Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T11:25:17.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of NPK Fertilizers on young Coconut (Cocos nucifera) on a Sandy Soil in Sri Lanka

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

P. Loganathan
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka
T. S. Balakrishnamurti
Affiliation:
Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka

Summary

In a 4 × 4 × 4 NPK field experiment with coconut on a sandy soil, N increased girth, height and leaf production during the pre-bearing period, but phosphorus (up to 6½ years) and K (up to 3½ years) had no effect on any vegetative growth parameters. The rates of fertilizers for optimum copra and nut yield (13 to 16 years) were 0.35, 0.73 and 0.64 kg N, PO and KO/palm/ year respectively. The high P requirement was due to the low solubility of the saphos phosphate in these sandy soils. A positive N × P interaction was also observed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abeywardena, V. (1965). Trop. Agric. 119:183.Google Scholar
Coomans, P. (1977). Oléagineux 31:155.Google Scholar
Fremond, Y., Ziller, R. & De Nuce Lamothe, M. (1966). The Coconut Palm. Berne: Int. Potash Inst.Google Scholar
Kanapathy, K. (1971). In Cocoa and Coconuts in Malaysia (ed. Wastie, R. & Earp, E.). Kuala Lumpur: Inc. Soc. Planters.Google Scholar
Loganathan, P. & Balakrishnamurti, T. S. (1975). Ceylon Cocon. Q. 26:89.Google Scholar
Loganathan, P. & Nalliah, V. (1977). J. Agric. Sci., Camb. 89:279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Margate, R. Z., Magat, S. S., Alforja, L. M. & Habana, J. A. (1978). Philip. J. Coconut Studi. 3:1.Google Scholar
Nethsinghe, D. A. (1965). Ceylon Cocon. Q. 16:9.Google Scholar
Salgado, M. L. M. (1937). Soil Chemists A. Rep. Coconut Res. Scheme, Ceylon, Circ. 317.Google Scholar
Salgado, M. L. M. (1957). A. Rep. Coconut Res. Inst 1955, Sessional Paper X. Colombo: Gov. Publ. Bur.Google Scholar