COCONUT TREE CULTIVATION

Introduction:
The coconut (cocos nucifera L.) is a Tropical fruit plant grown on a large scale in a
number of countries in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The place of origin though
contradictory, is believed to be somewhere in South Asia –Malaysia. In India, coconut palms
are grown on the entire coastal belt. Major share goes to Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
followed by Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa.

The coconut tree provides food, fuel, cosmetics, and folk medicine and building
materials, among many other uses. The inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the coconut
milk extracted from it, form a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and
subtropics. Coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large
quantity of clear liquid, called coconut water or coconut juice. Mature, ripe coconuts can be
used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the
hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. Dried coconut flesh is called copra, and the oil and
milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking – frying in particular – as well as in soaps
and cosmetics. Sweet coconut sap can be made into drinks or fermented into palm wine or
coconut vinegar. The hard shells, fibrous husks and long pinnate leaves can be used as
material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decoration.

The coconut has cultural and religious significance in certain societies, particularly in
the Western Pacific Austronesian cultures where it features in their mythologies, songs, and
oral traditions. It also had ceremonial importance in pre-colonial animistic religions. It has
also acquired religious significance in South Asian cultures, where it is used in Hindu rituals.
It forms the basis of wedding and worship rituals in Hinduism. It also plays a central role in
the Coconut Religion of Vietnam. The falling of their mature fruit has led to preoccupation
with death by coconut.
 Coconuts were first domesticated by the Austronesian peoples in Island Southeast
Asia and were spread during the Neolithic via their seaborne migrations as far east as the
Pacific Islands, and as far west as Madagascar and the Comoros. They played a critical role in
the long sea voyages of Austronesians by providing a portable source of food and water, as
well as providing building materials for Austronesian outrigger boats. Coconuts were also
later spread in historic times along the coasts of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans by South
Asian, Arab, and European sailors. Based on these separate introductions, coconut
populations can still be divided into Pacific coconuts and Indo-Atlantic coconuts,
respectively. Coconuts were introduced by Europeans to the Americas only during the
colonial era in the Columbian exchange, but there is evidence of a possible pre-Columbian
introduction of Pacific coconuts to Panama by Austronesian sailors. The evolutionary origin
of the coconut is under dispute, with theories stating that it may have evolved in Asia, South
America, or on Pacific islands.

Trees grow up to 30 metres (100 feet) tall and can yield up to 75 fruits per year,
though fewer than 30 is more typical. Plants are intolerant of cold weather and prefer copious
precipitation, as well as full sunlight. Many insect pests and diseases affect the species and
are a nuisance for commercial production. About 75% of the world's supply of coconuts is
produced by Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. The coconut tree is the official state tree of
Kerala, India.

Importance:

Every part of the coconut palm is useful to mankind. It supplies food, fuel, drink, oil
and shelter to us. The wet kernel, desicated copra, coconut water, cream flour, oil, cake,
toddy, husk, fibre, shell, coir, wood and leaves are used for one purpose or the other.

Climate:

The coconut palm grows well in an equatorial climate. The long spells of hot and dry
weather, severe winters and extremes of temperatures are not favourable for coconut
growing. However, it thrives well upto 1000 m above the sea level. The well distributed
rainfall ranging from 100 to 300 cm is favourable.
 Soil: The coconut palm can grow in a wide range of soil conditions ranging from
laterite, alluvial, red, sandy loam having pH range from 5.5 to 8.0. Soil should be fertile and
good drainage without any hard substratum within one of the surface.

Varieties :

There are number of varieties grown in different parts, which are classified as under:-

Tall varieties :-

 West Coast Tall

 Lakshadweep

 Andaman

 Kappadam

 Laguna

 San Raman

 Dwarf varieties:

 Chowghat – Dwarf green,

 Malayon Dwarf

 Mangipod

 Hybrid varieties

 TXD

 DXT

Selections- Pratap, Banoli, etc.

Propagation:

The coconut palm is commonly propagated by seeds. Since the productivity of the
palm depends on the quality of the seedlings, utmost importance should be given to select the
best nuts. The mother palms should be regular bearers giving annual yield of more than 100
nuts with the copra content of 150 g per nut. The mother palm should be within the age group
of 20 to 40 years. These palms producing barren nuts and shedding immature nuts in large
number should be discarded for the nursery purpose.

Planting and Season: The planting distance depends on the type of plant or variety,
soil type and weather monoculture or associated culture or mixed culture is adopted, distance
should be in such a way that the fronds (leaves) of planting adjacent palms to do not overlap
when fully grown. The spacing maybe 7 to 8 m both ways for tall varieties. Well developed
and well grown seedlings about 1 to 2 years old should be selected for planting. The planting
should be done on onset of monsoon for which the pits of 0.75 x 0.75 x 0.75 m should be
opened and filled with a mixture of compost, bone meal, super phosphate, well before the
monsoon.

Interculturing:

Weeding and stirring the soil around the plant should be done frequently. The
interspace may be kept clean or utilised for taking other crops, seasonals or perennials.

Care of young plants: The young palms need proper care during the early stages of
growth from transplanting upto 5th year. The seedlings should be protected from stray cattle.
During summer months, shade and frequent watering must be provided to the young palms to
avoid casualties. The care should be taken to see that the collar and leaf axils of the seedlings
are not covered by mud, water or soil.

Special horticulture practices: The dwarf varieties are considered on self-pollinating

Irrigation:

The coconut palm requires large quantities of water for its normal growth and timely
production. In normal conditions and in absence of rains every palm needs about 16-18 litre
water daily. Regular irrigation helps to increase the fruit set, improve size and copra content.
However, stagnation of water and ill drained conditions should be strictly avoided.

Nutrition:

To get a good yield, palms should be fertilized regularly and with a quick frequency,
Bimonthly applications are more beneficial. Every well grown palm should be applied with
25 kg. Of FYM 1 kg of 5:10:5. Micronutrients/Ormichem @ 2 kg/palm once in a year should
be applied to avoid any micro-nutrient disorders.

Plant protection: Important pests, Rhinocerous beetle, Red palm weevil, leaf eating
caterpillar and cockchafer beetle are the major insect pests. Occassionally mealy bug, rat and
slug also become troublesome. Bud rot and leaf rot and root wilt can cause severe damage to
palms. One should be very alert to notice the symptoms of any post and take the suitable
control measures. Close planting should be avoided plantation should be kept weed free and
clean. The palms should be cleared off at least once in a year. Providing a good drainage and
feeding the palms with balanced nutrition is useful to keep palms healthy.

Harvesting and yield:

The well-developed nuts should be harvested one month earlier to full maturity.
Harvesting of nuts is a skilled and risky job. 2 to 6 harvestings can be done yearly. Average
80 to 100 nuts are harvested per tree/year.

Post-harvest handling and sale:

The nuts are hardy and can be kept for a long time. Nuts harvested at less than 9
months age will be dried spoiled or without or very thin layer of copra. Copra is removed and
then processed for different purposes or dried and stored and sold as dry copra.