Project of hedges for preserving coconuts plantations in south of India
By
_ To see the summary, click on this link _.
1 Historical Introduction
The
December
In
particular, its destructive wave toppled coconut trees all along this coast,
which made living its inhabitants.
The
coconuts are an important source of income for its inhabitants[1].
Currently,
humanitarian projects are trying to replant these coconuts.
The
"Friend-in-need" Indian Association is trying to replant coconut
trees along the coast at the village Kameshwaram in Nagapattinam district of
Tamil Nadu (south-east of
2 Goals
To recreate the coconut grove, it is
necessary to erect a protective barrier deterrent, around the plantation so
that the coconut nurseries are grazed or trampled by domestic animals or even
stolen by the inhabitants. (See also chapter “Complement :
impacts of a hedge”).
3
Location,
size and topography
On
the Indian Ocean coast, at the village Kameshwaram in Nagapattinam district of
Tamil Nadu [2], in the south-east of
We're
dealing with a low, flat coast, so there would be little problem of contour
lines to follow (to verify).
The
area to be close by a hedge or several hurdles, is ???? km2 (data to find).
The
total length of the hedge or hedges will be ???? km (data to find).
|
|
|
|
|
Geography of Tamil Nadu. |
4
Soil
type, salinity and water table
Sandy,
light, soft soils (grounds). Lateritic basement (poor soils) (???).
Salinity
of the water varies depending on episodes of monsoons or droughts (but still
low).
Height
of the fresh water layer varies, depending on rainfall.
To check and complete.
There
is the need to take samples of water to measure groundwater salinity. And knowing its depth.
A
study of droughts in the region is also expected.
5 Climate, rainfall
Tamil Nadu is heavily dependent on monsoon rains, and
thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The climate of the state
ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state has three distinct periods of rainfall:
- advancing
monsoon period, South
West monsoon from June
to September, with strong southwest winds;
- North
East monsoon from
October to December, with dominant northeast winds;
- dry season from January to May.
The normal annual rainfall of the state is about
Tamil
Nadu is classified into seven agro-climatic zones: north-east, north-west,
west, southern, high rainfall, high altitude hilly, and Cauvery Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone).
The table below shows the maximum and minimum temperatures that the state
experiences in the plains and hills[5].
|
|
Plains |
Hills |
|
Max. |
|
32.3 °C
(90.1 °F) |
|
Min. |
13.1 °C
(55.6 °F) |
3.0 °C
(37.4 °F) |
Average rainfall in
Tamil Nadu
|
|
At the seaside
To
verify and complete.
6 Type of barrier selected
To
protect the plantations and nurseries we had a choice between the wooden fence,
barbed wire fence, electrified fence (to deter herbivores), a chainlink fence _
all these solutions are expensive and unfriendly environmentally _ and the
hedge based on thorny shrubs or trees _ greener solution and requires less
maintenance over the long term.
We
chose a hedge, for ecological reasons, because it can introduce biodiversity
and because it may provide wood to local residents.
As
the "International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), we propose
an improved hedge composed of multipurpose trees, usually spiny, which are
densely planted on the periphery of the plot (of the cultures) to protect.
Three to five years after its installation, the hedge provides lasting
protection to crops, while promoting the conservation of the resource tree
(Djimdé 1998). Assume that a better crop protection permits obtaining higher
yields and therefore a surplus of production which can be sold on the market
(see next section).
You
can create a hedge of thorny shrubs, thorny bushes, thorny trees and bushes
thorny fruit (or not) ... _ lemon etc. _, to encourage biodiversity _ the hedge
used as a refuge for animals, birds, fruit trees etc.
|
Wild
rosehips (rosehip) can serve as thorny hedge of protection. |
Dry hedge or "henkang"
(solution not retained) |
Thorny & protective barriers protecting some African villages.
7 Types of chosen plants
FAO proposes the following species for
hedges of thorn in the tropics :
|
Species |
Rainfall |
Rainfall |
Rainfall |
|
Acacia mellifera |
X |
X |
|
|
Acacia nilotica |
X |
X |
|
|
Acacia senegal |
X |
X |
|
|
Agave sisalana |
|
X |
X |
|
Bauhinia rufescens |
X |
X |
X |
|
Citrus lemon |
|
X |
X |
|
Commiphora africana |
X |
X |
|
|
Dichrostachys cinerea |
|
|
X |
|
Euphorbia balsamifera |
X |
X |
|
|
Haematoxylon brasiletto |
|
|
X |
|
Jatropha curcas |
X |
X |
|
|
Moringa oleifera |
|
X |
X |
|
Prosopis juliflora |
X |
X |
|
|
Ziziphus mauritiana |
X |
X |
X |
|
Ziziphus mucronata |
|
|
X |
Table
1 - Recommended species for live fences in dry and semi-arid areas of
Source : Live
Tree Fences and Ligneous Windbreaks, FAO, http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/lead/toolbox/Tech/22Livef.htm
As
for the tree species proposed by ICRAF for making the hedge, it is :
Ziziphus
mauritiana (jujubier _ arbres à fruits),
Acacia
nilotica,
Acacia
senegal (ou Acacia senegalis avec lequel on produit la gomme arabique),
Lawsonia
inermis,
Bauhinia
rufescens.
Source : L'adoption des haies vives
d'épineux par les paysans du Mali, Virginie Levasseur 1,
Alain Olivier 1
et Bocary Kaya 2,
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/0018-B5.HTM
We will focus on these species.
But
we could also use different species of Euphorbiaceae[6], various tropical species of Berberis[7]
or prickly pears and wild roses (rosehips etc..). More than 60 plants may be used.
|
Bauhinia rufescens |
Agave Sisalana |
Ziziphus mauritiana |
|
Lawsonia
inermis |
Prickly pear |
Acacia |
|
Euphorbia balsamifera |
Jatropha curcas (produces
biofuel) |
Moringa oleifera (product of edible
oil) |
Berberis hedge.
Berberis hedge (next).
Image of a thorny shrub widespread in
8
The
problem of invasive plants
Warning!
Some plants _ such as Agave sisalana, jujube etc.. _
can be highly invasive and behave as "plant pests".
If
in doubt we always choose native species (local), before introducing new ones
in the region.
9 Techniques de plantation de haies
On
techniques for creating hedges and copses, see the work of D. Soltner shown
below:
Example : 3-tier hedge
(Source « Planter des Haies » [Planting Hedges],
Dominique Soltner).
Better prefer to plant seedlings on mounds of earth 60
cm high.
It will determine:
1) What plants are mixed in the hedge (if they are
compatible).
2) What will be available and how often meters.
(Information to look
for).
Techniques and rules for the planting of
hedges and hedges roles. © D. Soltner
Source of these patterns: « Planter
des Haies » [Planting Hedges] of Dominique Soltner.
|
English
translation of the French comment in these two pictures: First picture: Slopes
and ditches perpendicular to the direction of the slope. Talus
"belt": arable land boundary between the slight slope, and near the
valley slope. Less
erosion on sloping fields. Retention
of land, water, and some pollutants. Fixing
the banks. Limitation
of flood. The
hurdle is an obstacle. Second picture: The
hedge is a purifier. Runoff
on the soil and soil are hampered by all-ditch embankment. Surface
runoff. Flow
into the basement. This
deceleration allows water to seep into deep aquifers. Part
of nitrates and other pollutants are absorbed by the roots of trees in the
embankment. |
It is best planted at 50 cm from the
property line for a fence not exceeding 2 m high and 2 meters, a hedge above 2
m high (preferably to plant in north-south direction if c is possible).
It must then
COVER THE GROUND.
An agronomic
principle is too often ignored: no grass within 50 cm of any planting (tree or
hedge) for at least 3 years. Even cutting the grass competes with tree or shrub
and slows or even stops growth.
Processes of
land cover to conserve soil moisture: THE NATURAL MULCH.
Mulching uses
many natural vegetable waste straw, hay, grass clippings, shredded bark and
branches. Planting hedges on plastic film from 1976. has been put in the shade
of natural processes mulching. These processes found today, with new
applications, their value and their superiority:
- natural biodegradable mulching, so allows,
once broken, allowing the establishment at the foot of the hedge spaces
spontaneous shrubs and herbaceous plants, very useful for wildlife
including beneficial insects,
• natural mulching is permeable, so allow better infiltration of rain,
hence its superiority for planting on slopes and embankments, where it is also
easier to install,
• natural mulching is generally the most economical, straw and hay do not cost
hardly anything to farmers who use them, and for individuals it is very easy to
get discount. The crushed bark and wood chips are also great, despite some
reservations about the bark of pine trees because of their acidity and tannin
content. But this effect can be corrected by a good layer of compost under the
bark.
It gives
results equivalent if not superior, to other techniques (plastic film ...),
provided to be very well applied.
1 - The
natural mulch before planting: a new method of "culture of hedges"
The new idea
of this method is to prepare the ground 6, 8 to 12 months before planting, not
by the action of machines, but by loosening and enrichment qu'assurent
earthworms under a layer of very thick straw.
The condition
is that the soil has been previously cleared of perennial weeds (quackgrass,
Nettles, Brambles, Thistles ...) that promotes mulching. Destruction that can
be done either by scratching repeated dry periods, or chemically.
2 - Natural
mulching AFTER planting: the double-coverage straw compost
After
planting trees and shrubs on bare soil, it begins to surround each plant with a
forked compost or rotted manure.
Then covered
the feeder layer, a thick mulch of straw or hay, 10 to 15 cm thick, at 2.5 to 3
kg per m2.
During the
season, we can strengthen this mulch is a new layer of straw or hay, either
grass clippings in thin layers dry if possible: avoid heavy layers of wet
clippings which gives a very harmful fat rot.
3 - Mulch on
compost: the "Jean Pain methode"
This ground
cover with a layer of compost protected from the sun by a thick mulch, such is
the essence of the method of Jean Pain (Source of information : “Planter des
haies” ["Planting Hedges"], Dominique Soltner).
With this
method, an exuberant vegetable crops without irrigation are possible under very
hot and dry climates (see “Les Bases de la Production Végétale” [The Basics of
Crop Production], Volume I (in French), “collection Sciences et Techniques
Agricoles”, 49130 SAINT-GEMS-SUR-LOIRE). This gives a fertility and water
savings that can be explained by the intense activity of earthworms and
bacteria (see diagram below).
From a
biological standpoint the ground, the method "manure and mulch on the
surface" is similar to what happens in the forest.
(Source Picture © D. Soltner).
Compost: 5-7 cm, straw or
hay from 10 to 15 cm,
1) earthworms attracted
to the surface through the compost and straw, aerates the soil through their
galleries.
2) bacteria break down
compost and straw whose elements down to the roots by the rains.
3) earthworms incorporate
throughout the soil through their manure humus formed in the digestive tract.
10
Techniques of irrigation
Ideally, irrigation technology of drip
irrigation (but expensive).
Otherwise, there is hand watering with
manual sprinklers.
For example, to involve the villagers,
schoolchildren, scouts, youth camps for watering seedlings and seedlings
planted in the nursery, or along the hedge and so on.
11 Local actors and socio-cultural
determinants
The
region is heavily populated[9]
by Tamils, who speak the Tamil language.
The Tamil language is the official and primary
language of the state. According to the 2001 census, Tamil is spoken by 89.43%
of the population[10].
These
Tamils are highly literate, more than 73.47% in 2001[11]
and fertility rates among the lowest in India, with 1.7 or 1.8
‰ [12]
[13]
[14].
They
are Hindu religion to over 88%.
In
the village, we mainly fishermen and farmers (including owners of coconut).
fishermen
of Tamil Nadu.
The
people like the majority of Indians are fascinated by all that comes from the
West. Everyone wants to have a Western standard of living. Just something that
comes from the West, they want to adopt[15].
12
Woodcutting
Most
people in the country, India, using wood cut from the neighborhood, to cook
their food. Which may contribute to the deforestation of these campaigns. Since
pruning (cutting its regular branches by locals) which trees (and fences) are
exposed, we need a strict discipline at the village level, the rules of
sections (or how not to "mutilate "branches) and the amount of wood removed.
For example, make rules (under a charter) to:
• The rotation cuts branches
• cut them every 7 years, 5 years
(according to a campaign planned in advance) and so on.
• The type of mutilation permitted (and
on what specific trees).
So there is a timber management to plan
and implement with the villagers (with a schedule cuts, according to the
"forest plot" intended).
It
should also cut the hedge regularly, to maintain it and prevent its spread or
proliferate too.
The
loggers can be fitted with a scale _ or more, a large aluminum ladder _ and a
pair of gloves gardener (skin) to avoid the "gardeners" of the hedge
to prick or of injury from the spines of spiny plants. They also had a hand saw
and a sharp pruning shears.
And
a zebu cart (or a trailer and a tractor) to harvest timber.
13
Development of side
projects
(To be added to the principal project of
construction of thorny hedges).
What would be best to avoid too much
pressure on the environment of human beings on the wood resource and therefore
on the hedges, would also develop cheap solar cookers (box type) and biogas
(based on a barrel of oil, bedroom truck air, or in the form of masonry vaulted
tanks (more expensive)) in the surrounding villages.
14
Partner associations
Friends-in-need (Franco-Indian association, specialized in the promotion of the ecosans,
in the Tamil Nadu State, India) : Friend-in-Need ( FIN) Trust, 28, Tennur High Road, Tennur, Trichy 620 017 T.N. India, www.friend-in-need.org.
Note: This association is directed by Dr. Shyama V. Ramani, UNU-MERIT &
Maastricht University, email : ramani@merit.unu.edu
& shyama_ramani@yahoo.com, tel (within France): 06 08 80 33 83, tel (outside
France):00 33 6 08 80 33 83, Site: www.shyama-v-ramani.net
15
Experts consulted or to consult
In our study, we consulted several experts hedges in
tropical region.
Note :
The « Tamil Nadu Agricultural University[16] » (TNAU), with its seven colleges and thirty-two
research stations spread throughout the state contributes to evolving new crop
varieties and technologies and their dissemination through its various
extension agencies. Tamil Nadu is the home of Dr. MS Swaminathan (1925 -),
known as the "Father of Green Revolution in India”[17].
Experts of soils (grounds) :
- Department of Soil Science and Agricultural
Chemistry,
- Remote Sensing Centre, Agriculture Engineering
Department, Nandanam, Chennai - 600 035,
- Head office – Noida, India, GIS Development Pvt
Ltd, GIS Development, A-145, Sector - 63, Noida (U.P.) - 201 301
India, Tel: +91-120-4612500, Fax: +91-120-4612555, +91-120-4612666, Email:
info@GISdevelopment.net
Experts of tropical hedges :
- Département de
Phytologie, Université Laval, Québec (QC), G1K 7P4, Canada. Téléphone:
1.418.656.2131 poste 8746. Télécopieur: 1.418.656.7856. Courriel: virginie_lev@hotmail.com, Alain.Olivier@plg.ulaval.ca
- Centre international pour la recherche en
agroforesterie [International
Centre for Research in Agroforestry] (CIRAF/ICRAF), B.P. 112, Ségou, Mali. To see if we can reach the contact.
- CIRAF/ICRAF, World
Agroforestry Centre (HEADQUARTERS), United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box
30677, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya, Telephone: +254 20 7224000, Via USA +1
650833 6645, Fax: +254 20 7224001, Via USA +1 650833 6646, Email: icraf@cgiar.org,
Site : www.worldagroforestry.org
- South Asia Regional Programme (CIRAF/ICRAF), 1st
Floor National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Dev Prakash Shastri
Marg, Pusa, New Delhi, India 110012, Telephone: +91 11
25609800/25847885/6, Fax: +91 11 25847884, Email: v.p.singh@cgiar.org
- Institut
supérieur des sciences agronomiques, agroalimentaires, horticoles et du
paysage, AGROCAMPUS, regroupement d’Agrocampus Rennes et de l’Institut
national d’horticulture d’Angers, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, CS 84215, 35 042
Rennes Cedex, France - tél. : +33 (0)2 23 48 50 00, email : dircom@agrocampus-ouest.fr, Site : http://www.agrocampus-ouest.fr
16 Planning of the project
Part
not yet realized.
17
Budget
Part
not yet realized.
18
Funding and sponsors
Part
not yet realized.
19
Appendix:
Bibliography
19.1 Books and articles
On the thorny hedges and trees and shrubs in arid and
semi-arid:
In English:
[1] Non-timber
uses of selected arid zone trees and shrubs in Africa, F. E. M.
Booth,G. E. Wickens, FAO Conservation Guide, 1988, Rome.
[2] Live Fences, Cherry, S.D. & Fernandes, E.C.M. 1999. http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/mba_project/livefence.html
(includes good example photos and descriptions as well as additional
references).
[3] Availability and Role of Multipurpose Trees and Shrubs in Sustainable
Agriculture in
[4] The case of live hedges in the Central Plateau
of
[5] Technical
advisory notes on live fencing in semi arid
[6] A socioeconomic
evaluation of live fencing and windbreak agroforestry technologies in
[7] Assessing
autonomy among Sahelian woman: an analitical framework for women's production
work. Simard,
P., 1998. Development in Practice 8 (2): 186-202.
In French:
[a]
Les haies vives défensives en zones sèches et subhumides d'Afrique de
l'Ouest. Atelier Jachères, Dakar. Louppe,
D., Yossi H. 1999.
[b]
Temps des villes, temps des vivres: l'essor du vivrier marchand en Côte
d'Ivoire. Chaléard, J.-L., 1996. Karthala, Paris. 661 p.
[c] Propagation
et comportement d'espèces à usages multiples en haies vives pour la zone
sahélo-soudanienne: résultats
préliminaires d'essais menés à Gonse et Dinderesso (Burkina Faso), Depommier, D., 1991,
in: Riedacker, A., E. Dreyer, C. Pafadnam et G. Bory (éd.). Physiologie des arbres et arbustes en zones
semi-arides. 20 mars - 6 avril 1990. Groupe d'Étude de l'Arbre Observatoire
du Sahara et du Sahel, Paris et Nancy, France. pp. 155-165.
[d]
L'expansion des marchés ouest-africains
des produits végétaux frais. Harre, D.M., 1997. Les Cahiers de la
Recherche et du Développement 44: 86-99.
[e]
Rapport annuel d'activités, campagne
agricole 1998/1999. Ministère du Développement Rural et de l'Eau, 1999. Bamako,
Mali. 101 p.
[f]
Campagne africaine en devenir. Arguments, Pélissier, P., 1995. Paris. 318 p.
[g]
La dynamique des systèmes agraires dans le Sud-Ouest Nigérien: le cas des
cultures de contre-saison dans la région du Boboye, Yamba, B., I.M. Bouzou et
B. Amadou, 1997.. In: Pratiques de
gestion de l'environnement dans les pays tropicaux. DYMSET, CRET, Singaravélou
(éd.). Talence. pp. 295-309.
[h] La jachère en Afrique tropicale: rôles,
aménagement, alternatives, Volume 1, Actes du séminaire international, Dakar, 13-16 avril
1999, Christian Floret,Roger Pontanier, John Libbey Eurotext editeur (en
coopération avec l'IRD, le CORAF, la CE), _ sur les techniques de haies
vives, voir page 730.
On the planting of hedges and
copses:
[j] Planter des haies. Méthodes de création de
haies et bocages,
Dominique Soltner, collection Sciences et Techniques Agricoles, 49130
SAINT-GEMMES-SUR-LOIRE. Prix 22,60 €. On trouve ce livre, à la librairie «
19.2 Internet sites
[1] Live Tree Fences and Ligneous
Windbreaks, FAO, http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/lead/toolbox/Tech/22Livef.htm
[2] Cultivation of jatropha
curcas in
[3] The live database in
Type
of coconut found in Tamil Nadu.
20
Appendix : coconut
cultivation
20.1 Needs of coconuts
Heat
requirements
The coconut palm requires a mean temperature
of 27 ° C, as constant as possible (minimum 20 ° C).
Water needs
The coconut is very water demanding, both on
the annual amount that the distribution of this amount throughout the year. It
needs at least 1500-1700 mm of rainfall, well distributed.
It
is a palm that requires high and regular humidity (to verify).
The air humidity must be made between 80
and 90% with a minimum of 60% (to verify).
Discussions:
we have coconuts, in the village of Ifaty _ Mozambican coast west of Madagascar
_, although this region has a dry season of almost 6 months. So here, the water
table is certainly important in the development of the coconut of Ifaty).
Water can be slightly salty (brackish),
coconut does not suffer too much.
Light requirements
The coconut palm requires strong
sunshine: 2,000 hours per year.
Altitude requirements
The altitude is reached on the coconut
tree and through the temperature and humidity.
Soil requirements
The coconut palm requires light soil,
furniture, deep, well-ventilated, properly drained and coarse textured.
Soil pH can vary from 4.5 to 8.
20.2
Types of coconuts
Species : Cocos nucifera.
.
Coconut trees cross-pollinated: who are tall coconut trees (up to 30 m high).
.
Coconut trees pollinated: dwarves are coconut trees (10 to 12 m high), very
early, carrying a large number of small nuts (Madagascar).
They
can be classified into two groups:
•
"Mozambican" and Comoros Type:
tall trees, large nuts round or pear-shaped, thick coconut (6 nuts per kilo of
copra). Fruit set at 7 years (range about us).
•
The Seychelles type: smaller trees,
nuts small, oblong fruit with eccentric, copra thinner (7-8 nuts per kilo of
copra). Maybe a little earlier.Techniques culturales.
We
will collect nuts for seed from trees that provide regularly a large number of
fruits, the largest possible with a coconut, which are abundant and healthy.
Before
putting the nuts selected, it is good to place them in a place sheltered from
sun, rain and well ventilated for 3 weeks to 1 month, so they all give a good
degree of maturity.
Getting propagator
The
propagator should be set up near a water point, a light soil and permeable.
Plowing at 15 to 20 cm deep and then dig small pits of 10 x 3 and 15 cm depth
which will contain 1,000 nuts (30-40 nuts / m²).
Nuts
are placed 5 cm from each other, they are lying on the side and buried
three-quarters.
The
top nut is mulched and watered copiously propagator is every day, the wad of
nut must always be soaked in water.
After
a few weeks (8-20) the first sprouts appear, they are transplanted into nursery
11
(Diagram of a propagator).
Transplant Nursery
We
transplanted only 60% of germinated nuts, 40% of germinated nuts are ultimately
eliminated. The first sprouted nuts coconuts will give the fastest. This simple
selection propagator increases production by a quarter.
We
choose a field light, permeable, homogeneous, healthy and close to the watering
hole.
We
plowed to 20 to 25 cm deep, it breaks the clods and smooths it.
Sprouted
nuts are transplanted staggered intervals of 0.60 m and you put mulch with
coconut husks or palm.
Watered
once every two days during the dry season.
The
seedlings remain in the nursery until they have 3-4 leaves developed, which
occurs around 6-7 months after transplanting, under normal conditions.
12
(Figure nursery)
Planting
Site Preparation
Once
the land selected is cleared and cleared the ground, and we proceed to the
leveling
We
do the picketing: driveways, block planting, planting rows and planting holes
spaced 8.5 to 9 m staggered.
In
the case of land subject to excess water, create a drainage system.
Trouaison [trough] and patching
One
month before planting, is carried on the pecked “trouaison” [trough ?]
locations. Each hole will be 1 m3 in a soil medium.
A
month later, the holes are blocked again: there is: 50 Kg floss nuts, 50 kg of
well-rotted manure in rotation with the earth. It completely blocked again the
hole with good topsoil.
13
(Figure coconut seedling)
Actual planting
Is
chosen in the nursery, the plants vigorous, with a thick neck and very green
foliage.
We
plant the coconut in the center of each hole filled. By digging a small hole.
It covers the nuts alternating the young coconut 5 cm of soil and one cup with
the soil around the base of coconut.
14
(Scheme implementation young coconut)
Maintenance
Replacement
of missing coconuts.
Frequent
weeding during the first 5 years, 2 times per year thereafter
Mulching
the base of young coconuts, after finishing the weeding.
Remove
dead leaves and store them on where they are spaced decays.
Fertilization
Organic
fertilizer:
-
When planting:
In
each hole: 50 kg of coir pith
-
On the plantation:
Every
year 50 to 100 kg of well-rotted manure
Mineral
fertilizer:
It
varies with age of the coconut, climate and soil type
Harvest and yield
The
harvest date varies greatly with the destination of the nuts:
.
For direct consumption (water and albumen) fresh, you will reap between the 6th
and 8th month.
.
For the coconut can be harvested from the 11th month.
.
For seeds are harvested at full maturity, that is to say between the 12th and
13th months.
Is
formed, on average, a monthly plan. It is therefore necessary to periodically
throughout the year to gather the ripe nuts.
The
number of nuts varies greatly with the age of coconut:
.
3-5 nuts per tree to 6-7 years
.
15 to 30 nuts per tree at about 10 to 15 years
.
40 to 70 nuts per tree from 15 to 40 years from 60 years, production decreases.
It should be 3.5 to 10 nuts to produce 1 kg of copra.
Yields
vary from 0.5 to 2 T coconut / ha / year.
Note:
The dwarf coconut trees are small but very productive.
Diseases and Enemies
Diseases
- Decline
- Deficiencies
. Nitrogen deficiency: more or less
pronounced yellowing of the vegetative
. Potash deficiency: non-uniform
yellowing of the vegetative with numerous brown spots and irregular
Enemies
. Oryctes: that perforate the base of
the petiole and sometimes come to gnaw the terminal bud of the coconut tree,
causing the death of the tree.
. Scale insects: biting the leaflets to
suck sap. The leaves turn yellow and there may be early fall of the fruits.
. Track: that plague the leaflets and
inflorescences
. Termites attacking nuts during
germination
. Melitommas: whose larvae burrow at the
base of the trunk and roots
. Rats: who also address the nuts during
germination, eat young coconuts at the neck and feed on nuts at all stages of
maturation.
. Bats: pierce nuts to consume water and
endosperm.
. Coconut crabs (Birgus latro): it is
known for its ability to crack coconuts with its strong claws and eat the
contents.
20.3 Use of products and
by-products
. Envelope: containing fibers (coir) of
various lengths. It makes ropes, brushes, mats, carpets, bags, upholstery, ...
. Almond: can be eaten fresh or are
dried (copra) to extract the oil. It is used to make margarine and vegetable
seeds, soap, fatty alcohol, plasticizers ... The meal is used for feeding
livestock and poultry. We can chop fresh almonds and dry the grated coconut
that is used for cakes and biscuits.
. Coconut Water: refreshing beverage
. Hull: finely milled after drying, is
used as molding powder in the industry or for the manufacture of floor
coverings (linoleum). It can also be carbonized to obtain carbon absorbs gases
and vapors.
. Inflorescences to yield a sap that is
used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, vinegar or for the
extraction of sugars used in pharmacy.
. Roots used in pharmacy
. Trunk: used in woodworking
. Leaves: for making mats, hats ...
. Terminal bud: to be eaten fresh or
cooked (cabbage coconut).
The longevity of the plant exceeds a
century. Its economic life is estimated at fifty, but some much older coconuts
are still covered with fruit.
20.4
Bibliography
.
Recueil des fiches techniques d'agriculture spéciale par Mr. Paul HUBERT -
Ingénieur d'Agronomie. [Collection of sheets of special
agriculture by Mr. Paul HUBERT - Engineer of Agronomy].
. Mémento
de l'agronome [Memento of the agronomist], 1984.
Sources :
- http://www.maep.gov.mg/filtecocotier.htm
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_nucifera
- Fiche N°
8 - 1983 - La noix de coco FAO,
http://www.fao.org/WAIRdocs/x5425f/x5425f08.htm
Coconuts plantation.
Coconuts
plantation (nursery) in Tamil Nadu (India). Source : http://sites.tnau.ac.in/ trri/ars-pkt
21 Appendix : Production and yield of coconut throughout India and
in Tamil Nadu
|
COCONUT production
and yield for all India |
|||
|
YEAR |
YIELD OF COCONUT |
PRODUCTION |
YIELD/HECTARE |
|
1997-98 |
1.9 |
130.88 |
6898 |
|
état |
AREA |
% OF TOTAL |
PRODUCTION |
% OF TOTAL |
Rendement |
|
TAMIL
NADU |
0.32 |
16.8 |
37.16 |
28.4 |
11621 |
Production
of Tamil Nadu, almost 30% of the production of copra (coconut) all over India.
Source : Coconut statistical info in
22 Appendix : Where to get plants?
We could get the seedlings or seeds:
• For samples in local vegetation to be
grown in nurseries after. Samples (in the form of suckers, shoots, seeds, etc…)
to be grown in nurseries after.
• In the Indian agricultural institutes
(in their garden and their Seed trade or
bank) _ see addresses above in chapters "experts. "
• In the stores of plants and nursery
schools.
(In Europa, for example:
- Top tropical, rare plants for home and garden, http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/store/store.cgi?first_mid=3010&NoPromoItem=1
).
23
Appendix: a possible
barrier facing a tsunami?
(For reference).
It
is known that the presence of lush vegetation (virgin forest type) or an edge
of mangrove coast can mitigate the destructive effects of the tsunami wave in
the "breaking up" (by "breaking") and / or the slowing.
As
far as the barrier of the fence may have a dampening effect on the wave would
require the hedge is an important dimension and is robust _ that is composed of
shrubs strong, well rooted in the earth, through strong roots.
A
barrier of mangroves to the ocean side to protect it?
A
mangrove is the best protection for ribs, facing a tsunami. Even then it has to
exist or to create it, you have a bay with calm waters, choppy (for example,
behind a barrier reef which protects it from storms and waves offshore).
Otherwise, a mangrove is easy to plant, by planting seeds of mangroves[18]
[19] (we plant them, such swords, in the mud of the coast).
Although
sustainably managed, mangroves can provide firewood, construction, fish,
crustaceans, shellfish and function as carbon sinks.
Left : mangrove seed. Right : its aerial roots into the mud shoreline.
Source: Cultivation of mangrove seeds, http://jmsnat.free.fr/site/culturepaletuvier.html
ð Party to develop, correct or delete.
24 Appendix : impacts of
a hedge
·
Positive environmental impacts
o
Improvement of the micro-climate
(wind-break effect).
o
Reduction of water and wind erosion.
o
Improvement of rain water infiltration.
o
Increased biodiversity of plants (many
spontaneous species in the hedge).
o
Increased biodiversity of animals
(habitat for different species).
o
Improved graze management and rotation.
o
Forms part of the diversity of the
landscape.
o
Certain types of hedge may include
economically productive species, e.g. sisal, citrus
·
Negative environmental impacts
o
Concentration of bird predators.
o
Presence of snakes and other harmful
animals.
·
Impacts on livestock productivity
o
Optimization of graze management hence
improved meat production.
o
Improvement of grazing animals' comfort,
with a positive impact on their health and growth (it offers feeds and shadow
to animals).
o
Reduced risk of conflicts between
livestock farmers and crop farmers, but slightly reduced areas under grass or
crops.
Source : http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/lead/toolbox/Tech/22Livef.htm
Sommaire
3 Location, size and topography
4 Soil type, salinity and water table
Average rainfall in Tamil Nadu
8 The problem of invasive plants
9 Techniques de plantation de haies
11 Local actors and socio-cultural determinants
13 Development of side projects
15 Experts consulted or to consult
20 Appendix : coconut cultivation
20.3 Use of products and by-products
21 Appendix : Production and yield of coconut
throughout India and in Tamil Nadu
22 Appendix : Where to get plants?
23 Appendix: a possible barrier
facing a tsunami?
24 Appendix : impacts of a hedge