mulching for coconut grove

[sajjadmalang]

Has anybody have success with mulching. I have a 10acre coconut grove but the yield is very much reduced and the size if the coconut is also become very small.

I was wondering if it is possible to use coconut waste for mulching to conserve water and to enrich the soil.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[rtkaushik]

I am not a farmer...yet. But have read about coconut yield improvements
One is about 90 year old Bhaskar Save. Trench & Platform irrigation is his mantra. One good article about his method is [Water efficient Farming
Second is about using coir pith as mulch.
Please contact...

 

[aromedindia]

Mulching in coconut

Definately it is going to make lot of difference so far as moisture conservation and weed suppression are concerned.However, if u are not growing as organic, better add some N and P fertilizer so that nutrient immobilization by waste is compensated, as waste is going to tale considerable time to release nutrients, what so ever (little)it contains.I am not aware of nutrient contents in waste but feel it must be very meagre.
Thanks
aromedindia@gmail.com
9451504200/9424633501

 

[vkv_2]

Has anybody have success with mulching. I have a 10acre coconut grove but the yield is very much reduced and the size if the coconut is also become very small.

I was wondering if it is possible to use coconut waste for mulching to conserve water and to enrich the soil.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

I am a coconut farmer from Coimbatore.

We have water problem in our land and do regular mulching in our farm. Anything that falls from the coconut tree except the nuts is left in the field itself. Coconut leaves are cut and put around the tree to prevent evaporation at the root zone. During the rainy season the feild is tilled using a 12 disk Harrow which cuts the coconut leaves and provides a mulch for the grove.

i have been doing this for the past 10 years plus and find that it has improved the size of the nut and yield.

 

[pradeeprokade]

Mulching in coconut plantation

Dear Mr. Sajjad,

The coconut yield and size has reduced in your farm. The mulching will help you in reducing water consumption and will provide negligible quantity of natural fertilizers . The basic problem is that the trees are not getting sufficient water and proper types of fertilizers in adequate quantity time to time.

The coconut tree gives yield througout the year, it doesn't have a season. Every month it produces one new leaf and a set of flower which yields 5 to 20 coconuts per bunch. It means its water and fertilizer requirement is more and regular. If a proper combination of Natural, chemical fertilizers and micro-neutrients are provided time to time with sufficient water it will give good yield.

1) Plant Glirisidia trees on the boundary of your farm, cut green leaves every three months and put in the soil near plants active roots. Also try to use “ Jivamruth “ 2 to 5 lits per month per tree.

2)Fully grown coconut plants at 25 feet X 25 feet occupies only 25 % of land and makes available 55 % sunlight, make use of it and plant intercrops like Moringa ( Drumstic ), Flowreing plants , combination of diffrent types of spices like Nutmeg, Black Pepper, cinnamon, Cardmom, Banana,Pineapple Papaya , Tomato etc. Which will increase the coconut yield from 20 % to 60 % plus you will have additional income from intercrops. By using this method farmers are earning Rs. 1 Lac per acre per year.
3)You can also keep 300 to 500 Desi Hens per acre ( Vanaraj , Giriraj, Kadaknath etc ) which will help in controlling insects, will provide natural fertilizers by its droppings , give Eggs and meat at very low cost.

As Mr. Kaushik rightly mentioned, an award winning noval farmar Mr. Bhaskar Save has developed his own style of natural farming in Umbergaon, he has dug a 1 M X 1 M trench in the centre of two rows of coconut plants in both the direction, he fills it with dry leaves / compost / agri waste and fills it with water in regular intervals. His idea is the plant roots should travel up to these pits to take water and neutrients in turn the roots will spread more ,they will get more natural feed, water and will give more strength to plant.

Regards
pradeep rokade

pradeeprokade@rediffmail.com
pradeeprokade@gmail.com