Plantation Crops

Irrigation and Cover cropping

Irrigation
Irrigation at the rate of 100 liters of water per palm per day ( 100 to150 liters per palm per day and even upto 200 liters per palm per day in hot summer) has to be provided during dry period to realize the yield potential of the palm.
Yield increase in oil palm under irrigation is attributed to; 
1) Increased leaf production, 
2) Increase in number of bunches, 
3) Better sex ratio and 
4) Reduction in abortion of female inflorescences.
After 28 months of irrigation increase was from 1 tones per ha to 4.50 tonnes per ha.
Drip irrigation : Four drippers discharging of 150 to 200 liters in 5 to 6 hours

Cover cropping
1. Pueraria phaseoloides
2. P. javanica,
3. Calapogonium muconoides,
4. Centrosema pubescens
5. Mimosa invisa
6. Macuna bracteata - A cover crop introduced in Kerala from Tripura,. It is not flowering under KAU conditions. Hence, propagated through stem cuttings.
Seed rate : 2 to 3 kg per ha

Establishment of cover crops
a) Hot water treatment (50 – 60º C) : Soaking of seeds for 2 hours improves establishment resulting in good cover.
b) Rhizobium culture: @ 1 g per kg of seed.