Systems approach in coconut for higher productivity and profitability in coastal ecosystem of Maharashtra

Abstract

The field experiment conducted on systems approach in coconut for higher productivity and profitability in coastal ecosystem at ICAR-AICRP on Palms, Regional coconut Research Station, Bhatye, Ratnagiri, (DBSKKV, Dapoli), Maharastra during the year 2013-14 to 2017-18, showed that the application of organic manures in combination with inorganic fertilizer either in 75 per cent of recommended NPK +25 per cent of N through organic recycling with vermi-compost or 50 per cent of RDF+50 per cent of N through organic recycling with vermi-compost +vermiwash application +bio-fertilizer application +in situ green manuring resulted in higher yield of 141.28 nuts palm-1 year-1 and 126.33 nuts palm-1 year-1, respectively. Soil organic carbon was higher, where 75 per cent of recommended NPK +25 per cent of N through organic recycling with vermi-compost (T1) was added. Microbial population of fungi were higher where 100 per cent of N through organic recycling with vermi-compost +vermiwash application +bio-fertilizer application +in situ green manuring and green leaf manuring +composted coir pith, husk incorporation and mulching with coconut leaves (T3) was added, whereas the bacteria and actinomycetes present in top soil were higher in the former treatment where 50 per cent RDF + 50 per cent N through organic reyching with vermicompost + vermiwash + bio-fertilizer + in situ, respectively was given. Earthworm population was highest in the treatment T3 followed by the treatment T1 and T2. Highest (3.03) benefit:cost ratio was recorded in T1 followed by T2 (2.81) as against the control having monocrop of coconut with recommended NPK and organic manure.