IV. Planning for Coconut Based Cropping System

The basic structure of coconut based cropping system is formed by planting coconut trees at a distance of 33 ft. in a square design. Fourty coconut seedlings can be planted in one acre under this design. In one hectare exactly hundred coconut trees can be planted.

The plant to plant distance can be reduced by 2 or 3 feet depending on hybrid varieties which has canopies of lesser diameter. Similarly, adjustments may be required in spacing depending on the size and shape of the land one possesses.

The position of each coconut tree is marked using pegs. The first line of coconut trees will be planted leaving half of the plant to plant distance (16.5') from the boundary. Marking of the location should be done carefully so that the limited land is best utilized. Balance of area if any should be positioned on one side of the land and should be used for growing any suitable crops.

Pits of 4' x 4' x 4' size are dug for each coconut tree. While digging, the top soil is placed on the lower side of the pit, the middle soil on the left side and right side. After digging the pit should be left in the sun and rain to be weathered. It is highly recommended that the pits are dug at the end of rainy season or during winter season and leave them for weathering till the beginning of next rainy season. But one month before planting the pits should be filled with a mixture of top soil and well rotten cowdung (1: 1 ratio) up to half the height.

Two year old good quality seedlings of selected variety should be planted in the pit a little above the half level. Then using the bottom and middle soil a bund is made on the upper side of the pit to prevent run off water getting accumulated in the pit. Where there is problem of water logging or high water table the seedlings are planted on raised mud heaps or at the level of the ground.

Gap filling should be done in the second year in case any of the seedlings die. Make sure that the coconut trees are established and growing properly.

V. Planning of Intercrops

Any crop that requires planting distance up to 15 -20 ft can be planted between two adjacent coconut trees. They could be perennial crops of high medium and low canopy height. They could be for fruits, fodder, fibre and manure depending on the needs.

This can be explained further by an example. Between two coconut trees we can plant fruit trees such as lime, lemon, guava, pamegranate, custard apple, cocoa, nutmeg, clove, crop which are planted at 15 -20 ft distance. There are medium sized crops both in height as well as canopy and can easily fit in between two adjacent coconut trees. They can be planted simultaneously or after the coconuts are established. If takes 8 to 10 years for all the coconut trees to start yielding properly. Whereas a number of the above mentioned crops start yielding well from 3 -5 years after planting. However, their fruiting period will last only 15 -20 years. By the time the coconut will be in its peak yield stage and will be about 20 ft high. The intercrops may be replaced by any other crop and another cycle of medium sized intercrops can be established.

The space between the coconut tree and the first intercropping is about 15 -16 ft which is more than sufficient for a number of perennial, biennial and seasonal crops. For example within this space two banana plants can be planted. Between banana plants shade loving crops such as pineapple. turmeric, ginger, yam, elephant foot, etc. are planted. If bananas are not planted then crops like tapioca for tuber as well as fodder (stem, leaves etc.) and fodder grasses can be planted. If fodder crops are planted between the intercrops herbivorous animal husbandry is included. The same area can be intercropped with vegetables, green crops such as maize, jowar, ragi, bajra, soyabean, peg ion pea, black gram, green gram, etc. Either these grains can be sold or may be fed to animals such as poultry, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits etc. The dung and other waste from these animals will be brought back into the land as manures.