COCONUT TECHNICAL Introduction Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a majestic perennial palm. It is grown extensively in numerous islands and also in the humid coastal tracts of tropical countries. The coconut-palm, rightly known as the Kalpa vriksha or the `tree of heaven’ provides many necessities of life, including food and shelter. Of all the tropical palms providing numerous useful products, it is perhaps the outstanding one. It is mainly cultivated for the nuts from which two important commercial products, copra and fibre, are obtained. Copra yields oil and oil-cake. The trunk of the mature palm is used as timber for constructing houses and the plaited leaves are used for thatching houses, fencing, etc. The unopened spathe is tapped for toddy. Fresh toddy called neera is a tonic. Whereas sweet toddy can be converted into jaggery and sugar, fermented toddy is a mild alcoholic drink, and vinegar can also be prepared from it. Water from tender coconut is a refreshing and delicious drink. In Kerala, the extraction of coir from the husk of nuts and the manufacture of coir products provides employment for thousands of people, particularly in the backwater tracts where facilities for retting husks are available. The coconut shell is largely used as a fuel and for the production of charcoal and making a variety of curios. The shell-flour is used as a filler in plastics. Thus every part of the palm is useful in one way or another.   Varieties There are two distinct varieties of coconut, viz. the tall and the dwarf. Dwarf X tall and tall X dwarf hybrids have been found to be early bearers and superior to their parents in yield potential under favourable conditions. The tolerance of these hybrids to the root (wilt) disease adds to their virtue. A few indigenous and exotic collections, e.g. Kappadam, Laccadive ordinary, Laccadive micro, San Ramon and Fiji have been found to be high-yielding.   Production Improvement According to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, ICAR, Government of India, in 1999-2000, the production of vigorous seedlings by early germination, higher seedling, height, number of leaves, better root system and higher dry matter production/seedlings has been standardized. Seedlings raised in poly-bags with a potting mixture of red earth: sand: cowdung in a 1:1:1 ratio showed high vigour and better recovery than the conventional field nursery. The cost of production for 100 seedlings ranged from Rs 740 in conventional to Rs 1,688 in poly-bag with potting mixture. With reduced field transplanting shock, early flowering and nut-bearing capacity, raising of seedlings in polybags with potting mixture has been encouraged over conventional nursery technique.   Fertilizer Management The recommended dose of fertilizers is 500 g of N, 300 g of P2O5 and 1,200 g of K2O per palm per year for the ordinary tall variety. Hybrids and varieties, with a high yield potential, should be fertilized with 1,000 g of N, 500 g of P2O5 and 2,000 g of K2O. For soils, which are poor in organic matter, the application of green manure or compost at 50 kg per palm is recommended. Green-manuring crops usually grown are cowpea, sunn-hemp, Crolalaria striata, Crolalaria juncea and Calopogonium mucunodes. Fertilizers may be applied in two split doses. After the receipt of summer showers, one-third of the dose of fertilizers is spread around the palm within a radius of 1.8 m and raked in. Circular basins, 1.8 m in radius and 25 cm in depth, may be dug in July-August and the green-leaf manure or compost applied and partially may be spread over the green-leaf manure or compost in the first week of September and the basins closed. Under irrigated conditions and in areas with assured supply of moisture throughout the year, the annual dose of fertilizers may be applied every three months in equal split doses. According to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, ICAR, Government of India, based on research carried on in 1999-2000, the response of guarded levels of fertilizer application in coconut-based high density multistoried cropping system revealed that coconut yield decreased gradually with reduction in fertilizer level below two-thirds dose of the recommended fertilizers. The yield increased gradually with increase in fertilizer dose. The highest yield was recorded with two-thirds dose of fertilizer dose. The highest yield was recorded with two-thirds dose of fertilizers. The yields of the component crops (clove buds, pineapple fruits, banana bunches, bread fruit and jack fruit) were also higher with increasing levels of fertilizers. Therefore, for sustainable production of coconut as well as component crops, a minimum of two-thirds dose of the recommended fertilizer of individual crops is required.   Water Management In regions with a long spell of dry weather, there is a definite set-black in the growth and the yield of the coconut-palm. An increase of 50 to 100 per cent in the yield of nuts can be obtained by giving summer irrigation. The quantity and the interval between irrigation depend upon the soil and the climatic conditions. In loamy soils, copious irrigation, once a week, is sufficient. In sandy soils along the sea-coast even sea-water can be used for watering during the summer months without any adverse effect.   Weed Management The weed plant, Clerodendron infortunatum, elicited 80% mortality of Oryctes grubs when mixed with the natural food of the grubs at 4-6% concentration. Lower doses caused insect growth-regulatory activity producing larval-pupal intermediates and adultoids. Mixing plants in the cowdung pit in-situ, the breeding site of the beetle, have definite advantage in the eradication of rhinoceros population.   Other Latest Developments in Coconut Research The Coconut Development Board is setting up a research station at Vegiwada Village in West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh on a plot of 179 acres to take up research work and also develop coconut plantation and other coconut products. A special drive is being launched to eradicate disease affecting the coconut trees in West Godavari, East Godavari Srikakulam and Viziangaram districts. The Board is also giving a subsidy of Rs. 6,000 per hectare to farmers who take up coconut plantation in areas and exceeding 4 hectares per farmer. Hybrid seedlings produced by the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute: The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute has started producing seedlings of hybrid varieties of coconut that have better resistance to root wilt disease. The varieties were developed by the institute after research and trial work carried out in the past 8 years. It has set up seed producing gardens in Kottayam, Alapuzha, Emakulam, Pathanathitta and Thrissur. The Defense Food Research Laboratory, Mysore has developed technology for packing of tender coconut water in pouches and aluminum cans. The Kerala Coconut Marketing Federation (KERAFED), at present, as the largest processor of coconut oil in the country. It has a processing plant at Karunagappli with a capacity of 200 tonnes per day. The plant also has a capacity to store over 3,000 tonnes copra for processing. In 1997, it went into an agreement with Karnataka Oil Federation and M.P. Oil Federation Ltd. for marketing its branded coconut oil `Kera' through their sales outlets. In 1996--97, KERAFED earned a net profit of Rs. 2.47 crore in a turnover of Rs. 30 crore. The scientists of Central Agricultural Research Institute. Port Blair have found a new application of tender coconut water. They have discovered that the case life of cut flowers can be increased by using a mixture of tender coconut water and plain water in specific proportions for different varieties of flowers.