Intercropping under coconuts in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Coconut is a major commercial crop of Sri Lanka. Growing a number of other crops in association with coconuts is a widespread practice in all coconut-growing areas of the country. The rationale for the practice is that other crops can profitably be grown between or under the coconuts during the different growth stages of the palms and thus the overall productivity of the land under this long-duration crop can substantially be increased.The paper gives a concise account of the practice in Sri Lanka indicating the crops most commonly grown as intercrops, arrangement of different crops and early research results on the productivity of the intercrops and their effect on coconuts. Adequate supplies of water and labour are the two major inputs needed for the success of the system. Drought, lack of funds, price instability, lack of technical know-how on intercrop management and problems of timely availability of inputs are the major constraints experienced by farmers in expanding intercropping. Research on both biological and socio-economic aspects is needed to overcome these constrainsts and extend this potentially attractive system.

Climate Change Impacts, Agroforestry Adaptation and Policy Environment in Sri Lanka

“…Projected wood production from home gardens and other non-forest tree resources ('000 m 3 ). pepper, coffee, ginger (in order) are the most preferred intercrops of farmers, while turmeric, betel, vegetables the second group (Liyanage et al, 1984).…”

Maize-coconut intercropping: effects of shade and root competition on maize growth and yield

“…There were few results concerning inter-and intraspecific competition. In the case of root competition, the authors often considerably simplified the root system architecture of each plant [18,25] and considered root competition to be non-existent. However, in an intercropping system of coconut palms (aged 5 years) and cocoa trees (aged 2 years), Colas [7] showed that root system competition did exist between the two plants and that, at that period, intraspecific competition also occurred between the coconut palms.…”

Evaluation of growth of young coconut and nut yield of old coconut and their nutrient status under coconut-cassava intercropping systems

“…Intercropping is a major cropping system for coconut cultivation worldwide (Liyanage et al, 1985;Magat, 2004;Ohler, 2007). Intercropping represents a more efficient use of natural resources and labour (Fordham, 1983); broadens farmer's income/ food security base and helps in weed control (Bonneau and Sugarianto, 1999).…”