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Page 1: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Technical bulletin No 49

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

C Palaniswami George V Thomas R Dhanapal P Subramanian

H P Maheswarappa and A K Upadhyay

yen CENTRAL PLANTATION CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE yen (Indian Council ofAgricultural Research) ~ ICAII KASARAGOD _ 671 124 KERALA INDIA shy

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System Technical Bulletin No 49 CPCRI Kasaragod Kerala India 24 p

Published by 1 Dr George V Thomas Director 2

Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (Indian Council ofAgricultural Research)

KASARAGOD - 671124 KERALA INDIA Phone 04994 - 232893232894232895 amp 232996 Fax 04994-232322 Email cpcrinicindirectorcpcrigmailcom Grams RESEARCH Kasaragod Website httpwwwcpcrigovin

Compiled amp Edited blf Dr C Palaniswami Dr George V Thomas Dr R Dhanapal Dr P Subramanian Dr HP Maheswarappa Dr AK Upadhyay

December 2007

Pllotogmplts

Shri K Shymaprasad

Printed nl

Niseema Printers amp Publishers Kochi - 18

CON TENT

1 Introduction 1

2 Coconut based cropping system 4

a) Component crops

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilis r do e

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

iii) Irrigation

3 Effect of INM on crop production 8

a) Effect on yield

b) Effect on foliar nu trient levels

c) Effect on soil nutrient status

d) Effect on microbial parameters

e) Rainfall partitioning

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

g) Root di tribu tion

4 Yield relationship function of coconut 22

5 Economics and employment generation 22

6 Conclusion 23

CPCRI

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut based Cropping System

1 Introduction

Coconut (COCOS nucifera L) widely known as Kalpavriksha is an important perennial

oil yielding crop of humid tropics It is grown widely in the countries lying in the Indian

Ocean and the Pacific Rim India is the largest producer of the coconut and also has the

largest acreage under the crop Philippines Indonesia Ivory Coast Malaysia Thailand

Oceania Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka are the other leading coconut growing countries

In India more than 90 of the coconut acreage and production lies in the four southern

states namely Kerala Tamil Nadu Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

In general coconut like any other plantation crops is grown on variety of soils namely

lateritic and laterite littoral coastal sand red sandy loams alluviums coral peaty and

black soils The ideal coconut growing soils are well drained and aerated with a minimum

depth of 80 to 100 cm pH range between 5 to near neutral adequate nutrient availability

and water holding capacity The major coconut growing soils are laterite lateritic coastal

sand and alluvial Except for alluvials all the other soils have low native fertiHty and

poor physical properties Some of the characteristics of coconut growing soils are shown

in Table 1 The major area of the coconut being in South India suffers from prolonged

spell of dry spell and high rainfall leading mainly to leaching losses of silica and bases

from parent material with concurrent accumulation of oxides of Fe and AI This leads

to the formation of laterites a dominant soil group under plantation crops As shown

in table 1 and various studies have long established that the soils are acidic in reaction

with poor native fertility low CEC a characteristic of Kaolinite as dominant clay minerals

and have high presence of sesquioxides

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Table 1 General physico-chemical properties of coconut growing soils

SoH group Mechmical COIIIpOttioa () pW Org C() CEC Clay snt Sand (C moIIkg)

Laterite 168 105 644 572 055 51 (9 2-392) (2 2-20) (492-868) (40-68) (006-18) (10-144)

Alluvial 179 69 751 579 069 44 (92-316) (1 0-180) (504-892) (42-71) (003-181) (07-113)

Reclaimed marshy 150 39 787 476 068 41 (90-264) (00-136) (640-910) (37-65) (023-291) (06-243)

Coastal sandy 68 08 924 667 013 05 (36-108) (007-78) (872-954) (52-83) (000-046) (04-54)

Sandy loam 170 38 794 581 031 37 (88-302) (106-140) (69 4-902) (48-86) (006-144) (10-117)

125 soil lIlater Ffures ill parmfheses dmole ranges Source Pillai (]975)

Coconut has unique feature among the plantation crops in that it flowers and fruits

throughout the year Therefore its requirement of water and nutrients should be supplied

throughout the year Nutrient exhaust from one hectare of coconut ranged from 92 to

149 kg N 12 to 20 kg P and 119 to 183 kg K This clearly indicates that K and N are

required in higher quantities for coconut production

Integrated nutrient management includes the intelligent use of organic inorganic and

online biological resources (BNF) so as to sustain optimum yields improve or maintain

soils chemical and physical properties and provide crop nutrition packages which are

technically sound economically attractive practically feasible and environmentally safe

(Tandon 1990) INM optimizes all aspects of nutrient cycling - supply uptake and

loss to the environment - to improve food production This bulletin describes

interventions that may be applied to a range of agroecological zones cropping systems

and soil types The interventions address a few key aspects of nutrient management

including improving organic matter in the soil increasing plant-available nutrients and

supplying both organic and chemical fertilizers These interventions have the potential

to increase and sustain production levels increase the economic potential of a production

system and counteract and minimize environmental pollution

Growing of inter mixed crops in coconut garden will not only increase the utilisation

of unexploited natural resources but will also have a beneficial effect on the farm

2

econorr

croppir

thedivlaquo

suitedf

This al~

favour

Nub

will im

differer

to consi

that in i

to thee

way of

It ha

monoa

viz lim

for croF

conside

adoptin

etc in t

be put

ld fruits

upplied

)m 92 to

ld N are

anicand

naintain

hich are

ally safe

ake and

escribes

systems

Igement

mts and

Jotential

gtduction

tilisation

the farm

CPCRI

economics High density multispecies cropping system (HDMSCS) is one of the mixed

cropping systems where a number of compatible crops are grown in a unit area to meet

the diverse needs of the farmers such as food fuel timber fodder and cash and are ideally

suited for smaller units of land and at maximum production both temporally and spatially

This also leads to control of weeds soil and water conseTVation better microclimate and

favourable microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient management in coconut based HDMSCS would be a complex task as this

will involve the interplay of various factors viz nutrient recycling fertilizer additions

differential crop responses nutrient uptake and soil environment Thus there is a need

to consider the system as a unit It has been rightly summarjsed by Oelsligle et Ill (1976)

that in intensive cropping system with tree crops the application of fertilizers according

to the estimated requirement for each crop is certainly not the most efficient and economic

way of utilizing the native and applied nutrients

It has been well established in several coconut growing countries that coconut as a

monocrop is only marginally productive and profitable The interplay of various factors

viz limited size of holdings number of trees needs of the family labour requirement

for crop fluctuating returns to farm families and easiness of marketing are some of the

considerations for the grower to diversify his farm operations for higher returns by

adopting intercropping mixed cropping or introducing other enterprises like dairy poultry

etc in the system Moreover under coconut based cropping system the same land can

be put to use to produce other crops so that the productivity of the land is increased

This wisdom has led the farmers to evolve through their innovative efforts very successful

models which have come to stay in different countries From a recent survey report

it is noted that a farmer had raised 60 species of crops viz trees and ornamental plants

in 04 hectare of homestead gardens in the p remier coconut growing state of Kerala

Nevertheless the traditional method of distribution of crops in a coconut garden is not

scientific to utilize natural resources efficiently

Nutrient management in cropping farming system is difficult as it involves interplay

of various factors like crop requirements differential crop responses crop residue additions

3

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 2: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System Technical Bulletin No 49 CPCRI Kasaragod Kerala India 24 p

Published by 1 Dr George V Thomas Director 2

Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (Indian Council ofAgricultural Research)

KASARAGOD - 671124 KERALA INDIA Phone 04994 - 232893232894232895 amp 232996 Fax 04994-232322 Email cpcrinicindirectorcpcrigmailcom Grams RESEARCH Kasaragod Website httpwwwcpcrigovin

Compiled amp Edited blf Dr C Palaniswami Dr George V Thomas Dr R Dhanapal Dr P Subramanian Dr HP Maheswarappa Dr AK Upadhyay

December 2007

Pllotogmplts

Shri K Shymaprasad

Printed nl

Niseema Printers amp Publishers Kochi - 18

CON TENT

1 Introduction 1

2 Coconut based cropping system 4

a) Component crops

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilis r do e

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

iii) Irrigation

3 Effect of INM on crop production 8

a) Effect on yield

b) Effect on foliar nu trient levels

c) Effect on soil nutrient status

d) Effect on microbial parameters

e) Rainfall partitioning

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

g) Root di tribu tion

4 Yield relationship function of coconut 22

5 Economics and employment generation 22

6 Conclusion 23

CPCRI

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut based Cropping System

1 Introduction

Coconut (COCOS nucifera L) widely known as Kalpavriksha is an important perennial

oil yielding crop of humid tropics It is grown widely in the countries lying in the Indian

Ocean and the Pacific Rim India is the largest producer of the coconut and also has the

largest acreage under the crop Philippines Indonesia Ivory Coast Malaysia Thailand

Oceania Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka are the other leading coconut growing countries

In India more than 90 of the coconut acreage and production lies in the four southern

states namely Kerala Tamil Nadu Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

In general coconut like any other plantation crops is grown on variety of soils namely

lateritic and laterite littoral coastal sand red sandy loams alluviums coral peaty and

black soils The ideal coconut growing soils are well drained and aerated with a minimum

depth of 80 to 100 cm pH range between 5 to near neutral adequate nutrient availability

and water holding capacity The major coconut growing soils are laterite lateritic coastal

sand and alluvial Except for alluvials all the other soils have low native fertiHty and

poor physical properties Some of the characteristics of coconut growing soils are shown

in Table 1 The major area of the coconut being in South India suffers from prolonged

spell of dry spell and high rainfall leading mainly to leaching losses of silica and bases

from parent material with concurrent accumulation of oxides of Fe and AI This leads

to the formation of laterites a dominant soil group under plantation crops As shown

in table 1 and various studies have long established that the soils are acidic in reaction

with poor native fertility low CEC a characteristic of Kaolinite as dominant clay minerals

and have high presence of sesquioxides

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Table 1 General physico-chemical properties of coconut growing soils

SoH group Mechmical COIIIpOttioa () pW Org C() CEC Clay snt Sand (C moIIkg)

Laterite 168 105 644 572 055 51 (9 2-392) (2 2-20) (492-868) (40-68) (006-18) (10-144)

Alluvial 179 69 751 579 069 44 (92-316) (1 0-180) (504-892) (42-71) (003-181) (07-113)

Reclaimed marshy 150 39 787 476 068 41 (90-264) (00-136) (640-910) (37-65) (023-291) (06-243)

Coastal sandy 68 08 924 667 013 05 (36-108) (007-78) (872-954) (52-83) (000-046) (04-54)

Sandy loam 170 38 794 581 031 37 (88-302) (106-140) (69 4-902) (48-86) (006-144) (10-117)

125 soil lIlater Ffures ill parmfheses dmole ranges Source Pillai (]975)

Coconut has unique feature among the plantation crops in that it flowers and fruits

throughout the year Therefore its requirement of water and nutrients should be supplied

throughout the year Nutrient exhaust from one hectare of coconut ranged from 92 to

149 kg N 12 to 20 kg P and 119 to 183 kg K This clearly indicates that K and N are

required in higher quantities for coconut production

Integrated nutrient management includes the intelligent use of organic inorganic and

online biological resources (BNF) so as to sustain optimum yields improve or maintain

soils chemical and physical properties and provide crop nutrition packages which are

technically sound economically attractive practically feasible and environmentally safe

(Tandon 1990) INM optimizes all aspects of nutrient cycling - supply uptake and

loss to the environment - to improve food production This bulletin describes

interventions that may be applied to a range of agroecological zones cropping systems

and soil types The interventions address a few key aspects of nutrient management

including improving organic matter in the soil increasing plant-available nutrients and

supplying both organic and chemical fertilizers These interventions have the potential

to increase and sustain production levels increase the economic potential of a production

system and counteract and minimize environmental pollution

Growing of inter mixed crops in coconut garden will not only increase the utilisation

of unexploited natural resources but will also have a beneficial effect on the farm

2

econorr

croppir

thedivlaquo

suitedf

This al~

favour

Nub

will im

differer

to consi

that in i

to thee

way of

It ha

monoa

viz lim

for croF

conside

adoptin

etc in t

be put

ld fruits

upplied

)m 92 to

ld N are

anicand

naintain

hich are

ally safe

ake and

escribes

systems

Igement

mts and

Jotential

gtduction

tilisation

the farm

CPCRI

economics High density multispecies cropping system (HDMSCS) is one of the mixed

cropping systems where a number of compatible crops are grown in a unit area to meet

the diverse needs of the farmers such as food fuel timber fodder and cash and are ideally

suited for smaller units of land and at maximum production both temporally and spatially

This also leads to control of weeds soil and water conseTVation better microclimate and

favourable microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient management in coconut based HDMSCS would be a complex task as this

will involve the interplay of various factors viz nutrient recycling fertilizer additions

differential crop responses nutrient uptake and soil environment Thus there is a need

to consider the system as a unit It has been rightly summarjsed by Oelsligle et Ill (1976)

that in intensive cropping system with tree crops the application of fertilizers according

to the estimated requirement for each crop is certainly not the most efficient and economic

way of utilizing the native and applied nutrients

It has been well established in several coconut growing countries that coconut as a

monocrop is only marginally productive and profitable The interplay of various factors

viz limited size of holdings number of trees needs of the family labour requirement

for crop fluctuating returns to farm families and easiness of marketing are some of the

considerations for the grower to diversify his farm operations for higher returns by

adopting intercropping mixed cropping or introducing other enterprises like dairy poultry

etc in the system Moreover under coconut based cropping system the same land can

be put to use to produce other crops so that the productivity of the land is increased

This wisdom has led the farmers to evolve through their innovative efforts very successful

models which have come to stay in different countries From a recent survey report

it is noted that a farmer had raised 60 species of crops viz trees and ornamental plants

in 04 hectare of homestead gardens in the p remier coconut growing state of Kerala

Nevertheless the traditional method of distribution of crops in a coconut garden is not

scientific to utilize natural resources efficiently

Nutrient management in cropping farming system is difficult as it involves interplay

of various factors like crop requirements differential crop responses crop residue additions

3

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 3: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

CON TENT

1 Introduction 1

2 Coconut based cropping system 4

a) Component crops

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilis r do e

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

iii) Irrigation

3 Effect of INM on crop production 8

a) Effect on yield

b) Effect on foliar nu trient levels

c) Effect on soil nutrient status

d) Effect on microbial parameters

e) Rainfall partitioning

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

g) Root di tribu tion

4 Yield relationship function of coconut 22

5 Economics and employment generation 22

6 Conclusion 23

CPCRI

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut based Cropping System

1 Introduction

Coconut (COCOS nucifera L) widely known as Kalpavriksha is an important perennial

oil yielding crop of humid tropics It is grown widely in the countries lying in the Indian

Ocean and the Pacific Rim India is the largest producer of the coconut and also has the

largest acreage under the crop Philippines Indonesia Ivory Coast Malaysia Thailand

Oceania Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka are the other leading coconut growing countries

In India more than 90 of the coconut acreage and production lies in the four southern

states namely Kerala Tamil Nadu Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

In general coconut like any other plantation crops is grown on variety of soils namely

lateritic and laterite littoral coastal sand red sandy loams alluviums coral peaty and

black soils The ideal coconut growing soils are well drained and aerated with a minimum

depth of 80 to 100 cm pH range between 5 to near neutral adequate nutrient availability

and water holding capacity The major coconut growing soils are laterite lateritic coastal

sand and alluvial Except for alluvials all the other soils have low native fertiHty and

poor physical properties Some of the characteristics of coconut growing soils are shown

in Table 1 The major area of the coconut being in South India suffers from prolonged

spell of dry spell and high rainfall leading mainly to leaching losses of silica and bases

from parent material with concurrent accumulation of oxides of Fe and AI This leads

to the formation of laterites a dominant soil group under plantation crops As shown

in table 1 and various studies have long established that the soils are acidic in reaction

with poor native fertility low CEC a characteristic of Kaolinite as dominant clay minerals

and have high presence of sesquioxides

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Table 1 General physico-chemical properties of coconut growing soils

SoH group Mechmical COIIIpOttioa () pW Org C() CEC Clay snt Sand (C moIIkg)

Laterite 168 105 644 572 055 51 (9 2-392) (2 2-20) (492-868) (40-68) (006-18) (10-144)

Alluvial 179 69 751 579 069 44 (92-316) (1 0-180) (504-892) (42-71) (003-181) (07-113)

Reclaimed marshy 150 39 787 476 068 41 (90-264) (00-136) (640-910) (37-65) (023-291) (06-243)

Coastal sandy 68 08 924 667 013 05 (36-108) (007-78) (872-954) (52-83) (000-046) (04-54)

Sandy loam 170 38 794 581 031 37 (88-302) (106-140) (69 4-902) (48-86) (006-144) (10-117)

125 soil lIlater Ffures ill parmfheses dmole ranges Source Pillai (]975)

Coconut has unique feature among the plantation crops in that it flowers and fruits

throughout the year Therefore its requirement of water and nutrients should be supplied

throughout the year Nutrient exhaust from one hectare of coconut ranged from 92 to

149 kg N 12 to 20 kg P and 119 to 183 kg K This clearly indicates that K and N are

required in higher quantities for coconut production

Integrated nutrient management includes the intelligent use of organic inorganic and

online biological resources (BNF) so as to sustain optimum yields improve or maintain

soils chemical and physical properties and provide crop nutrition packages which are

technically sound economically attractive practically feasible and environmentally safe

(Tandon 1990) INM optimizes all aspects of nutrient cycling - supply uptake and

loss to the environment - to improve food production This bulletin describes

interventions that may be applied to a range of agroecological zones cropping systems

and soil types The interventions address a few key aspects of nutrient management

including improving organic matter in the soil increasing plant-available nutrients and

supplying both organic and chemical fertilizers These interventions have the potential

to increase and sustain production levels increase the economic potential of a production

system and counteract and minimize environmental pollution

Growing of inter mixed crops in coconut garden will not only increase the utilisation

of unexploited natural resources but will also have a beneficial effect on the farm

2

econorr

croppir

thedivlaquo

suitedf

This al~

favour

Nub

will im

differer

to consi

that in i

to thee

way of

It ha

monoa

viz lim

for croF

conside

adoptin

etc in t

be put

ld fruits

upplied

)m 92 to

ld N are

anicand

naintain

hich are

ally safe

ake and

escribes

systems

Igement

mts and

Jotential

gtduction

tilisation

the farm

CPCRI

economics High density multispecies cropping system (HDMSCS) is one of the mixed

cropping systems where a number of compatible crops are grown in a unit area to meet

the diverse needs of the farmers such as food fuel timber fodder and cash and are ideally

suited for smaller units of land and at maximum production both temporally and spatially

This also leads to control of weeds soil and water conseTVation better microclimate and

favourable microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient management in coconut based HDMSCS would be a complex task as this

will involve the interplay of various factors viz nutrient recycling fertilizer additions

differential crop responses nutrient uptake and soil environment Thus there is a need

to consider the system as a unit It has been rightly summarjsed by Oelsligle et Ill (1976)

that in intensive cropping system with tree crops the application of fertilizers according

to the estimated requirement for each crop is certainly not the most efficient and economic

way of utilizing the native and applied nutrients

It has been well established in several coconut growing countries that coconut as a

monocrop is only marginally productive and profitable The interplay of various factors

viz limited size of holdings number of trees needs of the family labour requirement

for crop fluctuating returns to farm families and easiness of marketing are some of the

considerations for the grower to diversify his farm operations for higher returns by

adopting intercropping mixed cropping or introducing other enterprises like dairy poultry

etc in the system Moreover under coconut based cropping system the same land can

be put to use to produce other crops so that the productivity of the land is increased

This wisdom has led the farmers to evolve through their innovative efforts very successful

models which have come to stay in different countries From a recent survey report

it is noted that a farmer had raised 60 species of crops viz trees and ornamental plants

in 04 hectare of homestead gardens in the p remier coconut growing state of Kerala

Nevertheless the traditional method of distribution of crops in a coconut garden is not

scientific to utilize natural resources efficiently

Nutrient management in cropping farming system is difficult as it involves interplay

of various factors like crop requirements differential crop responses crop residue additions

3

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 4: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

CPCRI

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut based Cropping System

1 Introduction

Coconut (COCOS nucifera L) widely known as Kalpavriksha is an important perennial

oil yielding crop of humid tropics It is grown widely in the countries lying in the Indian

Ocean and the Pacific Rim India is the largest producer of the coconut and also has the

largest acreage under the crop Philippines Indonesia Ivory Coast Malaysia Thailand

Oceania Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka are the other leading coconut growing countries

In India more than 90 of the coconut acreage and production lies in the four southern

states namely Kerala Tamil Nadu Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

In general coconut like any other plantation crops is grown on variety of soils namely

lateritic and laterite littoral coastal sand red sandy loams alluviums coral peaty and

black soils The ideal coconut growing soils are well drained and aerated with a minimum

depth of 80 to 100 cm pH range between 5 to near neutral adequate nutrient availability

and water holding capacity The major coconut growing soils are laterite lateritic coastal

sand and alluvial Except for alluvials all the other soils have low native fertiHty and

poor physical properties Some of the characteristics of coconut growing soils are shown

in Table 1 The major area of the coconut being in South India suffers from prolonged

spell of dry spell and high rainfall leading mainly to leaching losses of silica and bases

from parent material with concurrent accumulation of oxides of Fe and AI This leads

to the formation of laterites a dominant soil group under plantation crops As shown

in table 1 and various studies have long established that the soils are acidic in reaction

with poor native fertility low CEC a characteristic of Kaolinite as dominant clay minerals

and have high presence of sesquioxides

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Table 1 General physico-chemical properties of coconut growing soils

SoH group Mechmical COIIIpOttioa () pW Org C() CEC Clay snt Sand (C moIIkg)

Laterite 168 105 644 572 055 51 (9 2-392) (2 2-20) (492-868) (40-68) (006-18) (10-144)

Alluvial 179 69 751 579 069 44 (92-316) (1 0-180) (504-892) (42-71) (003-181) (07-113)

Reclaimed marshy 150 39 787 476 068 41 (90-264) (00-136) (640-910) (37-65) (023-291) (06-243)

Coastal sandy 68 08 924 667 013 05 (36-108) (007-78) (872-954) (52-83) (000-046) (04-54)

Sandy loam 170 38 794 581 031 37 (88-302) (106-140) (69 4-902) (48-86) (006-144) (10-117)

125 soil lIlater Ffures ill parmfheses dmole ranges Source Pillai (]975)

Coconut has unique feature among the plantation crops in that it flowers and fruits

throughout the year Therefore its requirement of water and nutrients should be supplied

throughout the year Nutrient exhaust from one hectare of coconut ranged from 92 to

149 kg N 12 to 20 kg P and 119 to 183 kg K This clearly indicates that K and N are

required in higher quantities for coconut production

Integrated nutrient management includes the intelligent use of organic inorganic and

online biological resources (BNF) so as to sustain optimum yields improve or maintain

soils chemical and physical properties and provide crop nutrition packages which are

technically sound economically attractive practically feasible and environmentally safe

(Tandon 1990) INM optimizes all aspects of nutrient cycling - supply uptake and

loss to the environment - to improve food production This bulletin describes

interventions that may be applied to a range of agroecological zones cropping systems

and soil types The interventions address a few key aspects of nutrient management

including improving organic matter in the soil increasing plant-available nutrients and

supplying both organic and chemical fertilizers These interventions have the potential

to increase and sustain production levels increase the economic potential of a production

system and counteract and minimize environmental pollution

Growing of inter mixed crops in coconut garden will not only increase the utilisation

of unexploited natural resources but will also have a beneficial effect on the farm

2

econorr

croppir

thedivlaquo

suitedf

This al~

favour

Nub

will im

differer

to consi

that in i

to thee

way of

It ha

monoa

viz lim

for croF

conside

adoptin

etc in t

be put

ld fruits

upplied

)m 92 to

ld N are

anicand

naintain

hich are

ally safe

ake and

escribes

systems

Igement

mts and

Jotential

gtduction

tilisation

the farm

CPCRI

economics High density multispecies cropping system (HDMSCS) is one of the mixed

cropping systems where a number of compatible crops are grown in a unit area to meet

the diverse needs of the farmers such as food fuel timber fodder and cash and are ideally

suited for smaller units of land and at maximum production both temporally and spatially

This also leads to control of weeds soil and water conseTVation better microclimate and

favourable microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient management in coconut based HDMSCS would be a complex task as this

will involve the interplay of various factors viz nutrient recycling fertilizer additions

differential crop responses nutrient uptake and soil environment Thus there is a need

to consider the system as a unit It has been rightly summarjsed by Oelsligle et Ill (1976)

that in intensive cropping system with tree crops the application of fertilizers according

to the estimated requirement for each crop is certainly not the most efficient and economic

way of utilizing the native and applied nutrients

It has been well established in several coconut growing countries that coconut as a

monocrop is only marginally productive and profitable The interplay of various factors

viz limited size of holdings number of trees needs of the family labour requirement

for crop fluctuating returns to farm families and easiness of marketing are some of the

considerations for the grower to diversify his farm operations for higher returns by

adopting intercropping mixed cropping or introducing other enterprises like dairy poultry

etc in the system Moreover under coconut based cropping system the same land can

be put to use to produce other crops so that the productivity of the land is increased

This wisdom has led the farmers to evolve through their innovative efforts very successful

models which have come to stay in different countries From a recent survey report

it is noted that a farmer had raised 60 species of crops viz trees and ornamental plants

in 04 hectare of homestead gardens in the p remier coconut growing state of Kerala

Nevertheless the traditional method of distribution of crops in a coconut garden is not

scientific to utilize natural resources efficiently

Nutrient management in cropping farming system is difficult as it involves interplay

of various factors like crop requirements differential crop responses crop residue additions

3

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 5: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Table 1 General physico-chemical properties of coconut growing soils

SoH group Mechmical COIIIpOttioa () pW Org C() CEC Clay snt Sand (C moIIkg)

Laterite 168 105 644 572 055 51 (9 2-392) (2 2-20) (492-868) (40-68) (006-18) (10-144)

Alluvial 179 69 751 579 069 44 (92-316) (1 0-180) (504-892) (42-71) (003-181) (07-113)

Reclaimed marshy 150 39 787 476 068 41 (90-264) (00-136) (640-910) (37-65) (023-291) (06-243)

Coastal sandy 68 08 924 667 013 05 (36-108) (007-78) (872-954) (52-83) (000-046) (04-54)

Sandy loam 170 38 794 581 031 37 (88-302) (106-140) (69 4-902) (48-86) (006-144) (10-117)

125 soil lIlater Ffures ill parmfheses dmole ranges Source Pillai (]975)

Coconut has unique feature among the plantation crops in that it flowers and fruits

throughout the year Therefore its requirement of water and nutrients should be supplied

throughout the year Nutrient exhaust from one hectare of coconut ranged from 92 to

149 kg N 12 to 20 kg P and 119 to 183 kg K This clearly indicates that K and N are

required in higher quantities for coconut production

Integrated nutrient management includes the intelligent use of organic inorganic and

online biological resources (BNF) so as to sustain optimum yields improve or maintain

soils chemical and physical properties and provide crop nutrition packages which are

technically sound economically attractive practically feasible and environmentally safe

(Tandon 1990) INM optimizes all aspects of nutrient cycling - supply uptake and

loss to the environment - to improve food production This bulletin describes

interventions that may be applied to a range of agroecological zones cropping systems

and soil types The interventions address a few key aspects of nutrient management

including improving organic matter in the soil increasing plant-available nutrients and

supplying both organic and chemical fertilizers These interventions have the potential

to increase and sustain production levels increase the economic potential of a production

system and counteract and minimize environmental pollution

Growing of inter mixed crops in coconut garden will not only increase the utilisation

of unexploited natural resources but will also have a beneficial effect on the farm

2

econorr

croppir

thedivlaquo

suitedf

This al~

favour

Nub

will im

differer

to consi

that in i

to thee

way of

It ha

monoa

viz lim

for croF

conside

adoptin

etc in t

be put

ld fruits

upplied

)m 92 to

ld N are

anicand

naintain

hich are

ally safe

ake and

escribes

systems

Igement

mts and

Jotential

gtduction

tilisation

the farm

CPCRI

economics High density multispecies cropping system (HDMSCS) is one of the mixed

cropping systems where a number of compatible crops are grown in a unit area to meet

the diverse needs of the farmers such as food fuel timber fodder and cash and are ideally

suited for smaller units of land and at maximum production both temporally and spatially

This also leads to control of weeds soil and water conseTVation better microclimate and

favourable microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient management in coconut based HDMSCS would be a complex task as this

will involve the interplay of various factors viz nutrient recycling fertilizer additions

differential crop responses nutrient uptake and soil environment Thus there is a need

to consider the system as a unit It has been rightly summarjsed by Oelsligle et Ill (1976)

that in intensive cropping system with tree crops the application of fertilizers according

to the estimated requirement for each crop is certainly not the most efficient and economic

way of utilizing the native and applied nutrients

It has been well established in several coconut growing countries that coconut as a

monocrop is only marginally productive and profitable The interplay of various factors

viz limited size of holdings number of trees needs of the family labour requirement

for crop fluctuating returns to farm families and easiness of marketing are some of the

considerations for the grower to diversify his farm operations for higher returns by

adopting intercropping mixed cropping or introducing other enterprises like dairy poultry

etc in the system Moreover under coconut based cropping system the same land can

be put to use to produce other crops so that the productivity of the land is increased

This wisdom has led the farmers to evolve through their innovative efforts very successful

models which have come to stay in different countries From a recent survey report

it is noted that a farmer had raised 60 species of crops viz trees and ornamental plants

in 04 hectare of homestead gardens in the p remier coconut growing state of Kerala

Nevertheless the traditional method of distribution of crops in a coconut garden is not

scientific to utilize natural resources efficiently

Nutrient management in cropping farming system is difficult as it involves interplay

of various factors like crop requirements differential crop responses crop residue additions

3

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 6: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

ld fruits

upplied

)m 92 to

ld N are

anicand

naintain

hich are

ally safe

ake and

escribes

systems

Igement

mts and

Jotential

gtduction

tilisation

the farm

CPCRI

economics High density multispecies cropping system (HDMSCS) is one of the mixed

cropping systems where a number of compatible crops are grown in a unit area to meet

the diverse needs of the farmers such as food fuel timber fodder and cash and are ideally

suited for smaller units of land and at maximum production both temporally and spatially

This also leads to control of weeds soil and water conseTVation better microclimate and

favourable microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient management in coconut based HDMSCS would be a complex task as this

will involve the interplay of various factors viz nutrient recycling fertilizer additions

differential crop responses nutrient uptake and soil environment Thus there is a need

to consider the system as a unit It has been rightly summarjsed by Oelsligle et Ill (1976)

that in intensive cropping system with tree crops the application of fertilizers according

to the estimated requirement for each crop is certainly not the most efficient and economic

way of utilizing the native and applied nutrients

It has been well established in several coconut growing countries that coconut as a

monocrop is only marginally productive and profitable The interplay of various factors

viz limited size of holdings number of trees needs of the family labour requirement

for crop fluctuating returns to farm families and easiness of marketing are some of the

considerations for the grower to diversify his farm operations for higher returns by

adopting intercropping mixed cropping or introducing other enterprises like dairy poultry

etc in the system Moreover under coconut based cropping system the same land can

be put to use to produce other crops so that the productivity of the land is increased

This wisdom has led the farmers to evolve through their innovative efforts very successful

models which have come to stay in different countries From a recent survey report

it is noted that a farmer had raised 60 species of crops viz trees and ornamental plants

in 04 hectare of homestead gardens in the p remier coconut growing state of Kerala

Nevertheless the traditional method of distribution of crops in a coconut garden is not

scientific to utilize natural resources efficiently

Nutrient management in cropping farming system is difficult as it involves interplay

of various factors like crop requirements differential crop responses crop residue additions

3

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 7: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

I

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

management practices suiting crop needs water requirement and soil environment It

is therefore imperative that whole system must be considered as one unit Experience

in coconut based cropping system suggests that it is necessary to fertilize coconut and

component crops according to the nutrient requirement of individual crops to make the

system more productive and competitive (Liyanage 1985 Margate et al 1994)

2 Coconut based cropping system

a) Component crops

An experiment was conducted in an existing 35 year old West Coast Tall coconut

garden intercropped with clove banana and pineapple in the research farm of Central

Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod Kerala India The coconut palms are

spaced 8 m apart and arranged in square system of planting Clove banana black pepper

~ 8m

2PilleIe

1++0 I 110Cocaat and black peeper

o 0 0 0

CIIn

0 0

01 101 10 Plant Population (per ha) Coconut - 157 Clove - Ill Banaaa - 345 Pineapple -1150 Black pepper - 157

Figure 1 Planflilg pattern ofcoconut afld other component crops

and pineapple were grown as intercrops (Fig 1 amp Table 2) The experiment was laid out

in 12 ha area and the planting pattern is given in figure 1 The soil is red sandy loam

(Arenic Paleustult) The soil had pH 53 clay 22 048 organic carbon and CEC 47

cmol kg-I soil Initially (1983) the experimental plot had three treatments ie full twoshy

third and one-third of the recommended fertilizer dose Later based on the results of ten

4

yearswheJ

the experiJ

15th and(

in the sysb

dose for co

is divided

black pepI

Table 2 Del

ClOp

Coconut Black pepp Clove Banana Pineapple

b) Integr

i) Fertil

Thequc

N P and I

respectivel

two-third

Table 3 Qw ClOp

Coconut

Clove

Banana

Pineapple

Pepper

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 8: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

coconut

pepper

JO

CPCRI

years wherein one-third was found sufficient for maintaining the optimum crop nutrition

the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like 14th

15th and control from the year 1994 From 1999 onwards organic recycling was practiced

in the system by vermicomposting the available biomass and the lower level of fertilizer

dose for component crops was kept as 1 j3rd of recommended fertilizer dose The experiment

o o

~O

was laid out

sandy loam

and CEC 47

111 full two-

results of ten

is divided into six blocks with an area of 2048 m2 comprising of 32 coconut palms 32

black pepper 21 clove 84 banana and 21 pineapple beds consisting of 2250 pineapple

Table 2 Details of the component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Crop Variety Coconut WCT Black pepper Panniyur -1 Clove Local cultivar Banana Kadali Pineapple Kew

SpaciDs 8 x 8 m Trailed on coconut 8 x 8 m 3 x 8m 45 x 45 em two rows in 4 meter bed

No plantslba 157 157 112

345 2250

b) Integrated nutrient management

i) Fertilizer dose

The quantity of nutrient applied for crops in the system is given in the Table 3 The

N P and K were applied in the form of urea mussoorie-phos and muriate of potash

respectively in two splits viz one-third (33 ) in May-June (beginning of monsoon) and

two-third (66 ) in September- October (receding monsoon)

Table 3 Quantity of fertiliser applied for the different crops in the INM experiment (gplant)

Crop Nutrient VSth VCth lIMh 2I3th Full Coconut N 100 125 167 333 500

P 64 80 107 213 320 K 240 300 400 BOO 1200

Clove N 60 75 100 200 300 P SO 63 83 167 250 K 150 188 250 SOO 750

Banana N 40 50 67 133 200 p 40 SO 67 133 200 K 80 100 133 267 400

Pineapple N 2 2 3 5 8 P 1 1 1 3 4 K 2 2 3 5 8

Pepper N 10 13 17 33 50 P 10 13 17 33 SO K 30 38 50 100 150

5

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 9: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

ii) Crop residue availability and recycling

Biomass production

The total biomass from the system was estimated on yearly basis Highest coconut

biomass was obtained in the full dose treatment (2351 tha) and it was 19 tha in the

control treatment (Table 4) Major contribution of biomass is from coconut (Fig 2 )

3 3 1

bull Clove

bull Coconut

o Banana

o Pineapple

93

Figure 2 Bwmoss contribution from fIe component crops

Table 4 Biomass production and nutrient export in coconut from the system (on dry wt basis)

FerIillzer Bicuna Nitropn (kgIha) Phosphorus (kgIha) PotasSium (kgIha) treabnenlll (tIha) BxhIlll8l Jlecycled Exhaust Recycled Exhaust Recycled

Full 2351 13043 7058 1829 855 17264 11426 Two-third 2271 13029 6958 1809 754 18235 12111 One-third 2229 12129 6171 1681 686 17674 11309 One-fourth 2072 10321 4787 1786 819 14249 9097 One-fifth 2024 9803 4778 1538 682 13403 9231 Control 1905 9711 4892 1306 544 12545 8784

Nument lecycling

The total nutrient exhaust in the cropping system ranged from 13045 1829 and 17264

kg of N P and K respectively per ha in the full dose to 9711 1306 and 12545 kg of

N P and K respectively per ha in the no fertilizer treatment plot The extent of nutrient

recycling rangedfrom 47 to 70 kg Nha 54 to 85 kg P ha and 87 to 121 kg Kha and

their per cent recyclable waste is given in Figure 3

6

-i

il

Figure 3

Vermicomp

Theweat

can be usee to be treatet

and must b

The earthw

Thecompm

or gunny hi

to maintain

is not

same

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 10: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

coconut

ha in the

Fig 2 )

ut

haand

CPCRI

- iil i Wl ~ [ililc ~Iml ~ ~ II]

~ iIil -~ -a III abull ml

~

Figure 3 Per cent ofrecyclable nutrients to total nutrient exhust under d(fferentfertilizer levels

Vermicomposting

The weathered biomass obtained during rainy seasons may be preferred This waste

can be used without chopping thus saving a lot of labour These organic wastes are

to be treated with cow dung at the rate of 10 per cent by weight in the form of slurry

and must be allowed to undergo a preliminary decomposition for about 2 -3 weeks

The earthworms at the rate of 1000 worms per tonne of biomass are to be introduced

The compost bed should be mulched properly using any locally available plant material

or gunny bags and has to be protected from direct sun light Watering is to be done

to maintain enough moisture As full leaves are used for composting compact mass

is not formed thus allowing free movement of air in the bed In about 60- 75 days compost

will be ready On an average 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost was obtained The

same technology for vermicomposting was also tested in large pits taken in the inter

spaces of four coconut palms in sandy loam and coastal sandy soils and was found to

work well The average nutrient composition of the vermicompost recovered was N

(18) P (022) K (016) Organic carbon (1784) and CN (995) Total microbial

counts and beneficial microbial population were also more in the compost compared

to the base material The CN ratio of the organic matter ingested by the earthworm

decreases and bound nutrients are converted into easily available forms

7

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 11: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

iii) Irrigation

Perfo irrigation which is modified form of sprinkler irrigation (Fig 4) was given during

the dry period (December-May) at IW ePE ratio 100

Figure 4 Perjo irrigation in the coconut based cropping system

3 Effect of INM on crop production

a) Effect on yield

In the coconut based high density multispecies cropping system the coconut yield

(mean of six years) ranged from 127 nutspalmyear under no fertilizer control treatment

to 147 nutspalmyear at two third and one third of the recommended fertilizer dose

(Table 5) The productivity of the palm declined with the reduction in the fertilizer levels

beyond 13rd of the recommended fertilizer treatment The yield of the clove tree varied

with the fertilizer treatments The clove yield was highest at the 23rd of recommended

fertiUzer dose (155 kgtreeyear) The average weight of banana bunch (576 kgbunch)

and weight of pineapple fruit (890 g) was highest in the full recommended dose treatment

The black pepper yield was highest in the 23rd recommended fertilizer dose (166 kg bushyear)

8

of

Table 5 0

Coconut ( Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Pineapple Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Oove (dJ Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Banana (~

Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control Black pep Full 23rd 13rd 14th lSth Control

Coconut

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 12: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

d

it

e

Is

d

d

)

t

bull

bull

CPCRI

Table 5 Output from different crops under coconut based cropping system model at Kasaragod

1999-ZOO1 2001~ 2003-05 mean

Coconut (no nutspalmyear) Full 152 139 143 145 23rd 157 145 139 147 13rd 152 142 146 147 14th 138 128 147 137 15th 128 127 133 129 Control 121 129 131 127 Pineapple(kgfruit) Full 101 115 051 089 23rd 098 064 049 070 13rd 075 060 036 057 14th 047 044 037 043 15th 050 051 042 048 Control 047 047 043 045 Oove (dry kgtreeyear) Full 083 158 191 144 23rd 092 110 262 155 13rd 087 099 189 125 14th 032 082 221 112 15th 022 063 215 100 Control 046 217 132 Banana (kg bunch) Full 710 667 351 576 23rd 670 614 343 543 13rd 670 414 327 470 14th 510 521 277 436 15th 480 429 265 391 Control 450 471 238 386 Black pepper (kgbushyear) Full 034 140 087 23rd 063 269 166 13rd 046 133 090 14th 070 143 106 15th 034 050 042 Control 013 078 046

Coconut yield sustainability analysis

Sustainability of yield in the coconut was estimated by quantifying yield variation

over the year by similar sequence matching technique It was observed that the control

treatment came closer to other treatments after organic recycling Without application

of recycled organics there was higher year to year yield variation in the control treatment

9

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 13: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

I Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

compared to other fertilised treatments After recycling of the organics year to year

yield variation of control treatment was similar to other treatments As indicated by the

mean euclidean distance of control with other treatments it was 139 prior to organic ~

recycling while it was 087 after organic recycling (Table 6) There was decrease in shyamplitude after the introduction of organic recycling in the normalized sequence (Fig

5) In the control treatment amplitude of 198 during pre organic recycling had reduced to 177 in post organic recycling This clearly indicates that the decrease in the year iiito year yield variation However the amplitude decrease was more perceptible in control ~ treatment compared to other treatments ~l

Table 6 Euclidean distance of normalized subsequence

Full 213rd 1I3rd 1I4th 1I5th Control

Pre organic recycling

Full 09415 02647 10225 04370 11245 213rd 09415 07244 09311 08487 17641 1I3rd 02647 07244 09681 05194 13481 1I4th 10225 09311 09681 08482 16880 115th 04370 08487 05194 08482 10147 Control 11245 17641 13481 16880 10147

Post organic recycling

Full 10020 05122 08162 10047 11507 213rd 10020 07617 08161 07414 13105 113rd 05122 07617 03152 05050 07629 114th 08162 08161 03152 02357 05335 115th 10047 07414 05050 02357 06137 Control 11507 13105 07629 05335 06137

b) Effect on foliar nutrient levels

The nutrient status of the plant was monitored and it was found that in general lower I dose of fertilizer treatment recorded numerically higher values for coconut leaf P Ca

Mg Zn Cu Fe and Mn content due to the concentration effect (Table 7 amp 8) However

all the nutrient contents were in optimum level In respectof component crops although

the economic and biomass yields were higher with the higher fertilizer levels the foliar

nutrient contents for P and K did not vary much among the fertilizer levels except in

pineapple In case of pineapple application of fertilizer increased the yield and decreased

the foliar N P and K levels due to dilution effect

10

~

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 14: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

~

bull

I

)wer ICa

ever

)Ugh

oliar

pt in

ased

-

CPCRI

Component crops in the coconut based cropping system

Coconut Pineapple nndclove

Btmnlln Blnck pepper

II

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 15: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

2

CII u 1S c CII I 0shyCII

-+- FullII)

5 -shy 23rdCII

u OSc 13rdCII ~

0 -shy 14th C -shy 1SthCII

~ -0 S to -shy Control E 0 z -1

-1S

Control 1820 0170 2643

15th 1792 0185 2350

14th 1830 0177 2322

13rd 1876 0172 2493

12

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Figure 5 Normalised coconut yield difference i11 sequence i11 the coconut based cropping system model dunng pre a11dpost organic recycling

Table 7 Major foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops

Crop Dutmeat N() P () K ()

COCONUT Control 182 0140 103

15th 179 0147 098

14th 182 0142 116

13rd 200 0131 090

23rd 190 0126 085

Full 193 0143 116

CLOVE Control 0980 0138 1026

15th 0952 0097 0940

14th 1120 0109 0897

13rd 1288 0099 0898

23rd 1246 0082 1193

Full 1246 0062 1209

BANANA

23rd Full PINru Contre 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

Table 8 F

Cropl i COCO]

Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full CLOVE Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full BANAN Control 15th 14th 13rd 23rd Full

15th 14th 13rd 23rd

Full

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 16: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

--15th

--Control

090 085 116

1026 0940

1193

1209

2643 2350 2322

2A93

-+- Full

__ 213rd

13rd

-- 14th

CPCRI

23rd 2058 0143 2218 Full 2590 0173 2435 PINEAPPLE Control 0770 0261 3028 15th 0728 0257 2638 14th 0686 0235 2786 13rd 0784 0215 2436 23rd 0700 0214 2438 Full 0748 0188 2378

Table 8 Foliar nutrient content of coconut and component crops for secondary and micro nutrients

Cropl Ireatment Ca() Mg() Zn(ppm) Cu(ppm) Mn(ppm) Fe(ppm)

COCONUT

Control 040 022 2450 595 35450 23315 15th 034 019 2915 605 38675 26530 14th 035 021 2705 725 30025 14550 13rd 048 023 2180 750 25375 17505 23rd 053 020 1840 630 23250 12270 Full 053 019 1640 665 30600 12500 CLOVE Control 074 018 1150 1240 112225 21765 15th 083 018 1580 2060 101750 18240 14th 083 021 1330 1065 85725 25365 13rd 072 018 1050 490 91325 23000 23rd 066 021 11 85 445 112125 22580 Full 057 018 850 520 85250 20415 BANANA Control 049 026 2140 1010 81975 20495 15th 059 031 2635 1315 90750 73770 14th 046 029 1620 1095 67925 32735 13rd 050 030 1845 1250 78550 20020 23rd 045 032 1630 1045 91975 27590 Full 043 031 1560 760 40550 17300 PINEAPPLE Control 038 026 1165 785 14200 15250 15th 035 031 1200 785 15925 16815 14th 038 025 945 740 22625 14695 13rd 034 030 940 1225 20500 19105 23rd 037 023 570 780 17175 18990

Full 031 025 490 1010 16600 14630

c) Effect on soil nument status

Soil total N organic carbon content available P K Ca Mg and micronutrients of the

surface soil recorded higher values than the subsurface soil of coconut and component

13

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 17: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

crops The soil nutrient status under various fertilizer treatments is given in Table 9

The organic matter status declined with the increased fertilizer addition Intact in coconut

the highest organic matter content (0712) was found in the no fertilizer treatment which

declined to 0512 in the treatment full dose of fertilizers The increasing fertilizer

levels might have led to higher active root biomass production The exudates so secreted

by the roots might have led to the proliferation of microbes which would have

decomposed the organic matter leading to reduction in the organic matter content at

higher fertilizer levels The total N content in the soil increased appreciably with increasing

fertilizer levels At lower fertilizer levels the organic matter content in the soil was high

still the total N content was lower suggesting high CN ratio of the organic matter Similar

trends were observed in all the component crops except in case of pineapple where the

organic matter content was higher at higher fertilizer levels The available P and K status

of soil increased with increasing fertilizer levels in all the main as well as component

crops Thus P and K when applied to the soil have a tendency to get fixed which becomes

slowly available to the crop later on

Table 9 Soil nutrient status of the coconut based cropping system

Treatments Org Matter () Total N (ppm) Available P Available K (ppm) (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

No fertilizer 0712 265 9871 7671

One-fifth 0700 365 16173 9680

One-fourth 0702 755 16567 11724

One-third 0519 1435 22044 11236

Two-third 0523 1410 28557 16121

Full 0512 1460 34265 22960

Oove (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0736 175 4813 6271

One-fifth 0706 300 4993 7488

One-fourth 0699 345 5729 8899

One-third 0621 1360 5907 12457

Two-third 0632 1195 7625 16854

Full 0615 1280 9378 16121

Banana (Average of two depths)

No fertilizer 0741 290 2886 4201

One-fifth 0723 230 2981 7549

14

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full Pineapple

No fertilize

One -fifth

One-fourth

One-third

Two-third

Full

Coconut (A

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Oove(Aver

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

Banana

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full Pineapple

Control

15th

14th

13rd

23rd

Full

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 18: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

increasing

was high

Similar

7671

9680

11724

11236

16111

22960

6271

7488

8899

12457

16854

16121

4201

7549

CPCRI

One-fourth 0714

One-third 0563

Two-third 0598

Full 0576

Pineapple

No fertilizer 0623

One -fifth 0617

One-fourth 0599

One-third 0589

Two-third 0732

Full 0741

Ca (ppm) Mg (ppm)

Coconut (Average of three depths)

Control 9399 2372

15th 91 76 1732

14th 9907 1586

13rd 6875 1661

23rd 7644 1335

Full 7168 1296

Oove(Average of two depths)

Control 10716 1509

15th 9478 835

14th 9058 1714

13rd 10351 2543

23rd 11761 2843

Full 7532 2598

Banana (Average of three depths)

Control 8151 1759

15th 6520 1517

14th 8875 2762

13rd 9617 3139

23rd 10054 4034

Full 10130 3336

Pineapple Control 16887 3241

15th 10525 3156

14th 12194 5037

l3rd 16534 4813

23rd 13691 3465

Full 13192 2905

515

1050

1215

1250

340

280

410

530

600

620

Fe (ppm)

8699

7813

11310

8721

7829

9771

9019

10822

11518

8136

9120

10386

7680

9383

9790

8189

10345

7397

9888

9142

6045

6624

9982

10130

15

2554 9759

2915 10979

2955 16243

3281 23692

2734 2992

2103 4261

41 84 6331

4233 6575

4729 7792

5027 121 75

Cu(ppm) Zn (ppm) Mn(ppm)

067 146 3371

035 100 3549

091 204 5369

055 141 5798

065 113 4961

078 116 5129

091 148 5431

128 172 5525

087 218 6122

116 244 6615

083 159 4602

107 153 4415

087 128 3374

095 121 5665

111 156 4001

074 135 6879

081 173 8053

103 231 4762

158 257 2921

112 222 5286

095 239 5927

136 274 5825

105 243 4197

112 218 3946

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 19: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

d) Effect on microbial parameters

The distribution of soil microbial groups was investigated in the cropping system Crop

diversity and level of fertilizer inputs influenced the microbial groups in the root zone

of crops It was seen that bacterial count was low in the root-region of pineapple and control

(Table 10) whereas 23rd dose of fertilizer recorded lower number of bacteria than other

treatments in coconut The counts of fungi and actinomycetes were low in the root region

of banana and coconut Full dose of fertilizer supported very low counts of fungi and

actinomycetes Asymbiotic nitrogen fixers were more in root region of clove and pineapple

The population was maximum in l3rd dose of fertilizer treatment There was an increasing

trend from control to 13rd dose and a decreasing trend was observed from 13rd to full

dose Regarding the population of P solubilizers the population was maximum in banana

among the crops and in 13rd dose of fertilizer The microbial population decreased with

increasing depth The development of different microbial groups was optimum at moderate

doses of mineral fertilizer input viz one-third and one-fourth when combined with addition

of vermicompost produced by recycling of waste biomass

Table 10 Microbial population in coconut based cropping system

Fertilizer Actinomycetes Fungi Bacteria N - fixers Jevel (II cfulg soil) (10 cfug soil) (10~ cfug soil) (101 cfug soil)

Control 143 298 378 283 One-fifth 199 350 613 350 One-fourth 226 450 775 552 One-third 313 556 1132 690 Two-third 143 282 635 365

Full 99 258 530 250

P - solubilizers (1()4 cfug soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

Higher content of microbial biomass was recorded in root region soils of coconut and

component crops at medium levels of fertilizer inputs than full-recommended fertilizer

dose or at very low and low fertilizer treatments (Table 11) The quantity of carbon

mineralised phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil also varied under different

fertilizer treatments and a decreasing trend was observed with increasing soil depth

Medium level of fertilizer inputs along with recycling of waste biomass resulted in the

development of congenial conditions for higher level of microbial activity in the cropping

system

16

Table 11

Crop

Coconut

PineapplE

Clove

Banana

e) Raint

of

for

of aUVULJ

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 20: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

g soil)

160 214 241 317 158

125

CPCRI

Table U Microbiological parameters recorded in the coconut based cropping system

Crop 1keatment MIcrobial blOllUll8 C miniMtlon Phoephata8e DehydJOpnase

(JIamp g aoil) (PI CI g aoil) adtrity

(PI p1IitropheDol 111Oilh)

ltPI fonDuan I g aoill h)

Coconut Control 36355 3825 3268 1290

15th 29035 3778 4081 1487

14th 44787 3904 3954 1893

13rd 39353 3831 4074 1485

23rd 411 34 3671 3585 1471

Full 42191 2941 4582 1280

Pineapple Control 6412 2276 3116 1261

15th 6878 2608 3798 1725

14th 8608 2512 4331 1780

13rd 5148 2045 3910 1610

23rd 7632 1994 3442 1244

Full 6721 2010 4595 1202

Clove Control 30641 4175 2425 1306

15th 32054 3861 4637 1512

14th 45863 4563 5006 1960

13rd 30680 3526 3882 1436

23rd 34265 A168 4482 1422

Full 33078 4209 4607 1261

Banana Control 23132 3247 3598 1514

15th 26836 2779 3993 1938

14th 37036 3760 4146 1948

l3rd 31007 3206 4913 1886

23rd 33367 3036 3975 1754

Full 27396 3011 4765 1489

e) Rainfall Partitioning

For measuring throughfall 7 raingauges were equally distributed under the canopy

of coconut and for clove throughfall measurement 3 raingauges were kept under the

canopy These raingauges were made up of 75 cm diameter funnel and a 25 dm3 plastic

glass container The gross rainfall measurements were taken from the Institute weather

station Throughfall gauges were randomly relocated at weekly interval Steep angle

funnels were used to minimise any splash out from the gauges during rainstorms and

with the funnel of each gauge about 05 m above the ground there was little opportunity

for water to splash in after hitting the floor Observation of the height to which soil particles

had been deposited on the sides of a standing board showed a maximum splash height

of about 03 m ________________________ 17 ________________________

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 21: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

Stemflow from 4 coconut and two clove trees was measured by halved polyvinyl sheet

tubing (5 cm wide) which was stapled and sealed with caulking around the circumference

of each tree with the ending in a collection container (Fig 6) The equivalent depth of

stemflow was derived by employing the following area per tree equation

Figure 6 ThVughfoll and StemJlow studies in HDMSCS in the clove

SF = SFVolA

where SF is the estimated stemflow (mm) for a given canopy cover area (A) in m 2 and

SFVol is the stemflow volume of the representative trees (litres)

The canopy storage capacity was determined by a plot of throughfall versus gross

rainfall for day with a depth great enough to saturate the canopy (assumed to be gt 3

mm) Canopy storage capacity of coconut was 18 mm and throughfall was 85 to 90

of the gross rainfall Canopy storage capacity of clove was 28 mm and throughfall

was 34 to 62 of the gross rainfall (Fig 7)

18

The

(Fig

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 22: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

vinyl sheet

umference

lt depth of

CPCRI

y= 06238x - 28963 150

100

E Eshyjsect c Q I oe c

20

-50 ~------------------------------------------------~

R =08946 bull

501------------------4 ~~~r_--------------------------~

Gross Ralnfall(mm)

Figure 7 Callopy storage capacity

The trunk storage capacity was determined by a plot of stemflow versus gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of coconut was 35 rnrn and stemflow was 57 of the gross rainfall

Trunk storage capacity of clove was 011 mm and stemflow was 11 of the gross rainfall

(Fig 8)

y =05741x -3573 60

R 2 =0913 50

40

E 30E

I 20 c E ~ 10 en

o

-10

Gross rainfall(mm)

Figure 8 COCOIlU trullk storoge capacity

19

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 23: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

f) Light interception in HDMSCS

The per cent light transmitted by the different canopies of the coconut based cropping

system experiment showed that 267 of the incident light is available for the under

story intercrop (Fig 9)

80

70

60

1 CIgt 50tmiddote 11 40c 11 30amp

~ ~ 0 20

10

0 0

~Coconut

Pepper

--- Banana

5 10 15

Hours

20

Figure 9 Light interception in coconut based cropping system

g) Root disbibution

The distribution of roots quantified by sampling with 75 cm (internal diameter) by

125 cm long cores For each tree in 50 cm 100 cm and 150 cm away from the trunk upto

100 cm depth were taken Root weight was highest in the control treatment 527

kg m-3bull The higher root dry matter weight was in the 25 -50 layer and in the control plot

(Fig 10 amp 11 )

20

18

16

e 14 E C 12 II amp Cl

Qj

~ 08 0 0a

06

04

02

eE C II amp Clmiddotiii ~ (5 oa

35

25

15

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 24: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

cropping

20

II diameter) by

the trunk upto

reatment 527

he control plot

18

16

E 14

~ ~ 12 -s CI

i o 08 o Il

06

04

02

CPCRI

- 23rd 13rd

- Full - Control

04-------------------~------------------~----------------~

4

35

3

E 25E

c ~-s 2 CI iii ~ 15 -0 0 Il

05

0

0-25 25-50

depth (cm)

Figure 10 Coconut root distribution il1 sOlllflyers

4---------------~-------------------------~

50-100

- 23rd - Full

13rd - Control

0 50 100 150 200

Distance (cm)

Figure 11 Coconut root distribution fltoflyfrom free bflse

21

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 25: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management in Coconut Based Cropping System

4 Yield relationship function of coconut

In the experiment there is no factorial combination of the fertilizer treatment the NPK

recommended dose is taken as one and other treatments were also transformed accordingly

The quadratic response fitted showed significant correlation coefficient (Fig 12) The optimum

fertilizer requirement worked out to be 359 g N 229 g PPs-and 860 g ~O per palm per year

which gave the nut yield of 1517 nutsyear

2 y= -5819x + 83458x+ 12185

2 R =09938

160

150 - ~ 140ca

~ E 130 ii Q V Iii 120 J z

110

100 I I

o 05 15

Fertilizer level

Figure 12 Ferftliser responsejunction for coconut

5 Economics and employment generation

The total cost involved in maintaining the system under various fertilizer doses ranged

from Rs 48983 (No fertilizer dose) to 56973 (Full dose) The net returns were highest

in the treatment two third of the recommended fertilizer dose (Rs 63579-) with a cost

benefit ratio of 1 218 (Table 12)

__ 22 _________

Table 12

Full do

23rd I

13rd I

14th r

15th r

No fer

Emplo

The

be ver]

stabili2

croppil

hayea

system

family

raised

6 Cc

Inte

along

of the

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 26: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

the NPK

ordingly

optimum

per year

ranged

CPCRI

Table 12 Economics of the INM in coconut based cropping system (Mean of six years)

lieabnent Cost cultivation GIOI8 Retams Net Returns BC Ratio (RsJha) (RsJha) (RsJha)

Full dose 56973 117204 60230 205

23rd ree dose 53649 117228 63579 218

13rd rec dose 50324 109119 58795 216

14th rec dose 49989 106832 56843 213

15th rec dose 49787 100351 50563 201

No fert- Control 48983 93015 44032 189

Employment generation

The employment potential of the coconut based cropping system is observed to

be very high The labour input utilization of irrigated monocrop of coconut(at its

stabilized yield stage) is 144 man dayshayear The labour utilization in the coconut

cropping system with clove banana pineapple and black pepper was 332 man days

hayear In percentage term the increase was about 130 per cent over the sole crop

system Since it is expected that the bulk of the labour force is available from the

family source of the farmer family labour income could therefore be considerably

raised when coconut based cropping system was adopted

6 Conclusion

Integrated nutrient management by using 23rd recommended fertilizer dose

along with recycling of biomass by vermicomposting gives the best economic benefit

in a sustainable manner INM on coconut based cropping system demostarted model

to the farmer to integrate nutrient management in a cropping system The system

is more sustainable and production and productivity will increase without affecting

the ecosystem There is a positive impact through improvement of soil health by

recycling of waste products in the system as organic manures Further it will be ecoshy

friendly with nature which will enable to increase the production and productivity

of the system

23

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 27: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

Integrated Nutrient Management In Coconut Based Cropping System

References

Liyanage LVK 1985 Rationale for intercropping Coconut Bulletin 2 31-34

Margate RZ Maravilla JN Ebuna RM and Eroy M N 1994 Response of coconut and coffee

to fertilizers applied either or both crops in an intercropping system CORD X(2) 41-61

Oelsligle DD McCollum RE and Kang BT 1976 Soil fertility management in tropical multiple

cropping In Multiple Cropping Papendick RI Sanchez PA and Triplett GB (Eds) American

Society of Agronomy Special Publication 27275-292

Pillai NG 1975 Studies on mineral nutrition of coconut palm with special reference to the root

(wilt) disease PhD Thesis University of Keral Trivandrum

Tandon H L S 1990 Integrated nutrient management for sustainable agriculture In Proceedings

ojthe International Symposium on Natural Resources Management for a Sustainable Agriculture (RP

Singh Ed) Vol I 6th_10th February 1990 New Delhi pp 203-222

24

bull

Page 28: Technical bulletin No. 4914.139.158.118/docs/Frepub/49integrated.pdf · ICAII . KASARAGOD _ 671 . ... the experiment was modified by including three more additional treatments like

bull