COCONUT RESEARCH STATION, VEPPANKULAM

I. ESTABLISHMENT: 1958

II. MANDATE                       

• Evolving promoting new high yielding coconut varieties / hybrids.
• Identification of coconut genotypes suitable for tender nut purpose
• Development of hi-tech package of practices for increasing the nut and oil yield
• Evolving technologies to circumvent pest and disease incidences
• Evolving remedies for physiological maladies and stress tolerance
• Evolving suitable remedial measures to overcome micronutrient deficiencies
• Ensuring production and distribution of high quality tall, dwarf and hybrid coconut seedlings through hi-tech nurseries.
• Providing suitable solutions for the field problems encountered by coconut farmers.

III. ACTIVITIES

RESEARCH

• A Tall x Tall coconut hybrid viz., LCOT x CC, recorded the highest mean annual nut yield of 198 nuts / palm / year and it recorded the highest cumulative nut yield of 135 nuts / palm.

• Among the 24 coconut hybrids evaluated, the annual nut yield was highest in hybrids MGD x ECT ie., 233 nuts / palm /year. The cumulative nut yield was highest in hybrid ECT x MOD (VHC 3) ie., 141 nuts / palm / year.

• Among the coconut hybrids evaluated for tender nut quality, the total soluble sugars was highest in hybrids MOD x WCT (5.80 0`brix). Organoleptic scores for tender nut water and meat were also highest in hybrid MOD x WCT (8.0 and 7.0). Highest volume of tender nut water was observed in hybrid AO x COD (380 ml).

• Among the tall coconut genotypes, Java Giant recorded the highest whole nut weight (1500 g) and kernel weight 500 g. Copra weight was highest in sanblass (290 g). Among the dwarf genotypes MGD recorded the highest whole nut weight (1213.3 g) and MYD recorded the highest dehusked nut weight (540 g).

• Mother palm gardens have been established for MOD and MYD in an area of 4 ha in order to produce D x T hybrids.

• Drip fertigation at 75% of RD of NPK recorded the higher number of cumulative nut yield (103.4), while 100% of RD of NPK recorded the maximum per cent increase over pre experimental nut yield (12.89).

• Organic Cocomix (40 kg Composted Coir Pith (CCP) / Vermicompost (VC) +500 g Rock) Phosphate (RP) +12.50 g of each Azospirillum (AZOS) and Phosphobacteria (PB) + 250 groundnut (GN) cake) once in a month in twelve equal splits for the first year and subsequently once in three months ie., in four equal splits for tall coconut and double the quantity as per the above schedule for hybrid coconut is adequate for optimum nut yield and better soil health

• For hybrid coconut, a fertilizer level of 1000:250:2000 g NPK/Palms / year along with 50kg of organic manures was found to be economical and achieved higher nut yield, besides sustaining the soil fertility. Considering consistent nut yield and sustainable soil health, 50% of recommended nitrogen may be applied as organic manure of either vermicompost or composted coir pith based on the availability and the remaining 50% nitrogen may be applied as fertilizer.

• The nut yield obtained was comparable due to application of recommended NPK and 50% N as CCP + 50% NPK as fertilizer. However, the latter appears to be effective in sustaining the nut yield, soil fertility in the long run and also higher economic return. Considering the economic feasibility of converting them into manure in coconut gardens, out of total recommendation, 50 per cent N may be applied as organics and balance 50 per cent N and remaining P&K (excluding the quantum of P,K supplied by the organics) as fertilizer.

• Nine on farm trials were conducted to evaluate the performance pheromone traps against Rhinoceros beetles and Red palm weevils in coconut and the results revealed that  the CPCRI pheromone lures were effective than PCI lures.

• A civet trap (GI) was designed to trap palm civets damaging coconut and it was found to effective.

• A field trial at Mahizhankottai village for the management of basal stem rot disease with integrated disease management technologies, the pre treatment population level of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 x 105 cfu  / g dry soil and 1.0 to 2.5 x 103 cfu / g dry soil respectively

• Pseudomonas fluorescens effectively inhibited the growth of Botryodiplodia theobromae, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus flavus and A. niger isolated from copra. Among the chemical preservatives, citric acid gave maximum reduction on the growth of Penicillium sp.

• The fungicides Mancozeb and Metalaxyl (8% WP) + Mancozeb (64% WP) gave 100% inhibition of mycelial growth of the leaf blight pathogen, Lasiodiplodia theobromae even at 500 ppm concentration.

Extension activities

• Every year about 20,000 and 40,000 coconut seedlings of elite hybrids and tall varieties respectively are produced and supplied to the farmers.

• Trainings on hi-tech coconut nursery, mushroom spawn production, mushroom cultivation, coir pith composting, growing medicinal plants as intercrop, vermicomposting and bee keeping are organized to progressive farmers, entrepreneurs, self help groups and unemployed graduates.

• Querries by post and phone on plant protection, package of practices for coconut, intercropping etc are answered to the farmers.

• Field visits are undertaken by scientists to investigate new problems in coconut and remedial measures are suggested.

• Front line demonstrations are conducted in farmer’s field to popularize the findings of the research station.

• Speeches by seminars on coconut improved technologies are often broadcast through All India Radio and Doordharshan (AIR and DD)

• Recent findings and solutions for the problems encountered by coconut farmers are regularly published through popular articles in dailies and monthly magazines.

V. ACHIEVEMENTS

Hybrids

1. Veppankulam Hybrid Coconut 1 (VHC 1)

2. Veppankulam Hybrid Coconut 2 (VHC 2)
           

3. Veppankulam Hybrid Coconut 3 (VHC 3)

Tall varieties

Veppankulam 3 (VPM 3)

Other tall varieties identified for cultivation in Tamil Nadu.

TNAU Coconut VPM 4 (WCT)

CROP MANAGEMENT

Nursery

• The seednuts of tall and hybrid are to be air cured for one month followed by sand curing for two months to get more quality seedlings.  The air curing for dwarf seednuts should be lesser than one month followed by sand curing for two months.

• The weed problem in coconut nursery can be effectively managed by growing sunnhemp 2 times and trampled in situ at flowering stage followed by one hand weeding at 6th month.

• The optimum age of coconut seedlings for planting is 9 – 12 months.

Planting

• June – July, December – January are the best planting seasons.

• The optimum spacing is 7.5 x 7.5 m that will accommodate 175 trees/ha.

• A spacing of 6.0 m may be adopted for single row planting

• Pit size should be 1m x 1m x 1m. Fill up the pit to a height of 30 cm with a equal proportion mixture of FYM, red earth and sand.

• The seedling is to be planted in the pit leaving 2 feet as empty.

Water management

• In basin irrigation, apply 410 litres once in 5 days for March – September and once in 8 days for October – February months.  Additionally 30 – 40% of above quantity of water ie., 135 – 165 litres/palm is to be added to meet the conveyance and other losses.

• In drip system, 80 lit/day/palm for March – September and 50 lit/day/palm for October – February months is required for irrigation.

• In the basin  of 1.8 m radius around the palms during summer season for soil moisture conservation, apply coconut husks with convex surface facing upwards or 15 number dried coconut leaves or coconut coir pith for 10 cm height.

• In circular trenches dug 30 cm width and 60 cm depth at 1.5 meter radius bury husks @ 100 numbers with concave surface facing upwards to over come drought.  The husk can also be buried in the trenches at a distance of 3 m from the palm with a size of 45 cm deep and 150 cm width in between two rows of coconut.

Manuring and fertilization

• 5th year onwards, for tall varieties 560 g N, 320 g P2O5, 1200 g K2O and 50 kg FYM per palm per year. During 2nd, 3rd and 4th year 1/4th, 1/2nd and 3/4th   of recommended fertilizer is to be applied.

• 5th year onwards, for T X D hybrids 1000 g N, 250 g  P2O5, 2000 g K2O and 60 kg FYM per palm per year. During 2nd, 3rd and 4th year 1/4th, 1/2nd and 3/4th   of recommended fertilizer is to be applied.

• The fertilizer dose should be applied in two equal splits during June - July and December – January every year in 1.8 m radius circle for each palm.

• Root feeding with TNAU coconut tonic @ one pocket of 200 m l/palm once in six months may be adopted for bearing palms to reduce button shedding and barren nuts production.

• Sunnhemp @ 50 gm / palm may be sown in the basins and incorporated before flowering, thrice a year; which will be a substitute to FYM.

• Application of new formulation of  major nutrient mixture for tall (2:1:4 NPK @ 2.5 kg / palm / 6 months) and hybrid (4:1:8 NPK @ 4.0 kg /palm / 6 months) coconut for enhanced nut yield and soil nutrient availability
• TNAU formulation of refined micronutrient mixture to tall and hybrid coconut @ 1 kg/palm/year for enhancing nut yield, micronutrients availability in soil and to keep their optimum level in index leaf tissue.

Inter-cultural operation

• The inter space in the coconut garden has to be ploughed twice in a year in June – July and December – January.

• Post emergence spraying of glyphosate @ 10 ml with 20 g ammonium sulphate per litre of water can manage many of the weeds in coconut garden.

Intercropping

• Below 7 years, groundnut, sesamum sunflower, turmeric, maize, pulses, any vegetables are recommended as intercrops.

• From 7 – 20 years, green manure (or) fodder crops may be raised.

• Above 20 years – banana, tapioca, elephant foot yam, turmeric, pineapple, cocoa, bhendi, sweet potato, sirukizhangu are the best intercrops and remunerative.

• The highly remunerative intercrops with additional net return realized per hectare coconut garden are banana variety monthan Rs. 23,445/-, turmeric variety BSR-2 Rs. 24,312/-, elephant foot yam variety Sri Padma Rs. 16,715/-, tapioca variety CO-2
  Rs. 7,809/-, pine apple variety Mouritius Rs. 24,400/- and bhendi variety Arca anamica Rs. 5,490/-.

• Based on the performance and economics of chosen herbal plants, the selected plants viz., Aloe vera, Sitharathai, Tulsi, Lemon grass and patchouli were found to be best suited intercrop in adult coconut garden.

Button shedding and barren nut production

• Application of 200 g zinc sulphate followed by root feeding of Veppankulam micronutrient mixture @ 100 ml/palm increases the setting percentage by 3.2 per cent.

• Root feeding of 40 ml of TNAU coconut tonic with 160 ml water once in six months reduced button shedding and increases nut yield.

• Planofix (NAA) spray @ 20 ppm 30 days after spathe opening increases the setting percentage

• Application of 2 kg of potash and 200 g borax reduces barren nut production.

Pencil point disorder

• Poor management with less maintenance for a long period of time and the absence of conducive environment for the optimum growth and development of palms leads to development of pencil point disorder in the coconut palm.  In extreme cases, this levels to the death of the palm.

• Root feeding of 200 ppm ferrous sulphate during the initial phase of pencil point development will control the disorder.

Drought management in coconut garden

• Application of 50 kg composted coir pith retains water and conserves soil moisture 

• Root feeding of TNAU coconut tonic at quarterly interval and 1 per cent potassium chloride at half yearly interval increases the yield.

• Root feeding of 20 ppm NAA and growing of Calapagonium in the basin increases the drought tolerance capacity of the palm.

Crop Protection

Rhinoceros beetle

• Crown application of neem seed powder + sand (1:2) @ 150 g/palm (or) neem seed kernel powder + sand (1:2) @ 150 g /palm applied to the base of 3 inner most leaves

• Leaf axil application of phorate granules @ 5g + 100 g sand (or) carbofuran 3 G @ 10 g + 100 g sand significantly reduced the leaf damage by rhinoceros beetle.

• Placement of three naphthalene balls at the base of three inner most leaves

• Pheramone traps @ 1 / ha is recommended to trap and the adult beetles

Red palm weevil

• Root feeding of monocrotophos 10 ml + 10 ml of water effectively controls the red palm weevil.

• Use of pheromone trap in the management of red palm weevil using different natural products such as coconut toddy, tender coconut water and palmyrah fruit juice attracted significantly more number of adults red palm weevil.

• Pheramone traps @ 1 / ha is recommended to trap and the adult beetles

Eriophyid mite

• Spraying of Triazophos 5ml/lit on 30 DAT significantly reduced the mite population by 70% and it was on par with carbosulfan 2 ml/lit which recorded 68% reduction in population.

• Integrated approach is warranted to minimize the damage.  Application of 1.3 kg urea, 2.0 kg of super phosphate, 3.5 kg of muriate of potash along with micronutrients @ 50 grams of borax 1 kg of gypsum and 500 grams of magnesium sulphate is recommended. 

• Spraying of Azadirachtin 1% (5ml/litre) and neem oil 3% (30 ml/litre) at 45 days intervals is warranted.

Rodents

• Crown baiting with a single dose anticoagulant rodenticide cake bromadiolone 0.005% at four bits per palm each weighing 16.5 g found more effective in controlling the rodent damage to tender nuts.

Basal stem rot

• Basin irrigation in 1.8 m radius around the palm to confine the further spread of the disease

• Root feeding of 1.3 g aureofungin-sol + 0.5 g copper sulphate or 2 ml of tridemorph in 100 ml of water combined with soil drenching of 40 litres of 1% Bordeaux mixture thrice at quarterly interval effectively controls the disease.

• Application of 5 kg neem cake/palm/year reduces BSR

• Application of 50 g each of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens with 50 kg of farm yard manure at half yearly interval checks further increase in disease intensity.

• Soil deenching of 1 % Bordeaux mixture @ 40 lit. /  palm to  reduce the soil fungal inoculum

 Leaf blight

• Grey blight (Leaf blight) disease caused by Pestalotiopsis palmarum (Cooke) Stey is ubiquitous in distribution in coconut gardens.

• Increasing the dosage of potash (4.0 kg muriate of potash / palm / year) imparts resistance to the palm to infection by the grey blight fungus.

• Root feeding 2.0 g thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim in 100 ml of water reduces the leaf blight incidence.

• Recently, a lethal leaf blight disease caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griff & Maubl. (Botryodiplodia theobromae) has been identified in a few coconut gardens in Thanjavur district.

• Root feeding of 4 ml of tridemorph in 100 ml of water with root feeding of coconut tonic 40 ml + 160 ml water is effective in the management of lethal leaf blight.