COCONUT

Coir Pith

The spongy material that binds the coir fibre in the husk is the coir pith. In the process of extraction of coir fibre from husk generally about 1/3 rd of it is obtained as fibre and 2/3 rd of it is obtained as coir pith. Coir pith was once considered as waste and the disposal of mounts of it was a serious problem, which created environmental pollution. Now several techniques have been perfected to convert it into useful products, and it has found good market both in India and abroad. During 2004-05 financial year more than 40,000 tons of coir pith valued Rs. 28.34 crores were exported as against 29,000 tons worth 19.76 crores in 2003-2004. The Netherlands have become a major importer of coir pith mainly for value addition and re-exporting. Other key importers are Australia, UK, US and New Zealand. Growing awareness of coir pith’s role in farming and other operations has pushed up its demand. In India an estimated 5 lakh tons of coir pith is produced per annum

It is used as a soil conditioner, surface mulch/rooting medium and desiccant. Composted coir pith is an excellent organic manure for indoor plants as well as for horticulture crops. Coir pith absorbs water in the range of 400-600% its weight and releases it into the soil very slowly. Coir pith is now used as an eco friendly peat moss substitute (the extraction of which have been banned in most European countries) and soil conditioner. This is effective against saline and alkaline reactions of soil.

Coir pith has a high lignin (31%) and cellulose (27%) content. Its carbon-nitrogen ratio is around 100:1. Because of the high lignin content left to itself, coir pith takes decades to decompose. Techniques have been developed to speed up process of decomposition ( lignin reduction by fungi and bacteria).The composted pith is used along with organic supplements in crop fields in horticulture. It is also used as a rooting and growing medium for several plants especially flowering plants. Coir pith in sterilized condition is used in mushroom cultivation. In Hungary for large scale multiplication of earth-worms coir pith is used as a substitute .

Coir pith has a calorific value of 3975 k.cal/kg, close to 4200 k.cal/kg of coal. It can also be used as fuel briquettes with ash content, almost 1/10 th of coal.

Coir board has developed a technology for converting coir pith into organic manure using edible mushroom, Pleurotus sajor caju. This process reduce the volume of coir pith by 40%, and improves the nutrient status.

NUTRIENT CONTENT IN RAW COIR PITH & COOIR PITH AFTER DECOMPOSITION

Source: www.coirboard.nic.in

Preparation coir pith using pith plus

Source: www.coir-india.com/ccri

Recent studies on biogas have shown that coir pith can be used to yield biogas. Addition of cow dung to coir pith ha found to accelerate fermentation process in the biogas plant.

Source: www.eiglobal.org

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has developed a tractor operated coir pith applicator, which is built around chisel plough. Coir pith in this instrument is fed from a hopper through a rotary vane type-feeding device. This unit coast around Rs. 8500

Source: www.tnau.ac.in/aecricbe

Coir pith is generally exported in briquettes form. Briquettes (200mmX100mmX50mm –600 grams) and blocks (300mmX300mmX150mm –5 grams)is used as organic plant compound in Europe.

Last updated: 29-04-2008