Plantation Crops

Climate and Soil for coconut

Climate
Tropical palm :Coconut is a tropical palm preferring humid tropical climate. However, coconut is highly adaptable and performs well under a wide range of environmental conditions of climate, altitude and soil.

Best yields from coconut plantations are realized under the following conditions;
Latitude: Ninety per cent of coconut in the world is grown between 20º N and 20 º S from equator. Near the equator coconut is grown at higher elevation while at higher latitudes in plains.
Altitude: Generally upto 600m. Can be grown at higher elevation (1000 m.) at higher elevations if near equator.
Temperature: = 27 to 32 º C , Mean annual temperature of 27 º C with a diurnal (hagalina or pratidinada) variations of 6 to 7 ºC is ideal.( Hence, in North India we cant grow coconut profitably)
Rainfall: 1,800 to 2,500 mm per year, well distributed .
A sunloving palm : Insolation/sunlight: Coconut being a sun loving palm requires plenty of sunlight and does not come up well under shade.
Requirement of sun light hours : It requires 7.1hrs. of sunshine per day;; 2000 hrs or more per year. Palms under shade will be lean, lanky and unproductive.
Humidity: Coconut likes tropical humid climate and 80 to90 per cent relative humidity (RH) is ideal. RH below 60 per cent affects the growth. At a RH of less than 50 per cent opening of stomata will be affected

Soils for coconut cultivation
• Soil for coconut: Soils of coconut growing areas ranges between littoral sands to the heaviest clays.
• Ideal soils for better growth should be

  1) Well drained
  2) Deep: At least 1 to 1.5 m deep,
  3) PH = 5.20 to 8
  4) Rich in organic matter with good water holding capacity,