Exploring potential of organic coconut

Abstract

In coconut, about 74% of the roots produced are confined to 2 m from the bole and most of the roots grow to a depth of 30-120 cm, thus, utilizing only limited extent of land area for their growth. The orientation of leaves in crown helps penetration of sunlight into soil and provides opportunities for exploitation of land and solar energy for inter/mixed cropping ensuring crop diversity, an essential component in organic farming. Such an approach will also add large quantities of organic wastes and their recycling within the system makes it productive even in the absence of external inputs for nutrition. Thus, growth habit and wider spacing for planting in coconut make it highly suitable for managing the production system through organic farming.