cent of E0 (27 litres of water per palm per day during December-January months and 32 litres of water per palm per day during February-May months) resulted in water saving and the nut yield was on par with 100 per cent and 133 per cent of E0 through drip and 100 per cent of E0 through basin irrigation and differed significantly compared to rainfed control. The nut characters like nut weight, husk weight, copra thickness, copra content and copra yield was superior under irrigated treatments compared to rainfed control. The copra yield was 499 kg per ha under rainfed condition, where as it was 2087 to 2202 kg per ha under irrigated treatments. Irrigation along with mulching with coconut leaves resulted in significantly higher nut yields.

Coconut-Based Mixed Farming System which evolved from the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute is one of the technologies recommended for sustainable coconut production. The economic analysis of this system for the period 1989-90 to 1997-98, realized a net return between Rs. 49,700 to Rs. 126,900. The Cash Flow Analysis preformed using a discount rate of 14% realized the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.36, the Net Present Worth of the system was Rs.286,500,, the Internal Rate of Return was 27.44%, and, the Pay Back Period was five years.