In-situ waste management in integrated nutrient management system under coconut (Cocos nucifera)- based high density multi-species cropping system in tropical soils of India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Kayamkulam, Kerala during 1993-2004 to study the effect of integrated management practices, like application of organic manure, recommeneded dose of inorganic fertilizer, in situ green manuring and high density multi-species cropping systcm in root (wilt) affected garden on resource use, recyclable biomass production and sustainable productivity of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)-based cropping system. It was found that coconut had 31.32% actual air space utilization, followed by banana (Musa sp.) (7.32%), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) (0.67%), pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) (0.2%) and tuber crops, like amorphophallus (Amorphophallus sp.), colocasia (Colocasia sp.) and dioscorea (Dioscorea sp.) (0.38%) in the system. The system gave enormous quantity of recyclable biomass (9 110 kg/ha to 17 612 kg/ha/year) and which on conversion to vermicompost through Eudrilus sp. contributed 70.1 to 142.1 kg N 10.0 to 20.3 kg P and 18.0 to 36.5 kg K/year. The results also indicated that the average yield of coconut obtained during 2003-04 in the garden was 62.2 nuts/palm/year compared with the preexperimental yield of 30 nuts/palm/year. The yield of component crops over the years was stable and the system proved to be sustainable in productivity over the years.