COCONUT

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

When is the correct stage for harvesting coconuts?

This depends on the purpose for which coconut is harvested. For using as tender coconut, nuts are to be harvested when they are 6 to 7 month old. Generally under west coast condition 11 month old nuts after fertilization are considered to be mature for culinary and copra making purpose For seed nut purpose 12 month old nuts are to be harvested.  Maximum quantity of copra and oil are obtained only at this stage. But the quality of fibre obtained from 12 months old nuts are inferior and husks from such nuts do not fetch good price in areas where husks are used for coir products. Time taken to attain maturity also varies depend­ing upon the altitude and other climatic conditions under which the palms are grown. Rattling sound while shaking the nuts, brown colour of the fibre in the husk etc. are clear indications of maturity.

Will harvesting of tender coconuts reduce the yield?

No. In many cases it may increase the yield as the coconut tree need not support the nuts for 11-12 months

What is the cause for the production barren nuts?

Several causes are attributed to production of barren nuts in coconut.

• Genetic factors
• Defective pollination and  fertilisation.
• Pest attack, eg: Coreid bug
• Seasonal variation
• Nutrition deficiency

Is it necessary to clean the crowns of palm?

For better yield and to reduce the incidents of pest and diseases it is necessary to clean the crown of coconut palm at regular intervals in the absence of which the dead materials present in the crown will act as breeding sites for insects, microbial pathogen and rodents

Some palms are bearing heavily only in alternate years. Is there any remedy for this?

This is a genetic treat hence it can not be corrected by management practices

What are the causes to prevent immature nut fall in coconut?

Immature nut fall is attributed to several factors such as

• Incidents of pest and diseases
• Deficiency of nutrients
• Improper fertilization
• Overcrowding
• Climatic conditions
• Adverse soil conditions
• Deficiency/ excess of moisture

The management practices to be followed for reducing the nut fall depends on the causative factor and hence there can not be a blanket recommendation for this

What is the difference between button shedding and premature nut fall in coconut?

The entire female flowers produced by the plant may not results in the development of mature nuts. Generally only less than 40% of the flowers reached maturity. This may be due to failure to get fertilized or other physiological reason. Shedding of un fertilized flowers/ buttons is a natural phenomenon. This may vary depending upon the variety, climatic conditions and a host of other factors. Nut fall on the other hand is the falling of female flowers after fertilization due to water stress, climatic conditions, incidents of pest and diseases etc.

How is pollination effected in coconut?

Coconut flowers are mostly cross  pollinated. Pollination is helped by wind, rain splashes and  insects. Pollination can also be effective by artificial means.

How much water is required for an adult coconut palm?

The quantity of irrigation of water required per palm is depending upon the season, type of soil and age of the plant. A general recommendation is given below:

Note: In coastal sandy soils, seawater can be used for irrigation. In irrigated gardens, interruption of irrigation would lead to serious set back in yield and general condition of palms. Hence, when once started, irrigation should be continued regularly and systematically. In sandy loam soil, irrigating the crop with 500 litres of water through basin taken at 1.5 m radius at CPE value of 50 mm (approximate interval of 15 days) is most economical.

Can seawater be used to irrigate coconut palms?

Sea water has been found to be as effective as other sources of water for irrigating coconut palms. However it is not advisable to irrigate seed links with sea water.

What is the ideal spacing for planting seed nuts in the nursery?

Plant the seed nuts at a spacing of 30 cm (between rows) x 30 cm (between nuts) with four or five rows per bed.

Which is the best method for planting seed nuts in the nursery?

Plant the seed nuts in the beds in trenches 25-30 cm deep and cover with soil so that top portion of husk alone is visible. The nuts may be planted either horizontally with the widest of the segments at the top or vertically with stalk-end up. Vertical planting is preferable on account of convenience in transporting and lesser risk of seedling injury.

What are the criteria  for selection of seed nuts?

Collect mature nuts (above 11 month old) during the period from December to May in west coast and in the east coast it is from February to August Lowering of bunches by means of ropes may be done when the palms are tall and ground is hard. Discard nuts, which show improper development or other undesirable features. Store seeds in shade for a minimum period of 60 days prior to sowing in nursery. For storing, arrange the seed nuts with the stalk-end up over an 8 cm layer of sand in a shed and cover with sand to prevent drying of nut water. Up to five layers of nuts can be arranged one over the other. The nuts can also be stored in plots, provided the soil is sandy and the ground is sufficiently shaded. In the case of nuts harvested in May, heap them in partial shade, till husk is well dried and then sow them in the nursery.

What are the criteria for selecting the mother palms for seed nut collection?

Select mother palms having the following characters:

1. Regular bearing habit  and yielding not less than 80 nuts / annum.
2. Age 20 years or more (5 years after reaching full bearing capacity). If the mother    palms are the progeny of elite planting material and gives consistently higher yields for a period of not less than 6 years, seed nuts can be collected from such palms. There is no need for insisting 20 years as minimum age for mother palms in such conditions.
3. More than 30 fully opened leaves with short strong petioles and wide leaf base firmly attached to the stem.
4. Bearing at least 12 bunches of nuts with strong bunch stalks.
5. Bearing nuts of medium size and oblong shape.
6. Husked nuts should weigh not less than 600 g.
7. Mean copra content of 150 g per nut or more.
   Avoid palms which (i) have long, thin and pendulous inflorescence stalks (ii) produce long, narrow, small sized or barren nuts (iii) show shedding of immature nuts in large numbers and (iv) are grown under favorable environmental conditions.

Whether coconuts can be sown as soon as they are harvested from the tree?

In the case of Tall seed nuts before sowing, the husk of the coconuts should be allowed to dry. Storage of seed nuts in shade for a month prior to sowing facilitates speedy and maximum germination. But for Dwarf seed nuts, sowing may be done without delay. For dwarf seednuts, water content is low and it gets dried up immediately. Hence, it is advisable to sow the dwarf seednuts when the husk get dried within a few days after harvest

Is it possible to raise the coconut seedlings in polythene bags?

Coconut seedlings can be raised in polythene bags. For this you may use black polythene bags of 40 cm square and 500 gauge thickness. Fill up two-third of the bags with soil mixed with sand and well decomposed compost. Provide a few holes in the lower half as drainage outlets. Plant seed nuts in these polybags either vertically or horizontally. Planting in polybags has the following advantages. In a polybag nursery it is possible to give close attention to each seedling. Compared to a nursery in the field, it is easier to control watering, weeding and culling operations for the elimination of unwanted seedlings. Since the root system is intact and does not get damaged at the time of transplanting the planting shock can be avoided. These seedlings on planting in the field will grow faster.  The only draw back is the difficulty in transportation

What are the characteristics of a good seednut?

A good quality seednut should have the following characters

1. Medium size and oblong shaped. Smaller and abnormally large size nuts should be rejected.
2. Husked nut should weigh not less than 600 gram.
3. The copra content should be 150gm or more.
4. Nut without water inside should not be used.

What are the characters to be observed while selecting a  good seedling from a coconut nursery?

Select only good quality seedlings (9-12 months old) by a rigorous selection based on the following characteristics.

1. Early germination, rapid growth and seedling vigour.
2. Six to eight leaves for 10-12 month old seedlings and at least four leaves for 9 month old seedlings.
3. Collar girth of 10-12 cm.
4. Early splitting of leaves.
5. Profuse rooting
6. Reject seedlings which are germinated after 6 months of planting.

Is it advisable to collect nuts from healthy palm from a root (wilt) affected area?

seed nuts can be collected from disease free, healthy palms in the disease affected region for planting within the affected areas. Since the mode of spread of disease is not clearly known, seed nuts should not be collected from apparently healthy palms from diseased area for planting in completely disease free area, either within the state or outside.

Can I collect seed nuts from high yielding young palms ?

Generally the yield of a coconut palm get stabilized only after 20 years and hence it is advisable to collect nuts from palm in the age group of 25-60 years

Which is the best time for planting coconut seedlings in the field?

Planting the seedlings during May, with the onset of pre-monsoon rains is ideal. Under assured irrigation, planting can be done during April also. In low-lying areas, plant the seedlings in September after the cessation of heavy rains

Which soil type is ideal for raising coconut nursery?

Even though coconut seedlings can be raised in different soil types which adequate drainage facilities sandy soil is considered to be the best media for raising coconut nursery as it facilitates good drainage and allows easier lifting of seedlings from the nursery. Termite problems are also less in sandy soils

How many seed nuts can be planted in one acre of land and which is the ideal system of irrigation for nursery?

 On an average 20,000 to 25,000 seednuts can be sown in one acre of land. Sprinkler irrigation is most suitable irrigation system for coconut nursery.

Where can I start a coconut nursery?

Nursery sites should be well drained with light textured soil and with adequate but not too much shade. In open areas, provide shade during summer. Prepare beds of 1.5 m width and of convenient length with 75 cm space between beds. In areas where drainage is poor, prepare raised bed. coconut nursery can also be raised in partially shaded and adequately spaced coconut gardens. Seedlings grown in over shaded area tend to become lanky and have poor establishment in the field.

What is the recommended spacing in coconut?

Spacing depends upon the planting system, soil type etc. In general, the following spacings are recommended under different systems in sandy and laterite soils.

In the hedge system of planting, the rows should be aligned in north-south direction and the seedlings planted as in the triangular system.

How much nutrient should I apply for coconut plants?

The quantity of nutrient required for coconut plants depend on the age and yield of the plant

For the first three years after planting under rain fed conditions, apply fertilizers in two split doses at the rates shown in the following table.

Table : Fertilizer requirement of young palms in relation to that of adult palms

Note: Under irrigated conditions, the fertilizers can be applied in 3-4 equal split doses. In the case of low lying areas, apply fertilizer after water table recedes in one single dose or in two split doses as conditions permit. In all types of soils that are low in organic matter content (except reclaimed clayey soils and alluvial soils), apply organic matter @ of 15-25 kg/palm/year during June-July from the second year of planting.

Fertilizer requirement of adult palms is given below:

1. Under irrigated conditions, fertilizers can be applied in 3-4 equal split doses.
2. In the case of low-lying areas, apply fertilizers in one single dose after water table recedes or in two split doses as conditions permit.
3. The application of organic materials such as forest leaves, cattle manure, coir dust or coconut shredding at 10 kg per pit in the first three years and 15-25 kg thereafter will be useful to obtain better establishment of coconut palms in sandy soils and in coastal situations.
4. In situations where the available P2O5 status of the soil is more than 10 ppm, application of phosphatic fertilizers can be skipped for a few years until the status of P2O5 reaches 10 ppm.
5. For sandy and sandy loams of Onattukara and similar situations and also for hybrid palms grown in root (wilt) affected areas, apply 500 g N + 300 g P2O5 + 1000 g K2O along with 500 g MgSO4 / palm / year.
6. Application of MgSO4 to coconut palms earlier confined to root wilt affected areas is recommended for the whole state (ad hoc recommendation).
7. The N:P2O5:K2O recommendation given for high yielding palms is, in general, sufficient for palms yielding up to 100 nuts per year. For palms yielding more than 100 nuts per year, an additional dose of 10 g N, 5 g P2O5 and 15 g K2O may be supplied for every nut exceeding 100 nuts (ad hoc recommendation).
8. In laterite soils, 50% of the K2O requirement of  coconut can be substituted by Na2O supplied in the form of sodium chloride.
   

Why is Yield of coconut is usually better in summer than during rainy seasons?

Unlike in the annual crops the primordial initiation of the female flowers of coconut takes place 6-7 months before opening the spathe. Thus the nuts that is harvested during summer was the result of primordial initiation of the female flowers which occurred during the favorable rainy season, while those nuts produces during rainy season was initiated during the summer months. Hence usually summer harvest are better

I plan to start 5acres of coconut plantations with hybrid varieties. Which hybrid is better? TXD or DXT ?

Both the hybrids are progenies of cross between west coast tall and chawacad dwarf. In TXD tall is the mother. While DXT dwarf s the mother palm. Generally, DXT was found to perform better than TXD. But DXT starts bearing only after 4-5 years compared to 3-4 years for TXD. The avearage yield of DXT is 120-130 nuts per year with 65-68% oil content compared to 100 nuts and 60-65 gms of oil content for DXT. How ever this may vary depending upon the climatic conditions and locations.

Can I apply the entire fertilizer  recommended at one time ?

It is always beneficial to apply fertilizer in different split dozes. Since coconut continues to produce nuts and leaves through out the year it requires regular supply of nutrients on  a continuous basis . If the nutrients are appling as one dose major quantity of the nutrients  are lost by leaching. Hence the nutrients wont be lailable for a continuous period of time. To avoid thus nutrients have to be applied as split doses.

Is magnesium required for coconut?

Yes . Mg is a constituent of chlorophyll. If Mg content in the soil is less then the plant will show yellowing of leaves. An adult plant requires 500 g of Mg. This can be applied as dolomite(about 2Kg)  Apply dolomite one week after the application of fertilizers.

Whether skipping of phosphatic fertilizers can be done ?

When the available phosphorus in the soil is more than 20 ppm, application of phosphatic fertlisers can be skipped off for a few years until the level goes below 20 ppm. If the level is between 10 to 20 ppm, half of the recommended P2 O5 can be applied.

What are the causes for immature nut fall in coconut ?

The shedding of buttons in the coconut may be due to the  following reasons.

1. Pathological conditions
2. Attack of insect pests
3. Nutritional deficiencies
4. Soil and climatic variations
5. Defects in pollination and fertilization
6. Structural defects in the flower
7. Abortion of embryos
8. Limited capacity of the tree to bear fruits
9. Unfavourable conditions such as deficit of moisture, waterlogging and lack of aeration.

Remedial measures for button shedding depend on the causative factor

Will the application of Bordeaux mixture help in preventing nut fall in coconut?

If nut fall is due to the attack of fungus, it can be controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture (1%). Fungal attack is general observed during monsoon. Control measures:

1. 2-3 ltrs. of 1% Bordeaux mixture per palm ( 1 ltr. of 1% Bordeaux mixture :- 10 gram powdered copper sulphate & 10 gram quick lime separately dissolved in 500 ml. water and then mixed together.)
2. Spraying should not be done immediately after the opening of the inflorescence, as pollination will be affected.

Before and after monsoon, one or two sprays at an interval of 40 days.

Are there  any varieties of coconut for tender coconut water purpose?

The varieties that are cultivated mainly for tender coconut purpose are Chawghat Orange Dwarf (COD), Chawghat Green Dwarf (CGD), Malayan Orange Dwarf (MOD), Malayan Green Dwarf (MGD) and Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD).

Normally coconut leaves used for thaching last only for 1-2 years. Are there any methods to increase the life span of coconut leaves used for thatching?

The Regional Research Laboratory at Thiruvananthapuram has standardised a simple process to extend the life of coconut leaf thatch upto four years. The process involves dipping plaits of coconut leaves for 5 minutes in copper sulphate (1kg cop­per sulphate in 100 litre water for 100 plaited leaves), draining out excess solution and stacking them overnight, followed by spraying with cashewnut shell liquid (3kg CNSL + 1/2 kg kero­sene) and then subjecting it to sun drying for 3-4 days. The treatment costs more than about 50 per cent of the initial cost for thatching but it is economical because of durability and no recurring expenses for next four years.

Are there any special coconut varieties suitable for toddy tapping?

Laccadive ordinary variety is reported to be good for toddy tapping. Under field conditions, the average toddy output per palm per day is about one litre.

Which is the ideal time for harvesting coconut for tender coconut purpose?

Coconut water is formed in the third month and its volume reaches a maximum in the eighth month, declining thereafter as the fruit ripens. The sugar content in tender nuts increases during its development and reaches the maximum when the nut reaches seven months old. At this stage sugar content is about 5 to 7 gram per 100 milli litre of nut water depending upon variety. The sugar content there after falls down. Therefore, seven month old nuts are the best to use as a tender coconut.

Our coconut plants are infected with termite. they are, in the soil and also eating up the plant's trunk from the base. how can I control it?

Copious irrigation and drenching basin of palms, with chlorpyriphos or quinalphos @2 ml/litre of water is recommended for termite control. Swab the affected trunk with the same chemical. Repeat the treatment after 20-25 days.Digging the termitaria and destruction of the queen is most important in termite management.

How coconut husk can be utilized in coconut garden ?

Burying of fresh or dried coconut husk around the palm is a desirable practice particularly for moisture retention. The husk can be buried either in linear trenches taken 3 m away from the trunk between rows of palms or in circular trenches taken around the palm at a distance of 2 m from the trunk. The trenches may be of 0.5 m width and depth. The husks are to be placed in layers with concave surface facing upwards and covered with soil. The beneficial effect of husk burial will last for about 5-7 years. Instead of husk, coconut pith can be buried @ 25 kg / palm / year.

The husks are also used as a surface mulch around the base of the palm. Husks in single layer are placed with convex side up, around the palm up to a radius of 2m from the base.

Besides moisture conservation husk is also a good source of potash.  On an average 100 husks contain potash equivalent to 1 kg of muriate of potash.

Can coir pith be used  for mulching coconut basin inorder to conserve moisture?

Yes. Coconut pith can be used @ 25 kg/palm/year to conserve moisture. Coir pith can be used as a soil conditioner, surface mulch and rooting medium. It is very light, highly compressible and hygroscopic. It can absorb eight times its own weight of water and release it comparatively slowly.

How can I convert coir pith into coir pith compost? How coir pith compost is made ?

Coir pith is a ligno cellulolitic product and which is highly resistant to biological de composition. The C: N ratio of coir pith is usually more than 1:100. coir pith can be composted by using basidiomycites fungi such as pleurotes. Normally composted coir pith contains 1.06 per cent nitrogen, 0.06 per cent phosphorous and 1.2 per cent potassium and micronutrients like mag­nesium (0.48 per cent), calcium (0.5 per cent), manganese (20  ppm) and zinc (15 ppm).

Which coconut variety contains the maximum oil content?

The oil content of the dried endosperm varies according to variety, from 65% for the Malayan Yellow Dwarf to 74% for the West African Tall. In India, the highest oil percentage, 73%,is in Laccadive Ordinary and the lowest, 66%, in Chowgat Orange Dwarf. The percentage of oil content of the hybrid nuts is intermediate between that of the respective parents. The oil content varied with the seasons.

What is coconut cream?

Coconut cream is the concentrated milk extract from fresh matured coconut kernel. Processed packed coconut cream has a shelf life of six months and once the container is opened it should stored in refrigerator for subsequent use.

What is dehydrated coconut ? How is it manufactured? Can it be used for culinary purposes?

Dehydrated coconut meat in the grated or shredded form is desiccated coconut. The process of preparation involves shelling, paring, disintegrating, drying, siev­ing and packing. The desiccated coconut is used in confectionery and other food industries. It could also be used in the households for culinary preparations as a substitute to grated fresh coconut. ISI standard for desiccated coconut has been specified under IS:966-1975 and is as follows :

Moisture percent by mass maximum - 3.0
Fat, percent by mass minimum - 65.0
Fat, acidity as lauric acid, maximum - 0.3

Fresh Tender coconut water often resembles that of a carbonated water. While it  is not so from water from mature nuts. Why?

What are the major nutrients contained in coconut water?

Major chemical constituents of coconut water include sugars and minerals; fat and nitrogenous substances
The major nutrients contained in coconut water are as follows:

It is often said that coconut oil is rich in cholesterol and may lead to heart diseases. Is it true ?

In 1986, the American Soybean Association, afraid of competition from coconut and other palm oils, launched a campaign to boost soybean sales, by warning the health-conscious American consumers that coconut oil and palm oil were health hazards. According to them, the high percentage of saturated fatty acids in the oil tends to increase the levels of serum cholesterol, one of the causes of coronary heart disease). An editorial in the New York Times referred to coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil as 'the cheaper, artery-clogging oils from Malaysia and Indonesia'..

However, cholesterol is not a vegetative product. The human body obtains part of its cholesterol from the consumption of animal fatty products. But the greatest part of the cholesterol is produced within the human body itself, by the liver, mainly from the consumption of saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil does not contain cholesterol, it is rich in saturated fatty acids. Due to the specific composition of these fatty acids, normal coconut consumption does not cause any elevation of plasma cholesterol.

Spacing depends upon the planting system, soil type etc. In general the following spacing are recommended under different planting system in sandy and laterite soils.

What is the ideal time for planting coconut seed lings?

Seedlings can be transplanted in the beginning of the south west monsoon. If irrigation facilities are available, it is advisable to take up planting at least a month before the onset of the monsoon so that the seedlings get well established before heavy rains. Planting can also be taken up before the onset of the north-east monsoon. In low-lying areas subject to inundation during monsoon period, transplanting may be done after the cessation of the monsoon.

What are the green manures that could be cultivated in coconut plantations?

The following Green manure / cover crops are recommended for cultivation in coconut gardens.

•  Crotalaria juncea (Sunnhemp)
•  Tephrosia purpurea
•  Gliricidia maculata 
•  Calapagonium muconoides 
•  Mimosa invisa

Sow the green manure / cover crops during April-May with the onset of pre-monsoon showers. The green manure crops should be ploughed in and incorporated in the soil during August-September.

What are the inter crops recommended for cultivation in a coconut garden?

Schedule for inter-mixed cropping may be drawn up based on the canopy size and orientation of palms. A variety of intercrops like pineapple, banana, elephant-foot yam, groundnut, chillies, sweet potato, tapioca and different vegetables can be raised in coconut garden. In older plantation cocoa, cinnamon, pepper, clove, nutmeg etc. can be grown as mixed crops. However, these inter/mixed crops are to be adequately and separately manured in addition to the manures applied to the coconut palm

Is coconut palm ideal for practicing mixed farming?

What are the major insect pests of coconut?

What is the characteristic symptom of Rhinoceros infection?

What are the management practices suggested controlling rhinoceros beetle?

1. Provide field sanitation to prevent breeding of beetles.
2. Hook out the beetles from the attacked palms by using beetle hook.
3. The topmost three leaf axils around the spindle may be filled with any of the following mixtures as a prophylactic measure:
   (a) Sevidol 8G 25 g + fine sand 200 g, which is to be done thrice in a year in April-May, September-October and December-January. (b) Naphthalene balls 10.5 g (approx. three balls) covered with fine sand, once in 45 days.
4. Treat manure pits and other possible breeding sites with 0.01% carbaryl on w/w basis. Treatment will have to be repeated every three months.
5. Release Baculovirus oryctes infected adults @ of 10-15 / ha to bring down the pest population.
6. Inoculation of breeding sites with green muscardine fungus, Metarrizhium anisopliae (spray 250ml Metarrizhium culture + 750ml water in manure pits and other breeding sites of the beetle) (@ 5 x 1011 spores / m gives effective control.

From many of my coconut tree trunks a brown slimy liquid is found oozing out. What is it due to ?

This may be due to the infection of Red palm weevil. The diagnostic symptoms are the presence of holes on the stem, oozing out of a viscous brown fluid and extrusion of chewed up fibrous matter through the hole, longitudinal splitting of leaf base and wilting of central shoot. Sometimes the gnawing sound produced by the feeding grubs inside will also be audible. In the advanced stage of infestation yellowing of the inner whorl of leaves occur. The crown falls down or dry up later when palm is dead

How can I manage infection by Red palm weevil?

1. Field sanitation should be given prime importance.
2. Avoid making steps or any other injury on the tree trunks to reduce the loci of infestation.
3. Leaf axil filling as suggested in the case of rhinoceros beetle will be useful against the red palm weevil also.
4. When green leaves are cut from the palms, stumps of not less than 120 cm may be left on the trees in order to prevent successful inward movement of the grubs through the cut end.
5. In attacked palms, observe for the bore- holes and seal them except the top most one. Through the top most hole, pour 1% carbaryl or 0.2% trichlorphon or 0.1% endosulfan suspension @ one litre per palm, using a funnel.
6. When the pest infestation is through the crown, clean the crown and slowly pour the insecticidal suspension.
7. As an alternative, apply 1% DDVP or aluminum phosphide (for limited use only) one or two tablets per palm as a curative measure.
8. Coconut log traps with fermenting toddy or pineapple or sugarcane activated with yeast or molasses can be set in coconut plantation to attract and trap the free floating population of red palm weevil. Incorporate any of the insecticide to each trap to kill the weevils trapped.
9. Use of pheromone trap for attracting adult weevils @ one trap per 2 ha. Once the insects are attracted to the trap they should be collected and  killed immediately.

The leaves of My coconut trees which are present near the sea are found drying up very fast. Is it due to sea wind or due to some pathogens?

From the symptoms it appears that your trees are infested with Black headed catter piller. This is not due to the wind from the sea. Severity of attack is seen during January to May. The caterpillar feeds on green matter from lower leaf surface, remaining within silk and frass gallaries. In severe attack all the green matter of the leaves will be eaten up.

How can I manage Black headed caterpillar infection?

As a prophylactic measure, the first affected leaves may be cut and burnt during the beginning of the summer season. Bioligical control is very effective against this pest through release of parasitoids like Gorriozus nephantidis, Elasmus nephantidis and Brachimeria nosatoi.
When infestation is very severe and if the biocontrol is not likely to be effective, spray the undersurface of the fronds with dichlorvos 0.02%, malathion 0.05%, quinalphos 0.05%, endosulfan 0.05% or phosalone 0.05%.
Note: Application of the insecticides should be followed by liberation of larval and pupal parasites from the 21st day.

Many of the immature nuts of my coconut   trees are deformed with small cracks and gummy exudates are found  flowing from it . What is it due to ? what  are the measures to be taken to reduce the loss?

From the description it appears that the nuts are infested with coried bugs. This can be controlled by Applying  0.1% carbaryl on the newly opened inflorescence after the receptive phase of the female flowers and spraying  the entire crown excluding the leaves and older bunches. Pesticide application is necessary if infection is severe. Spraying has to be done 3 times a year. Destruction of pollinating insects can be avoided if spraying is done in afternoon hours. 
Tying perforated polybags (2 bags/palm) containing 2.5g phorate on to the stalk of inflorescence is also effective.

Most of the nuts produced  during summer months are found stunted and it is difficult to remove the husk from nut . On the tender nuts brown patches are also seen. What is it due to?

This is due to the attack by a newly introduced pest of coconut namely the coconut mite.  The earliest symptom on 2-3 month old buttons is pale yellow triangular patches seen below the perianth. Later, these patches become brown. Severely affected buttons may fall. As the buttons grow, brown patches lead to black necrotic lesions with longitudinal fissures on the husk. Uneven growth results in distortion and stunting of nuts leading to reduction in copra yield. In severe cases, the losses are compounded because the quality of fibre is reduced and distorted nuts increase the labour requirements for dehusking.

What are the methods to be followed to reduce the losses caused by mite infection?

Collect and destroy all the fallen buttons of the affected palm. Apply 2% neem oil + garlic emulsion or commercial neem formulation azadirachtin 0.004% (Neemazal T/S 1% @ 4 ml per litre of water) or micronized wettable sulphur 0.4 % in the crown on young bunches. In large coconut plantations, dicofol 0.1% can be applied after taking adequate precautions. However, spraying of dicofol should be avoided in homesteads. When rocker sprayer is used 1.0 to 1.5 litres of spray fluid per palm is required. If a hand sprayer is used, the spray solution required may be about 500 to 750 ml. Spraying has to be done on second to seventh bunches from top avoiding unpollinated inflorescence. Care should be taken to see that spray fluid reaches the perianth region of third, fourth and fifth bunches since these bunches harbour maximum number of mites. Three rounds of spraying are recommended in a year viz., March-April before the onset of southwest monsoon, in August-September during the dry spell between the southwest and northeast monsoons and in December-January after the northeast monsoon so that all the emerging bunches in the vulnerable stage receive one round of spraying. Rational rotation of the above pesticides may be adopted to avoid chances of resistance.

The central shoot of Some of the young tress of my farm started decaying during the month of  July- august and there is  a foul smell from the decayed part. Is it due to some insect attack?

The decaying of the terminal buds during the rainy season due to a fungal infection and if proper control measured not adopted the growing tip of tree may decay resulting the death of the tree.

Is it possible to control and save coconut trees where the terminal buds has started showing symptoms of decaying?

It is possible to save the tree from death once the management practices are taken up during the initial stages . Once the infection ha to reach the growing bud it is not possible to save the tree.

1. In early stages of the disease (when the heartleaf starts withering) cut and remove all affected tissues of the crown. Apply Bordeaux paste and protect it from rain till normal shoot emerges.
2. Burn all disease-affected tissues removed from the palm.
3. Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture on spindle leaves and crown of disease affected as well as neighbouring palms, as a prophylactic measure. Palms that are sensitive to copper containing fungicides can be protected by mancozeb. Small, perforated sachets containing 2 g of mancozeb may be tied to the top of leaf axil. When it rains, a small quantity of the fungicide is released from the sachets to the leaf base, thus protecting the palm.
4. Adopt control measures for rhinoceros beetle.
5. Provide adequate drainage in gardens.
6. Adopt proper spacing and avoid over crowding in bud rot prone gardens.

A group of salesmen came to my house and told me that they can save my coconut trees attached by root wilt disease. They also told me that just by spraying fungicides three times chemicals supplied by them it is very easy to control the disease. Is it true?

The  newly formed leaves of some of the trees in my coconut farm show crinkling and the central portion of the tree present a chocked appearance. What is it due to ? Is it possible to control it?

This may be due to the deficiency of boron.  It is possible to save the plant by the application of  50 g Borax at half-yearly intervals (Feb-Mar and Sept-Oct) along with recommended fertilizer in the basins will control the disease when it is in the early stage. In root wilt affected areas a dosage of 200gm - 300gm per palm per year is recommended.

In one of the coconut exhibitions, they exhibited a product  called nata de coco. What is it ? Is it available in Kerala ?

Nata-de-coco is a white to creamy yellow substance formed by the action of a bacterium on the surface of sugar enriched coconut water / coconut milk / plant extract / fruit juices or other waste materials rich in sugar. It is popularly used as a dessert. This is very popular in Japan and is supplied from Thailand and Philippines. It is possible to produce nata de coco from kerala but commercial scale production has not started so far.

Is it possible to preserve tender coconut water for long periods?

The Coconut Development Board in collaboration with Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore has developed the technology for packing tender coconut water in pouches/aluminium cans, which is available to entrepreneurs at a total lumpsum transfer fee of Rs.3 lakhs.

What is coir geotextile?

Any material used for improving the soil behavior, preventing soil erosion and help consolidaton of the soil can be termed as geotextiles. Geotextile is a woven / non woven knitted structure of natural/ synthetic textile fibre used in various geo technical, civil engineering and soil conservation applications. Geotextiles prepared using coir yarn is called coir geotextiles or bhoovasthra.

What is the shelf life of coconut oil?

Refined coconut oil should last 1½ years without showing signs of rancidity. A properly purified unrefined coconut oil will keep much longer than refined oil and this applies to other vegetable oils as well. Unrefined oils contain natural anti-oxidant agents, which protect the oil against atmospheric oxidation and rancidity. However, if the crude (unrefined) oil is of poor quality and has impurities and moisture, it will undergo hydrolysis which in turn increases the free fatty acid content. The result of this is deterioration of taste and flavour.

I have heard that saturated fats are unhealthy. Does this mean that coconut oil is unhealthy?

NO! In fact it merits the description given its source: the "tree of life". Popular belief used to hold that coconut oil was unhealthy by virtue of its high level of saturated fat. However, not all saturated fats are alike and current research shows that the fatty acids in coconut oil, the medium chain triglycerides, do not raise serum cholesterol or contribute to heart disease like the long chain triglycerides found in seed oils. Coconut oil is easily digested and is not deposited as fat in arteries because it is metabolized directly without passing through the carnitine transport system.

Coconut oil has natural anti-oxidant and acts as anti-oxidant itself. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids that have natural antiviral and antibacterial properties. It contains Monolaurin which is the same anti-microbial agent found in human's mother's milk. Caprylic and Capric acids (medium chains) which are relatively and uniquely high in coconut oil diminish the requirements of essential fatty acids.

What are the differences between coconut milk and cream?

Both are water extracts of fresh coconut flesh. if the fat content is 17%, it is called "coconut milk." If the fat content is 24%, it is called "coconut cream."

Is it true that monkeys are used for harvesting coconuts ?

Monkeys are used in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) need to be very well trained. Their daily capacity can be considerable. Up to 1000 nuts per morning have been recorded.

Tender coconuts when opens the water releases some gases just like a soft drink. While this is not noticed in water from  a matured nut. At what stage of maturity of the nut it starts producing water inside the nut?

Coconut water is formed in the third month and its volume reaches a maximum in the eighth month, declining thereafter as the fruit ripens. coconut may contain as much as 0.6 l of water with 30 g of sugar and 2 g of potassium when still immature. The water of the young fruits is under hydrostatic pressure, which might facilitate the dissolution of CO₂ in the water. The appearance of effervescence in the water on the opening of a tender nut is because while opening the  dissolved CO₂ gets released as observed  when a soft drink bottle is opened.. Depletion of water on maturation causes an empty space into which the gases escape. Thus, the cavity of a mature fruit is no longer completely filled and ripe fruits splash when shaken.

Why one eye of the coconut is soft compared to the other two?

At what stage of the formation of the nut it produces he shell?

The shell begins to form during the fourth month after pollination.

What is a Thairu thengai or curd coconut?

Usually while harvesting coconut more than one bunches are harvested. Will it not affect the oil content of  the copra ?

How many nuts are required to produce one ton of copra?

This may be depending upon the size and weight of the nuts. Compared to an estimated world average number of 4,500-5,000 nuts required for one ton of copra, this figure for India is about 6,800 .

During my childhood age coconut trees were not planted in Idukki and those planted did not flower and produce nuts. Now a days in many parts of Iduki coconut is cultivate. Upto what altitude cocnut can be economically cultivated?

The limiting factor determining the maximum altitude at which coconuts can be grown is temperature. It is generally assumed that the optimum temperature for coconut is about 27°C, and the mean diurnal variation between 5-7°C. Thus, it may be expected that at greater latitudes, maximum altitude at which coconut can be grown will be less. Because of lower temperatures at greater altitudes, coconut development is slower than that at ground level. Yields at higher altitudes are lower and so are the copra content of the nuts and their oil content. In general, coconut is not commercially grown at altitudes above 500 m. However, in home-gardens it can be found at greater altitudes, sometimes as high as above 1,000 m. In Iduki, before the largescale cultivation of cardomom and habitation the temparature in Iduki was very low and could not support proper grwth o coconut trees. How ever with th e extensive felling of foresteies a market increase in the temparature was noticed and thus now coconut  can be cultivated in those areas where it was a failure before.

Last updated: 29-04-2008