Productivity and carbon sequestration potential of coconut-based cropping system as influenced by integrated nutrient management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Regional Coconut Research Station, Bhatye (DBSKKV, Dapoli), Maharashtra (India) during 2013-2018 to study the productivity and carbon sequestration potential as influenced by integrated nutrient management (INM) practices in coconut based cropping system. INM practices viz., T1- 75 per cent of RDF+25 per cent of N through organic recycling with vermicompost, T2- 50 per cent of RDF+50 per cent of N through organic recycling with vermicompost + vermiwash application + bio-fertilizer application + in situ green manuring (cowpea), T3- fully organic: 100 per cent N through organic recycling with vermicompost + vermiwash application + bio-fertilizer application + in situ green manuring (cowpea) and green leaf manuring + composted coir pith, husk incorporation and mulching with coconut leaves were imposed in coconut based cropping system involving nutmeg, cinnamon, banana and pineapple. For comparison, T4- control: monocrop of coconut with recommended NPK and organic manure was maintained. Four treatments were laid out in a block of 0.45 ha area each. Among the different INM practices, treatment T1 sequestered the highest amount of above ground (coconut + nutmeg) carbon stock (31.1 t ha-1) followed by T2 (30.3 t ha-1) and T3 (27.3 t ha-1). In contrast, the treatment T4 - coconut monocrop alone had sequestered 25.6 t ha-1. The below-ground soil carbon stock in the rhizosphere of different crops was the highest in the nutrient management under T3 followed by T2 and T1, whereas, it was the lowest in coconut monocrop. The productivity of the system was higher in the intercropping garden. The coconut nut yield (5-year average) was higher yield under T1 (147.2 nuts palm-1 year-1), followed by T2 (138.4 nuts palm-1 year-1) and T3 (123.6 nuts palm-1 year-1), whereas, monocrop had recorded a significantly lower number of nuts (97.2 nuts palm-1 year-1).

Effect of coconut based integrated cropping system on soil organic carbon and microbial populations in coastal Odisha condition

“…Cropping systems, such as intercropping and no-tilling organic farming, increased microbial community diversity and soil organic carbon levels (Debenport et al, 2015;Reganold and Wachter, 2016;Wang et al, 2017). The current findings are in agreement with the findings of Maheswarappa et al (2014) and Shinde et al (2020).…”

Performance of black pepper varieties as intercrop in coconut gardens in the lower Brahmaputra valley of Assam state, India

“…Coconut is an important crop of Assam mostly grown in the homestead garden as monocropping with an area under coconut plantation is 20,610 ha with the productivity of 8868 nuts ha -1 (CDB, 2020), and only a very small area has been tapped for pepper cultivation. Pepper is also an excellent crop for home gardens where it can be trained on the existing coconut palm.The Venetian structure and orientation of the adult coconut canopy permit about 55 per cent active light to infiltrate down (Nelliat, 1973), and the gardens spaced at 7.5 m × 7.5 m offers a wide purview for intercropping with perennial spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper leading to a sustainable increase in the production and productivity per unit area (Nagawekar et al, 2002;Shinde et al, 2020).…”

Evaluation of integrated nutrient management of coconut (Cocos nucifera) based cropping system in the central zone of Karnataka

“…With regard to copra output and oil content, significant improvements have been noted with various INM module, T 2 recorded the highest copra and oil content (15.5 kg/palm and 10.14 kg/palm) followed by T 3 (15.04 and 9.62 kg/palm) when compared to coconut monocrop. Shinde et al (2020) and Bhalerao et al (2021) reported that use of 50% RDF + 50% organic fertilizers has increased the coconut nut yield. The yield from intercrops in terms of no of lime fruit/ tree (kg/ha), drumstick (no of pods harvested kg/ha), cocoa dry bean yield (kg/ha) and banana bunch weight (kg/ha) documented over a 4-year period (Table 1).…”

“…Integrated nutrient management by using 2/3 recommended fertilizer dose beside vermicomposting gave the best benefit of CBSC in different ago climatic regions, viz. Maharashtra(Shinde et al 2020), Gujarat(Bhalerao et al 2021) and Tamil Nadu(Rani et al 2021).…”