🥥 Coconut
Cultivation, varieties, nutrient care, and economic products of coconut as a plantation crop.
Coconut is a major plantation crop with food, industrial, and livelihood significance, and this lesson organizes key production practices for exam preparation.
(Cocus nucifera , Palmae)
The coconut palm, Cocus nucifera L., is one of the most beautiful and useful palms in the world. It provides a variety of useful products like food, fuel and timber. Every part of the tree is being utilized for some purpose or other and hence, it is called Kalpavriksha meaning tree of heaven which provides all the necessities of life. It is grown in India in about 1.51 million ha. With an annual production of about 9283.4 million nuts. It ranks third in world in area and production, first and second being Indonesia and Philippines respectively. Among the different coconut growing states in India, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh account for nearly 90persent in area and production.
| Name of the State | Share in area (%) | Share in production of nuts (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 57.74 | 49.28 |
| Tamilnadu | 12.80 | 23.63 |
| Karnataka | 16.24 | 14.68 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 3.94 | 2.82 |
Other states (Orissa, Maharastra, Assam, West Bengal, Goa, Daman, Andaman, Pondichery, Tirupura etc.,) 9.28 (%), 9.59 (%)
Among the Southern States though Tamil Nadu has share in area (92, 14,200 ha), its share in production is due to the higher productivity per palm.
Botany
Origin of coconut is believed to be somewhere in South East Asia. Coconut, botanically Cocas nucifera has only one species under the genus Cocus. It is a tall stately unbranched palm growing to a height of 12m to 24m. The stem is marked by rings of leaf scars which are often not prominent at the base. The palm has an adventitious root system, having numerous thick roots from the base of the stem almost throughout its life. The roots are localized generally at the lower most region of the stem which has been termed the bole. Leaves are large, long, pinnately sect, borne on the crown. The palm is monoecious with relatively few female flowers. Male flowers are numerous small with six stamens and in female flowers, the ovary is tricarpic, usually one ovuled. Fruit is large, one seed drupe. The outer layers of the pericarp are thick and fibrous. The inner layer (endocarp of shell) is very hard, horny or stony and the thin testa cohering to the endocarp is lined with white albuminous endosperm (meat), enclosing a large cavity, partially filled with sweet fluid. The inflorescence develops within a strong, tough pointed double sheath called spathe which after full developed splits along its underside from top to bottom and releases the inflorescence. This usually occurs from 75-95 days after the first appearance of its tip in the leaf axil. The primordial of the inflorescence begin to form the leaf axil about 32 months before the opening of the spathe. In bearing coconut palm every leaf axil can produce a spadix and under normal conditions it varies from 12-15 per annum. However, this number may be reduced due to adverse weather condition. In India, the female flower production is high during the period from March- May and low from September – January. In general, the number of female per inflorescence varies from 10-50. Female flowers normally become receptive 19-20 days after the opening of the spathe. Genetically the dwarf palms are autogamous while tall types allogamous. Both winds and insects are considered to be the main pollinating agents. A large number of buttons (female flowers) fail to develop due to lack of pollination and fertilization, defect in the flowers, physiological disorders, genetic nature of the variety, pests and disease and unfavorable environment etc. Generally, not more than 2 to 40% of the female flowers reach maturity under normal conditions.
Climate and soil
The coconut palm is found to grow under varying climate and soil condition. It is essentially a tropical plant, growing mostly between 20 N and 20 S latitudes. Near the equator, productive coconut plantation can be established up to the elevation of about 1000m from sea level while the further one goes from the equator, the more is the palm confined to lowlands. The palms tolerate wide range in intensity and distribution of rainfall. However a rainfall of about 200cm per year and well distributed throughout the year is the best proper growth and maximum yield. In areas of inadequate rainfall with uneven distribution, irrigation is required. Soil moisture deficit during summer hampers nut production to greater extent. Palm requires plenty of sunlight and odes not grow well under shade. Coconut is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, from light sandy soils to heaviest clays with a pH ranging from 5.2 to 8.0. Best soils are deep, friable, loamy soils. In heavier soils, it requires good drainage.
Cultivars and Hybrids
Coconut palms are broadly classified into two groups, the tall and dwarf. The tall cultivars are the common type that occurs throughout the world. The different cultivars of the Tall are known by the place where they are largely cultivated. The tall cultivars largely grown in India are the West Coast Tall and East Coast Tall. The dwarf varieties are shorter in stature and life span as compared to Talls. They start bearing earlier compared to Talls. The size of the nuts and the quality of copra are inferior to Talls. The Dwarf cultivars occur with three nut colours viz. green, yellow, and orange. The dwarf cultivars are generally grown for tender nuts and also for hybrid production. The common dwarfs available in India are Chawghat Orange Dwarf, Chawghat Green Dwarf, Malayan Green Dwarf, Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Malayan Orange Dwarf, Gangabondam etc. The hybrids between Tall and Dwarf forms (TxD) or vice Versa (DxT) show hybrid vigour for growth, earliness and yield. Hence, hybrids have been released recently for cultivation. The important cultivars and hybrids recommended now for cultivation are given below:
TALLS
West Coast Tall (WCT): It is a common tall cultivar, cultivated through out the West Coast region because of its commercial importance, high copra yield (115 to 180 g /nut) and high quality in terms of high oil content (70 to 72%). WCT is a hardy palm, yields economically ranging from 50 to 100 nuts /palm /year (mean of 70 nuts under rainfed condition) for about 60 to75 years. It is one of the best indigenous types grown from very ancient times in India. The nuts are varying in shape, medium in size with colour varying from green, yellow to brown; varying in husk and kernel content also. This cultivar commences to yield in about 6 to 8 years after planting under favourable conditions. The mean yield of nuts is positively correlated with both annual outturn of copra and oil; whereas it is negatively correlated with mean copra content per nut. East Coast Tall (ECT): It is a common tall cultivar. The time taken for flowering is 72.9 months. ECT is a hardy palm, yields economically ranging from 73 nuts /palm /year. The average weight of copra is around 125g.The oil content is around 64%. Laccadive Ordinary (Chandrakalpa): It is a native of Lakshadweep, similar to West Coast Tall in almost all characters, except for the prominent ridges on the triangular nuts and the average yield is comparatively high, 120 nuts /palm /year (range 90 to 180). This type is recommended for commercial cultivation in the country because of high quantity and quality of copra production. About 6200 nuts are required to make one tone of copra. The performance of Laccadive Ordinary has been found to be good in most of the coconut growing states in India; it gave the highest yield of copra /palm at Pilicode (Kerala) and Arsikere (Karnataka); while it gave maximum number of nuts /palm at Ratnagiri (Maharastra) and Ambajipeta (Andhra Pradesh) research stations.
HYBRIDS
Chandra Sankara: Chawghat Orange Dwarf X West Coast Tall, It is a hybrid. The time taken for flowering is 60 months. On an average a tree of this hybrid can yield 116 nuts/palm/year. The average weight of copra is 215g and oil content is around 68%. ChandraLaksha: Laccadive Ordinary X Chawghat Orange Dwarf: It is a hybrid. The time taken for flowering is 48 months. On an average a tree of this hybrid can yield 109 nuts/palm/year. The average weight of copra is 195g and oil content is around 69%. Laksha Ganga: Laccadive Ordinary X Gangabondam: It is a hybrid. The time taken for flowering is 60 months. On an average a tree of this hybrid can yield 108 nuts/palm/year. The average weight of copra is 195g and oil content is around 70%. Keraganga: West Coast Tall x Gangabondam: Five years for flowering, 100 nuts per tree, 201g copra, 69% oil content. Anantha ganga: Andaman Ordinary X Gangabondam: Five years for flowering, 95 nuts per tree, 216g copra, 68% oil content.
Varieties released by , Coconut Research Center – Veppankulam
From this research institute till now one Tall variety (VPM), and three hybrid varieties have been released. VPM –3: This is a Tall variety. In Tamil Nadu it is suitable for cultivation in rain fed areas. It will start to bear in 5-7 years after planting. On an average a tree of this variety can yield 90 nuts/palm/year. The nuts are larger in size. The average weight of copra is around 176g. It can tolerate drought and can yield higher. VHC –1: This is the cross between East Coast Tall and Chawghat Green Dwarf variety and was released in 1982. It is a hybrid variety. On an average it can yield 115 nuts/palm/year. The average weight of copra is around 142g. It contains 69% oil. VHC –2: It is the cross between East Coast Tall and Malayan Yellow Dwarf and was released in 1988. It is a hybrid. On an average a tree is around 142 nuts/palm/year. The average weight of copra is 146g and oil content is around 70%. VHC-3: It is the cross between East Coast Tall and Malayan Orange Dwarf, and was released in 2000. It is a hybrid. On an average a tree is around 156 nuts/palm/year. The average weight of copra is 162g and oil content is 70.2%. ALR-1: High yielding tall type, One year earlier flowering compared to WCT, ECT and VPM3, tolerant to drought, 7645 nut gives one tone copra, moderately tolerant to major coconut pest.
Production of Coconut Seedlings
Since coconut cultivation involves substantial pre-bearing investment, greater emphasis must be given for the selection of the right type of planting material. Quality seed nuts and seedlings are obtained through a series of selections made at various stages.
1. Selection of seed gardens
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Topic | Key exam point |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Cocos nucifera |
| Family | Palmae |
| Crop type | Long-duration plantation crop often called the tree of life |
| Product uses | Nut, copra, coir, toddy, and multiple by-products |
| Establishment focus | Seedling quality, pit preparation, and spacing decide stand success |
| Management core | Basin care, manuring, mulching, and moisture management are central to productivity |
| Variety recall | Tall, dwarf, and hybrid groups are major exam categories |
| Intercropping note | Coconut-based intercropping systems are a standard management theme |
| Long-term caution | Early establishment mistakes affect yield for many years |
| Exam trap | Coconut should be approached as a long-term plantation system, not as a short-season field crop |
References
2 sources • [1] [2]
References
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