Root Competition for Phosphorus Between Coconut Palms and Interplanted Dicot Trees Along a Soil Fertility Gradient in Kerala, India.

Homegardens are archetypal land-use systems in the tropics. They involve diverse kinds of trees and field crops that coexist in apparent harmony and in close juxtaposition with one another (Kumar and Nair, 2004). In the peninsular India, coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) form the "nucleus" of these gardens, around which the other components are orchestrated (Jose and Shanmugaratnam, 1993). Several multipurpose trees and shrubs also occur in homegardens. These include trees scattered around the homesteads and trees planted at specific points to provide or avoid shade, necessary or harmful to different plants, besides trees providing support to vines such as Piper nigrum (Mathew et al. 1996). In addition, many farmers integrate fast growing timber species in well-fertilized plantations (e.g. coconut) in expectation of extra cash returns. Indeed, the steadily rising timber prices in the local and regional markets of peninsular India have given an impetus to such intercropping practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]