Journal of Plantation Crops

Dormancy breaking studies and seed germination in Arenga wightii Griﬃth

2023-10-31T13:51:51+0530

Arenga wightii Griﬃth, an endemic palm, of Western Ghats and south and central Sahyadris having multiple uses is currently under threat due to habitat loss and over exploitation. Since seeds are the major propagules of this palm, seed study was carried out with a view to conserve this highly promising tree, in both ex-situ and in- situ conditions. The study included seed viability, germination, desiccation and dormancy breaking tests. The results of the study suggest desiccation, GA₃/ acid treatment enhance germination, and dormancy observed is of both physiological and mechanical. The cost eﬃcient means of germination induction is desiccation which could aid the farmers and common people in cultivating the species at large extent enabling reintroduction of the species.

Performance of coconut hybrids and varieties in the East coast of Andhra Pradesh

2023-10-31T13:55:27+0530

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is one of the plantation crops with more life span, so suitability of a variety or hybrid for particular region may improve the productivity of the coconut. An experiment was carried out with seven hybrids and two varieties viz. Chandra Sankara (COD × WCT), Chandra Laksha (LCT x COD), VHC1 (ECT × MGD), VHC-2 (ECT × MYD), Kera Ganga (WCT × GBGD), Laksha Ganga (LCT × GBGD), Godavari Ganga (ECT x GBGD), Kera Chandra (Double Century) and Chandra Kalpa at Dr.YSRHUHorticultural Research Station, Ambajipeta, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dist., Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was initiated in 2002, in Randomized Block Design in three replicated blocks. The compiled data for six years (2015- 2021) revealed that, Godavari Ganga recorded significantly highest nut yield /palm/year (144.40 nuts) followed by VHC-2 (134.93 nuts) and Kera Ganga (133.33 nuts). Godavari Ganga recorded maximum copra yield of 3.20 t/ha and oil yield of 2.20 t/ha. Tender nut water quantity was recorded more (322.5 mL) in VHC-2 and Godavari Ganga. Due to its superior nut, copra and oil yield, Godavari Ganga and VHC-2 can be recommended for cultivation Andhra Pradesh.

Prospects of coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu – A SWOT Analysis

2023-10-31T14:10:18+0530

Coconut is an important horticultural crop of the state of Tamil Nadu spreading across an area of 4.44 lakh hectares. Coconut is a victim of the catastrophes of climate change events like high temperature, excessive or deficit rainfall and increased atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Coconut plantations in the state are hit by several pests and diseases, some of which are lethal, fatal and are debilitating in nature. An analysis of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) for the prospects of coconut cultivation in the state revealed that edaphic and climatic factors, less labour requirement compared to other field crops of the state and access to technologies remain the great strength, while tropical cyclones hitting coastal districts of the state, failure of monsoon, wide fluctuations in copra price, lack of producer-centric market intelligence are the striking weakness for coconut cultivation. Improved varieties and hybrids with desired traits, establishment of processing industries, international cargo terminals to tap export market and crop insurance scheme in the event of climatic aberrations, remain the major opportunities while declining soil fertility, debilitating pests and dreadful diseases and poor scientific management owing to the fragmented land holdings are the major threats of coconut cultivation in the state of Tamil Nadu.

New report on the invasive Bondar's Nesting Whitefly (Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi) on oil palm in India

2022-06-28T16:29:33+0530

This communication is the new report of the neotropical invasive Bondar's Nesting Whitefly (BNW) , Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)incidence in oil palm in India. A typical feature of BNW infestation is the presence of woolly wax nests on the abaxial surface of oil palm leaflets. The nesting whitefly population was observed to increase phenomenally on oil palm and within a year ie., from 2021 to 2022, a 100 per cent palm infestation was observed. During this period the intensity per palm increased by 24.49 per cent and per leaf increased by 63.28 per cent. Analysis of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) sequences from adult specimens indicated 100% nucleotide identity with Bondar's Nesting Whitefly from coconut.

Eﬀect of growth regulators on the growth and yield of ginger (Zingiber oﬃcinale Rosc.) under polyhouse condition

2023-10-31T14:17:06+0530

The experiment has been conducted to resolve the poor partitioning of dry matter towards rhizome by using plant growth regulators (PGRs). Therefore, two pot culture experiments were conducted during 2020-22 using the variety IISR Varada to investigate the eﬀects of foliar application of PGRs (6-BAP, cycocel, GA3 and PBZ at five diﬀerent concentrations viz. control, 50ppm, 100ppm,150ppm and 200ppm in three replications) on growth and yield. The experiment was laid out in Factorial CRD design under polyhouse condition. The results revealed that 6-BAP at 100ppm significantly increased the number of tillers, secondary rhizomes, tertiary rhizomes, length, diameter of rhizomes, and rhizome yield (322.3g/ plant) which is 240% more than the control.

Community farm school approach for coconut seedlings/juveniles through collaborative social actions

2023-10-31T14:20:02+0530

Three Grama Panchayats in Kerala's Alappuzha district undertook community-level participatory action research in 2019–2021. A total of 90 coconut farmers participated in the adoption of ICAR-CPCRI technology to produce West Coast Tall (WCT) coconut seedlings that are resistant/tolerant to the root (wilt) disease at the community level. Partners included extension agents, coconut producers' societies (CPS) and clusters, women self-help groups (WSHGs), and agricultural labor organizations. The characteristics of technologies that are suggested for adoption in root (wilt) disease-aﬀected tracts, such as the scientific management of young coconut trees and the production of high-quality seedlings through community nurseries, challenge the idea of adoption. There are a lot of variances in the homestead gardens' marginal holdings, including expertise, the use of technology, and access to advisory services. Government agencies provided the majority of the seedlings and extension advisory services, emphasizing the necessity for FPO-based or private extension in the coconut growing industry. The coconut farmers' understanding has significantly improved as a result of the participatory interventions for managing seedlings. The participatory demonstration and community farm school (CFS) strategy is discussed in the paper as a way for homesteads to manage juvenile coconuts while integrating new ideas and fostering cross and reciprocal learning. Refining the current extension approach requires integrating new knowledge about the characteristics of seedling growth, future economic performance, and social evaluation of choices of technological, individual, and skill-oriented interventions in risk-prone areas with debilitating root (wilt) disease.

Inorganic phosphorus fractions and phosphorus availability in long term fertilizer cum manurial trials under coconut cultivation

2023-05-26T12:10:32+0530

Phosphorus is one of the major nutrients required for coconut production. The information about the fate of native and applied phosphorus in soil is essential for better management of the nutrient. The changes on inorganic P fractions and P availability in soil after 43 years of coconut cultivation were studied from a long term fertilizer cum manurial experiment at CPCRI, Kasaragod. There were 6 treatments viz. tillage with organic and inorganic fertilizer, tillage with inorganic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizers with basin forking, tillage alone, herbicide application without tillage and fertilizer and the control. Soil samples were taken at two depths (0-30 and 30-60 cm) from coconut basin for analysis. Phosphorus was fractionated into Easily Soluble P (ES-P), Aluminium P (AI-P), Iron P (Fe-P), Calcium P (Ca-P) and Reductant Soluble P (RS-P) through sequential extraction. The dominant phosphorus fraction in the coconut basin at 0-30 cm depth was Ca-P and the trend is as follows: Ca-P> Fe-P> RS-P>Al-P>ES-P. However, at 30-60 cm depth, Fe-P became the dominant fraction and the trend is Fe-P>Ca-P>RS-P>Al-P>ES-P. Long-term phosphorus fertilization would facilitate the accumulation of soil Ca-P, and thus improve soil P availability. In the interspaces, Fe-P was the dominating fraction in both the depths followed by Ca-P and RS-P. The diﬀerence in P fractions in fertilized and non-fertilized plots clearly showed that the fertilized plots have high content of all the inorganic phosphorus fractions in both the depths. Application of mineral P along with forking in basin showed a high concentration of all the inorganic P fractions compared to other fertilizer applied treatments.

Influence of abiotic factors on the co-occurrence of rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin and Bondar's Nesting Whitefly, Paraleyrodes bondari Peracchi in coconut palms

2023-10-31T14:26:28+0530