Soil Fertility Status and Fertilizer Recommendation for Coconut in Sri Lanka Dr. Ananda Tennakoon Head Soils & Plant Nutrition Division Coconut Research Institute Lunuwila Sri Lanka
Coconut growing areas in Sri Lanka Total Extent under coconut - 416,253 ha (0.41 M ha) Coconut Triangle 248,405 ha (0.25 M ha) 75% of Total Extent N W P (Kurunegala & Puttalam) Part of WP & SP (Gampaha & Kegalle)
In addition to coconut triangle the suitable other areas for coconut is also mapped recently i.e. Southern Region 0.16M ha 25% of total extent
COCONUT TRIANGLE
SOUTHERN REGION
COCONUT GROWING AREAS IN SRI LANKA
But the suitable lands for coconut Potential Coconut Triangle Southern Region TOTAL 0.58 M ha 0.23 M ha 0.81 M ha
Coconut Triangle - 70 soil series Southern Region - 42 soil series Red Yellow Latosols Red Yellow Podsols Reddish Brown Earth Regosols GREAT SOIL Alluvial GROUP OF Non Calcic Brown Earth Bog & Half Bog Soils Reddish Brown Lateritic Soils Solodized Solonetz Immature Brown Soils
Essential Elements for Coconut Macro Nutrients 9 C O From Air H From Water N P K Ca Mg S From Soil
Micro Nutrients Fe Mn Mo Cu Zn Cl CO B From Soil
Coconut Soil Fertility Status
Assessment of Nutrient Status MC IN LARGELY AVAILABLE SOIL SERIES (20) IN COCONUT TRIANGLE CS
Soil Sampling Procedure Manure Circle 0 30 cm 1.5 m
CS 0 30 cm
Soil Series Wilattawa Andigama Weliketiya Gambura Kalpitiya Sudu Wariyapola Ambakelle Maho Kuliyapitiya Great Soil Group Red Yellow Podzolic Red Yellow Podzolic Soils Sandy Regosols Red Yellow Latosols Sandy Regosols Latosols & Regosols Non Calcic Brown Soils Alluvial Soil Non Calcic Brown Soils Red Yellow Podzolic Contd
Contd Soil Series Negombo Rathupasa Madampe Thambarawa Warakapola Boralu Katunayaka Pallama Kurunegala Melsiripura Great Soil Group Sandy Regosols Latosols & Regosols Latosols & Regosols Non Calcic Brown Soil Red Yellow Podzolic Red Yellow Podzolic Latosols & Regosols Red Yellow Podzolic Red Yellow Podzolic Reddish Brown Earth
Total N (%) Mainly 2 Groups MC Group N Level (%) Soil Series Group 1 0.03 0.09 Wilattawa, Andigama, Weliketiya, Gambura, Kuliyapitiya, Sudu, Wariyapola, Ambakelle, Maho Group 2 0.10 0.20 Kuliyapitiya, Negombo, Rathupasa, Madampe, Thambarawa, Warakapola, Boralu, Katunayaka, Pallama, Kurunegala, Melsiripura
CS Group N Level (%) Soil Series Group 1 0.03 0.09 Wilatawa, Andigama, Weliketiya, Gambura, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Kuliyapitiya, Rathupasa, Madampe, Sudu, Wariyapola, Ambakele, Thambarawa, Maho, Katunayaka, Pallama, Kurunegala, Melsiripura Group 2 0.10 0.15 Warakapola, Boralu
Available P (mg/kg) Mainly 2 Groups MC Group Av. P level (mg/kg) Soil Series Group 1 0 25 Wilattawa, Andigama, Weliketiya, Gambura, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Sudu, Wariyapola, Thambarawa, Maho, Warakapola Group 2 26 50 Kuliyapitiya, Rathupasa, Madampe, Ambakele, Boralu, Katunayaka, Pallama, Kurunegala, Melsiripura
CS Group Av. P level (mg/kg) Soil Series Group 1 0 10 Wilattawa, Andigama, Weliketiya, Gambura, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Kuliyapitiya, Rathupasa, Madampe, Sudu, Wariyapola, Ambakele, Thambarawa, Maho, Warakapola, Boralu, Katunayaka, Pallama, Kurunegala, Melsiripura
Exchangeable K (mg/kg) Mainly 3 Groups MC Group Exch. K (mg/kg) Soil series Group 1 0-50 Andigama, Weliketiya, Kalpitiya, Negombo, sudu, Ambakelle, Katunayaka, Pallama Group 2 51-100 Gambura, Kuliyapitiya, Rathupasa, Madampe, Thambarawa, Maho, Boralu Group 3 101 150 Wariyapola, Warakapola, Kurunegala, Melsiripura
CS Group Exch. K (mg/kg) Soil series Group 1 0 25 Andigama, Weliketiya, Kalpitiya, Negombo, sudu, Ambakelle, Katunayaka, Pallama Group 2 26-50 Gambura, Kuliyapitiya, Rathupasa, Madampe, Thambarawa, Maho, Boralu Group 3 51-75 Wariyapola, Warakapola, Kurunegala, Melsiripura
Exchangeable Mg (mg/kg) Mainly 3 Groups MC Group Exch. Mg (mg/kg) Soil Series Group 1 0 75 Gambura, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Sudu, Ambakelle, Katunayaka, Pallama Group 2 76 150 Wilattawa, Andigama, Weliketiya, Kuliyapitiya, Thambarawa, Maho, Boralu, Kurunegala Group 3 151 225 Madampe, Rathupasa, Warakapola, Melsiripura
CS Group Exch. Mg (mg/kg) Soil Series Group 1 0 75 Wilattawa, Andigama, Gambura, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Kuliyapitiya, Sudu, Wariyapola, Ambakelle, Thambarawa, Katunayaka, Pallama, Kurunegala Group 2 76 150 Weliketiya, Rathupasa, Madampe, Maho, Warakapola, Boralu, Melsiripura
Many Researchers in CRI Worked on nutrient status of coconut growing soils in the past Shanmuganathan & Loganathan 1976 Jeganathan 1984 Jayasekera 1990 Fernandopulle 1995 Somasiri & Liyanage 1996 Tennakoon & Fernando 1998 Somasiri, Peiris, Wijebandara & Bandara 1999 Tennakoon 2000 Giritharan, Somasiri & Perera 2001/2002
They concluded that better measure of nutrient values with leaf values rather than soil values (r = 0.891 to 0.917)
SUFFICIENCY RANGES OF MAJOR NUTRIENTS 2.5 2.1 2 1.9 % in dry matter (14th leaf) 1.5 1 1.2 1.5 0.6 lower upper 0.5 0.110.13 0.35 0.25 0.3 0.160.2 0 N P K Mg Cl S Nutrients
Fertilizer Recommendation
Fertilizer Recommendation Removal of nutrients Order of nutrient requirement Economically benefit Crop variety
Annual removal of nutrients from a coconut palm Production level 7900 nuts/ha/yr (50 nuts palm/yr) Macronutrients kg REMOVAL OF NUTRIENTS K g 1 0.5 0 N P K Mg Nutrients ALL OTHER PA RTS NUTS 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 N P K Mg
Micronutrients - g/palm/yr Parts of the palm Fe Mn Cu Zn B Nuts 3.0 0.6 0.69 1.01 0.94 Other parts 4.2 3.3 0.13 1.77 0.69 Total 7.2 3.9 0.82 2.78 1.63
Order of Nutrient Requirements for Coconut Adult (Bearing) Palms K > Mg > N > P Young Palms N > P > K > Mg
Effect of NPK for nut yield Number of nuts palm/ year Location Soil status Time after Planting (years) Fertilizer applied Fertilizer not applied Ratmalagara Estate, Madampe Lechchami Estate, Walahapitiya Fertile soil 17 105 48 Unfertile soil 15 62 30
Effect of NPK for Young Palms Bearing palms % Location Soil status Time after Planting (years) Fertilizer applied Fertilizer not applied Poththukulama Estate, Pallama Ratmalagara Estate, Madampe Fertile soil 5 75 30 Fertile soil 8 90 50
Effect of NPK & Mg for nut yield Palm status Treatment Nut yield/palm/yr a) i. Yellowing leaves ii. Yellowing leaves NPK only NPK + Mg in 7 th year after planting 20 46 b) i. Healthy leaves ii. Healthy leaves NPK only NPK + Mg 46 62
Young Palms Adult Palms Inorganic Organic Inorganic Organic Straight Mixtures YPM-W YPM-D Straight Mixtures APM - W APM D DFR
Adult Coconut Palms Inorganic Fertilizer (a) Straight Fertilizers Wet & Intermediate Zones Urea Eppawela Rock Phosphate (ERP) Muriate of potash Dolomite 800 g 900 g 1600 g 1000 g Dry Zone Imported Rock Phosphate (IRP) 600 g
Adult Palms Inorganic Fertilizer b) Mixtures Urea Eppawela Rock Phosphate Imported Rock Phosphate Muriate of Potash Composition N%-P 2 O 5 %-K 2 O% APM -W 8 pbw 9 pbw -- 16 pbw 11-8-29 APM -D 8 pbw -- 6 pbw 16 pbw 12-6-32
Rate of Application (kg/palm/yr) APM-W APM-D Dolomite 3.3 3.0 1.0
Contd. Young Palms -Inorganic Fertilizers a). Straight Fertilizers- Rate g/palm/6 months Age Fertilizer type 6 m 1 1 ½ yrs 2 2 ½ yrs Wet & Intermediate Zones Urea 150 180 240 ERP 340 405 540 MOP 150 180 240 Dolomite 500 500 500 Dry Zone IRP 225 270 360
Contd. Young Palms -Inorganic Fertilizers a). Straight Fertilizers Rate g/palm/6 months Fertilizer type 3-3 ½ yrs 4 yrs upto bearing stage Wet & Intermediate Zones Urea 300 360 ERP 675 810 MOP 300 360 Dolomite 500 500 Dry Zone Age IRP 450 540
Young Palms -Inorganic Fertilizers b) Mixtures YPM W YPM - D Urea Eppawela Rock Phosphate Imported Rock Phosphate Muriate of Potash 2.0 pbw 4.5 pbw -- 2.0 pbw 2.0 pbw -- 3.0 pbw 2.0 pbw Composition N % P 2 O 5 % K 2 O% 11-16-14 13-12-17
Rate of Application for Young Palms Age of Seedlings 6 months 1 1 ½ yrs 2-2 ½ yrs 3 3 ½ yrs 4 yrs up to bearing g/palm/6 months YPM W YPM D Dolomite (WZ & IZ) (DZ) 640 525 500 765 630 500 1020 840 500 1275 1050 500 1530 1260 500
Adult Coconut Palm - Organic Manure Soil type Gravel Cabook or Sandy Loam or Clayey Gravel Cabook or Sandy Loam or Clayey Organic manure Cattle manure (moisture 20-30%) ERP/IRP MOP Dolomite 20 kg - 1250 g - 30 kg - 1000 g - Goat manure (moisture 20-25%) 25 kg - 800 g - 20 kg - 650 g - Contd.
Contd. Adult Coconut Palm - Organic Manure Soil type Gravel Cabook or Sandy Loam or Clayey Gravel Cabook or Sandy Loam or Clayey Organic manure Poultry manure (moisture 20-30%) ERP/IRP MOP Dolomite 30 kg - 750g - 20 kg - 650 g - Gliricidia (moisture 60-70%) 350 g - 1000 g 500 g 20 kg - 850 g 500 g
Young Coconut Palm - Organic Manure Source Time after Transplanting Cattle Manure (Moisture 20-30%) Supplemented with IRP/ERP MOP Dolomite Goat Manure (Moisture 20-25%) Supplemented with IRP/ERP MOP Dolomite 6 m 1 yr 2 yrs 3 yrs 4 yrs & upto bearing (every year) 5 kg 125 g 30 g 250 g 3 kg 125 g 50 g 250 g 12 kg 300 g 200 g 250 g 7 kg 300 g 120 g 250 g 16 kg 400 g 250 g 250 g 9 kg 400 g 150 g 250 g 20 kg 500 g 325 g 250 g 11 kg 500 g 190 g 250 g 25 kg 625 g 400 g 250 g 13 kg 625 g 225 g 250 g Contd.
Contd. Young Coconut Palm - Organic Manure Source Poultry Manure (Moisture 20-30%) Supplemented with Dolomite Time after Transplanting 6 m 1 yr 2 yrs 3 yrs 4 yrs & upto bearing (every year) 5 kg 250 g 12 kg 250 g 15 kg 250 g 20 kg 250 g 23 kg 250 g Gliricidia (Moisture 60-70%) Supplemented with IRP/ERP MOP Dolomite 5 kg 175 g 60 g 250 g 12 kg 425 g 150 g 250 g 16 kg 550 g 200 g 250 g 20 kg 700 g 250 g 250 g 25 kg 875g 300 g 250 g