The document provides information about coconut including: - Coconut is known as the tree of life and each part is useful. It is an important crop for over 1 crore people. - The composition of coconut water includes 95.5% water, 0.1% protein, and minerals like calcium and iron. Coconut kernel is a rich source of vegetable fat yielding 60-67% oil. - Major coconut growing countries include Philippines, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. The major coconut growing states in India are Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

1. COCONUT

2.  Coconut called as Kalpa Vriksha (Tree of Heaven).
 It is also called as Tree of Life, Tree of Abundance, Tree of
Plenty, etc.
 Each and every part of the coconut palm is useful to man in
one way or another.
 The word coco derives from the word monkey because the
nut resembles a monkey's face.
 Coconut is an important crop. About 1 crore people
depends on its cultivation and processing.
 48%of coconut produced is consumed as raw nuts,
 30%for milling copra for oil extraction,
 8%as edible copra and
 4% for coconut cream, milk, and other by-products.
Introduction

3. Composition and use
 Water composition is 95.5%
 Protein content is 0.1%
 Fat content is <0.1%
 Mineral content is 0.4%
 CHO 4%
 Ca 0.02
 P <0.01
 Fe 0.5mg
Composition of coconut water

4. Composition of kernel
 Moisture 45%
 Protein 4%
 Fat 37%
 Minerals 4%
 CHO 10%
Richest source of vegetable fat yielding 60-
67% oil

5. Use of coconut palm and its products
Plant parts Uses
Root Beverage, fuel, medicine for intestinal
complaints, coughs, antiseptic lotion for
wounds & mouth wash.
Stem Timber, particle board.
Leaves Thatching houses, place mat, fruit tray.
Inflorescence Gin, toddy.
Coconut meat Copra, coconut oil, oil cake for animal
feed, desiccated coconut.
Pith Soil ameliorant, filler in thermoplastic
industries, oxalic acid.
Coconut water Vinegar, soft drink.
Coconut shell Mail rack, lamp shade, charcoal, shell
flour, mosquito coil.
husk Rope, yarn, brush, floor mat, door mat,

6. Origin and Distribution
 Coconut originated and was domesticated
in Malaysia where it was widely distributed
 It was taken in prehistoric times to the
mainland of Asia, and had reached East
Africa before 1492
 All tropical areas are suitable for coconut
cultivation
 Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Srilanka
are the major producer of coconut, in
world.

7. Malaysia

8. Major coconut growing countries

9.  In India it is distributed from coastal
to interior belts in sates of kerala,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Goa

10. Major coconut growing
states

11. 2007-2008 (Revised) 2008-2009 (Final)
States /Union
Territories
AREA ('000
Hectares)
Production
(Million nuts)
Productivity
(Nuts/ha)
AREA ('000
Hectares)
Production
(Million nuts)
Productivity
(Nuts/ha)
Andhra
Pradesh
101.32 1119.26 11047 104.00 970.00 9327
Assam 19.00 136.00 7158 18.80 147.10 7824
Goa 25.50 127.60 5004 25.61 128.18 5005
Gujarat 16.40 138.30 8433 15.98 157.42 9851
Karnataka 405.00 1635.00 4037 419.00 2176.00 5193
Kerala 818.80 5641.00 6889 787.77 5802.00 7365
Maharashtra 21.00 175.10 8338 21.00 175.10 8338
Nagaland 0.90 0.20 222 0.92 0.55 598
Orissa 51.00 275.80 5408 51.00 275.80 5408
Tamil Nadu 383.37 4968.20 12959 389.60 5365.00 13771
Tripura 5.80 11.40 1966 5.80 11.40 1966
West Bengal 28.60 355.50 12430 28.60 355.50 12430
A & N Islands 21.60 80.60 3731 21.69 82.00 3781
Lakshadweep 2.70 53.00 19630 2.70 53.00 19630
Pondicherry 2.20 26.60 12091 2.10 30.70 14619
All India 1903.19 14743.56 7747 1894.57 15729.75 8303
All India Final Estimates of area and production of Coconut

12.  Common names: Coconut Palm,
 Scientific name: Cocos nucifera
 Family: Arecaceae
 Order: Arecales
 Chromosome no: 2n = 32
 Evergreen or deciduous: Evergreen
Botany

13. The Root
 The coconut palm has an adventitious root
system as typical of a monocot, i.e., it
produces numerous uniformly thick roots
from the base of the stem almost
throughout its life.
 The main roots measure 6 m in length on
an average and in rare instances they may
grow even up to 25 m. they are usually of
uniform thickness of about 8 mm in
diameter.

14.  The total number of roots in a tree depends
upon its age and the environment.
 they may vary from 1,500 to 2,500 in a tree
aged about 25 years and 3,620 roots in a 60
to 70-years-old tree.
 The number of roots counted on a bole
usually varies from 4,000 to 7,000.
 Coconut roots are also provided with
numerous lenticels-like outgrowths or
ventilators which may be called 'breathing
organs', 'breathing roots' or
'Pneumatophores', which help in the
exchange of gases.

15. Root

16. Stem
 When the bole reaches the full stage of its development, the
stem becomes visible.
 The thickness of the stem generally depends upon the vigor of
the tree, hereditary variation and soil conditions.
 In the initial years of the growth of the tree the stem gradually
increases in thickness and this thickness is maintained
throughout.
 When the leaves grow old they are shed , leaving a rough
pitted scar on the trunk which encircles the whole stem.
 From the counts of these scars the age of the trees can be
approximately determined, as roughly 12 to 14 such
successive scars left on the tree correspond to a year of
growth of the tree.
 It is also possible to gauge the vigour of the tree from these
scars.
 In a bearing tree the scars left by the inflorescence stalk may
be seen on the stem in the middle above the widest portion of
the leaf scar.

17. The Leaf
 Every tree has a crown of leaves oriented at the top of the
trunk consisting of opened leaves and those in the bud in
various stages of development.
 The number of leaves in the crown varies depending on the
conditions prevailing, viz., method of cultivation, nutritional
status of the soil, sunlight, etc.
 In adult trees, the crown comprises about 30 to 40 opened
leaves.
 There are generally four sets of leaves in the crown.
 The first set consists of ten to twelve leaves counted from the
oldest leaf, from the axils of which the bunches have already
been harvested.

18.  The second set consisting of ten to fourteen
leaves will be those supporting fruit bunches in
the different stages of development.
 The third set includes ten to twelve opened
leaves in the axils of which are found spadix in
various stages of development.
 The soft and brittle bud in the centre of the
crown is the most rapidly growing part of the tree

19. Leaf

20. The Inflorescence
 Inflorescence of the coconut are formed in the axils of every leaf
of a bearing tree
 The coconut is a monoecious plant producing male and female
flowers separately on the same tree.
 The inflorescence appears at first in the axil of a leaf as a pear
shaped flat structure.
 At this time, it is completely protected by two sheaths and is
collectively known as the spadix.
 The outer sheath is thick and fibrous while the inner one is more
yellow and often fibrous and somewhat flat in nature
 Its size varies from 0.75 m to 2 m in length depending upon the
individual palm.

21.  Flowering commences at 6-12 years of age.
 Each spikelets bears about 200-300male flowers at top.
 1-2 female flowers at base
 Female flower are globose and about 2-3cm in diameter having
large ovary, with 3 locules and 3 nectary glands
 The average number of female flowers per tree in the group
 good is about 151
 Medium about 120
 poor only 41.

22. Inflorescence

23. Male Inflorescence Female Inflorescence

25. The Pollen
 When the anthers are fully mature, the pollen
sacs burst along two longitudinal slits.
 The pollen grains are spherical and smooth when
very fresh.
 On exposure for a few seconds, they turn
ellipsoidal with a longitudinal groove in the
middle and they measure about 0.063 mm in
length and 0.020 mm in breadth at the centre.
 In the mature pollen grain, there are three nuclei
one of which is larger than the remaining two.

26. The Fruit
 The fruit of the coconut, botanically known as a fibrous drupe
and popularly the 'nut', consists internally of the
endospermous kernel with the embryo embedded in it and
externally protected by the fruit coat known as the pericarp
which consists of three distinct and well defined regions, viz.,
the exocarp or epicarp, the mesocarp and the endocarp.
 The outermost region of the fruit coat is the exocarp (or
epicarp) which consists of a tough smooth and hard fibrous
skin where as in the ripe fruit it assumes green, red, yellow
or brown colour.
 Within the kernel is a cavity which in the unripe fruit is
completely filled with the liquid popularly known as 'coconut
water'.
 As the fruit ripens, this water gets very much reduced.

28. Fruit parts

29. coconut-apple

30. varieties
Dwarf Varieties In India
 Chowghat Green Dwarf,
 Chowghat Orange Dwarf,
 Gangabondam
 Gudanjali Dwarf.
 Malayan dawaf orange
 Malayan dawaf green
 Malayan dawaf yellow

31. Tall Varieties In India
 West Coast Tall,
 Laccadive Ordinary,
 East Coast Tall
 Andaman Ordinary
 Kappadam
 Gangabhavani
 Verri kobbari
 Rangoon kobbari

32. Name Area for which recommended Nut yield Copra (g/nut) Oil content (%)
Selections
Chandrakalpa Kerala, Karnataka, TN 97 195 70
Kerachandra AP, Maharashtra, 110 198 66
Chowghat Orange
Dwarf
All coconut growing regions Tender nut variety
Kalpa Pratibha West Coast region and peninsular
India
91 256 67
Kalpa Dhenu West Coast region and Andaman
and Nicobar Islands
86 242 65.5
Kalpa Mitra West Coast region and West
Bengal
80 241 66.5
Kalparaksha West Coast region and root (wilt)
disease tracts of Kerala
65 215 65.5
Kalpasree Root (wilt) prevalent tracts of
Kerala and adjoining states.
90 96.3 66.5
Hybrids
Chandra Sankara Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu 110 208 68
Kera Sankara Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
AP
106 198 68
Chandra Laksha Kerala, Karnataka 109 195 69
Kalpa Samridhi West coast of India 117 220 67.5
Kalpa Sankara Root (wilt) prevalent tracts of
Kerala and adjoining states.
84 170 67.5
Coconut Varities

33. Distinguish between tall & dwarf
Trait Tall Dwarf
Height increment per year >50 m <50 m
Years to start of reproductive
maturity
Late (5 to 7years) Early (3 to 4years)
Expected life span >50 years <50 years
Nut size (Whole) Very small – large Very small - medium
Phenotypic variability
a) Within cultivar High Low
b) Between cultivar High High
Root distribution More dense Less dense & few
Reaction to adverse conditions Generally less & sensitive Sensitive to hypersensitive
Cultural requirement Average High input required
Leaf & bunch attachment Very strong Fragile
Geographic distribution More widely distributed &
commercial
Less widely & non –
commercial
Stem circumference Enlarged with a bulbous base Thin & either with a
cylindrical or tapering base
Mode of pollination Highly crossed Highly selfed
Pigmentation of nuts & petiole
of leaves
Mixture of green & brown yellow
rarely occur
Either pure green, brown,
yellow & red

34. Hybrids
Hybrid Parentage Released by
Chandra Sankara CODXWCT CPCRI
Chandra Laksha LOXCOD CPCRI
Kera sankra WCTXCOD CPCRI
Laksha Ganga LOXGB KAU
Ananda Ganga AOXGB KAU
Kera Ganga WCTXGB KAU
VHC-2 ECTXMYD TNAU

35. Hybrid Variety
West Coast Tall
(Tall Variety) (Dwarf variety)

36. Soil
 Coconut can be grown on variety of
soils.
 Well drained deep sandy loam,
alluvial and red loamy soils are ideal
for its cultivation
 Heavy clay soils and waterlogged
areas should be avoided
 pH of soil should be 5.5-6.5

37. Climate
 Coconut is a tropical crop and it grow
wel in warm humid areas with
alltitude of 1000m above the sea
level
 It can be successfully grown in area
receiving rain fall of 750mm/annum.
 Temperature should be 270C and
200hr of sunshins /year is ideal.

38. Propagation
 Coconut is propagated through seed
nuts.
 Coconut is cross pollinated one, it
does not breed true to type, by
means of a series of selection made
at different stages, it is possible to
eliminate poor quality seedlings.

39. The selection procedure
Selection of seed garden :
 Seed garden should have high
yielding record.
 Seed garden should contain a high
proportion of heavy bearers.
 The garden free from pest diseases.
 Palm located near cattle shed and
compost pits should be avoided

40. Selection of mother palms
 Selection made based on following character :
 Yield of palm :annul yield not <80 nuts, copra content should
not <150g.
 Age of palm: should at lest 50 year, however, very old palm
>60year avoided.
 Nature and disposition of leaf: should have 30 fully opened
leaves
 Nature, number and sequence of production of
inflorescence : every leaf axil should have one inflorescence with
large numbers of spikes and 1-2 female flower.
 Size and shape of nuts: medium sized nut with round and
oblong shape are preferred.

41. Collection and storage of seed nuts
 Thin husked medium sized nut of 11-
12 months old are collected during
Oct – Mar
 Seed nut should have high kernel
content, which positively related to
vigour and early germination of
seedlings
 Seed nut should be stored in shade
for a minimum period of 60days
before sowing

42. Nursery techniques
 Nursery site should be in partial
shade.
 Preferably sandy soil is preferred
 Open a trenches of about 0.5m
depth and 0.3-0.4 m width.
 Apply aldrin 10% dust at rate of
12g/m2 to prevent termite
 The nuts are planted in nursery after
on set of monsoon during May-
June.

43. L.S of germinated seedling

44. Germinating nuts Nursery

45. Spacing and position seed nuts
 Seed nut s are planted at spacing of
30x30.
 They are planted in beds in trenches
25-30cm deep.
 The nuts may planted vertically with
stalk end up.
 Irrigate nursery regularly .
 Apply BM and COC to avoid the
fungal infection.

46. Selection of seedlings
Seedlings are selected based on following
characters :
 Early germination: should germinated within 5
months
 Number of leaves: should have minimum 5 leaves
 Girth of collar: should be 10 cm
 Splitting of leaflets
 Stunted and lanky seedling avoided

47. seedlings
Good seedling
Bent seedling

48. Planting
 Plant seedlings in pits at a spacing of 9m x
9m in tall varieties,
 7.5x7.5 spacing in dwarf varieties,
 Dig pits of size 1m3 and fill up with rich
topsoil to a level of 15 cm from the
bottom. Plant seedlings at the centre of
pit, cover with soil up to collar level and
press around.

50. Manuring and Fertilization
 FYM
 Before planting 1.25tonns/ha
 After planting 50kg/plant/year
 Leaf manure 50kg/plant/year

51. Age of
plant
N g/plant P g/plant K g/plant
1 YEAR 40 30 100
2 YEAR 85 55 200
3 YEAR 170 110 400
4 YEAR -
10YEAR
250 165 600
Fertilization

52. Intercropping and mixed cropping
 Intercrops: Potato, Tapioca, Chilies.
 Mixed cropping: banana and
pineapple can be grown at initial
stage crop growth
 When plantation achieved age of 12-
15 year, cocoa, pepper, clove,
nutmeg.

53. Multistoried cropping system in coconut
 Cultivating a mixture of crops with different
heights (multi-storey) and growth characteristics
which together optimise the use of soil, moisture
and space.
Model Multistoried cropping

54. Under the multi-storey cropping system, perennial crops
(coconut, banana, coffee, papaya, pineapple)
annuals/biennials (root crops: taro, yam, sweet potato etc) are
interplanted to maximize productivity and income.
coconuts are usually planted first. When they reach a height of
4.5 meters (after 3-4 years), bananas, coffee and/or papaya are
planted. After sufficient space has developed at ground level in
about three to four years, root crops are planted.
 At full establishment, the system develops different layers:
coconut (tallest) followed by banana, coffee, papaya (middle),
root crops and pineapple (lowest).
The multi-storey system is intended to make the best use of
resources (soil, moisture and space) for increased farm income.
It is also very effective against soil erosion.

55. Multi-storied system Income (US$ per hectare)
Coconut+ Banana+ Taro 420+1530+250 =
2220
Coconut+ Banana+ Ginger 420+1530+2040 =
3990
Coconut+ Banana+ Pineapple 420+1530+1260 =
3210
Coconut+ Banana 420+1990 =
2410
Monocrop system (Coconut) 540 =
540
Coconut+ Pasture 540+105 =
645
Table 1. Income from multi-storied cropping system in coconut orchard

56. Pineapple+ Banana+ Coconut Pineapple+ Coconut+pepper

57. Drip Irrigation
Crops
Drip irrigation
(litres/tree/d
ay)
Surface irrigation
(litres/tree/day)
Coconut 75-100 200-300
Grapes 25-45 90-100
Mango 30-50 90-150
Guava 20-30 70-100
Sapota 20-30 70-100
Pomegranate 20-40 60-130
Banana 12-16 30-40
Citrus 10-20 25-65
Papaya 5-8 18-26
Vegetables 1-2 4-8

58. Pests

59. Rhinoceros Beetle
 Scientific name: Oryctes rhinoceros
Symptoms of damage
 Beetle bores into central shoots, spathes and
petioles, chews the tissues, ingests the juice and
throws out dry fibrous part.
 Attacked central shoot topples down and the tree
may be killed if the growing primordium is
destroyed.
 Leaves of partly damaged crowns when grow show
characteristic 'V' shaped cuttings on the leaflet.

60. Adult feeding on leaf V shape mark on leaf
Control
Treat the manure pits with carbaryl dust, four times a year in January,
April, July and October.
Hook out beetles from crowns during July-September and fill the
holes with lindane dust and sand ( 1: 1) mixture.
Poison bait made out of rotting mustard, castor cake, toddy or dung
and lindane attracts the beetles.

61. Red Palm Weevil
 Scientific name: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus F.
 Symptomatology :
 It is very difficult to detect the presence of the
pest infestation in the earlier stages of attack.
 The grub begins its life inside the palm and
normally never comes outside.
 Therefore neither the grub nor the damage
caused by it can be readily seen.
 Sometimes, a few small holes Occur in the crown
or the soft stem from which pieces of chewed
fibers protrude and a brownish viscous liquid
oozes out.

62. The four stages
Egg Larva Pupa Adult Life Cycle

63. Red Palm Weevil
Cocoon at the leaf base

64. The brownish viscous liquid oozed out from palm

65. contorl
 Drenching of carbaryl 4gm/liter of water
Painting raw surfaces of palm with a mixture
of 10 ml tar and 10 gm lindane dust prevents
egg laying
Pheromone Traps

66. Scales
 Scientific name :Aspidiotus destructor
Symptoms of damage:
 Female lays eggs under its shield like scale.
 Crawlers move out to healthy leaflets, cluster in
large numbers on the underside of leaflets feeding
on cell sap.
 Leaflets turn yellowish and in severe cases wither
and dry.
 In severe infestation scales may also congregate on
green nuts and suck sap reducing the quality

67. Scale insect
Control:
Normally their population
is kept under check by the
natural enemies.
Spray Rogar
@1.75ml/liter

68. Mites
 Scientific name:Eriophyes guerreronis
Symptoms of damage:
 Colonies of mites live under inner bracts
of perianth and suck sap from tender
tissues.
 Damage initially appears as a triangular
patch at the level of perianth which turns
brown later.

69. •Mites damage
Sprays of
dicofol,@1.5ml/liter twice
at weekly intervals are
recommended on buttons
and developing nuts on
bunches.
Spraying of neem
formulation (0.15% or
1500 ppm) @ 5 ml/litre of
water also controls the
pest.
control

70. Black-Headed Caterpillar
 Scientific name:Opisina arenosella
Symptoms of damage
o Larva scrapes and feeds on the surface tissues of
the lower surface of the leaflet .
o It binds two halves of leaflets together,
constructs a gallery of silk and frass and lives
under it.
o Affected palm
o Attacked leaflets turn brown and dry up.
o Attacks only lower leaves and from a distance
these appear as if burnt.

71. Control:
 Root administration of monocrotophos is
most practical and widely adopted method.
 A dark brown active, pencil- thick root is
taken out, and its end cut slantly,
immersed into a container (polythene bag)
with 10 ml monocrotophos and 10 ml
water.

72. Diseases

73. Stem bleeding
 Symptoms
 Exudation of a rusty brown liquid
from cracks of trunks
Control
Apply 1%
Boreaux paste

74. Control
 Chisel affected tissue and dress the wound
with 5% Calixin (5ml in 100ml water).
Apply coal tar after 2 days. Burn off
chiselled pieces.
 Avoid any mechanical injury to the stem.
 To avoid spread of disease on to upper
portion of trunk, root feeding with 5%
calixin may be adopted 3 times a year -
April-May, Spetember-October and
January-February.

75. Root wilt Disease
 Symptoms:
 Yellowing and wilting of inner leaves
 Leaf become flaccid, necrotic.

76. Root wilt Disease
Control
1% BM .
Root feeding of 2g of
Aureofungin sol +1g
CuSO4 in 100ml of
water

77. Bud Rot
 The earlier symptom is the yellowing of one or
two younger leaves. Black spots appear on
spindle leaves.
 In the later stages the spindle withers and drops
down.
 The tender leaf base and soft tissues of the crown
rot into a slimy mass of decayed material
emitting foul smell.

78. Bud Rot
•Spray with 1% Bordeaux mixture during
May and September if the disease occur
frequently.

79. Harvesting of Coconut
 Coconut usually mature 12-13
month after opening of
inflorescence.
 In India harvesting done twice
a year & Sri Lanka 6 times a
year
 Harvesting is done 45 day
interval during summer & 60
days interval during rainy
season in Kerala.
 Harvesting methods
 India - By climbing tree
 Sri Lanka– From ground knife
attached long bamboo pole
 Malaysia& Thailand – Trained
monkeys are used

81. Coconut Products
 Food products
 Wet meat
 Desiccated coconut
 Edible copra
 Coconut water
 Toddy

82. Coconut Products:
 Tender Coconut Water
 Copra
 Coconut Oil
 Raw Kernel
 Coconut Cake
 Coconut Toddy
 Coconut Shell based Products
 Coconut Wood based Products
 Coconut Leaves
 Coir Pith

83. Coconut water
 coconut water is the tender liquid inside the young
coconuts.
 Serves as the suspension for the endosperm of the
coconut during their nuclear phase of development
 Endosperm mature into their cellular phase and
deposit into the rind of the coconut meat.
 Coconut water is available in fresh canned, or
bottled.
 Served as fresh chilled or packaged in many places.
 Often sold by many street venders.
 Also found in ordinary cans, tetra packs, plastic
bottles
 Bottled coconut water has a shelf life of 24 months.

84. In recent years, it has been marketed as a natural
energy or sports drink due to its high potassium and
mineral content.
Low levels of fat, carbohydrates and calories.
Unless the coconut has been damaged it is likely
sterrile
In Bhamian cuisine coconut water may be drunk by
itself or blended with condensed milk and gin to make a
drink known as ‘Gully wash’ or ‘sky juice’.
In recent years, it has been marketed as a natural
energy or sports drink due to its high potassium and
mineral content.

85.  Medical use :
 It is said that coconut water is identical to
human plasma and can be injected directly into
human blood stream.The story has its origin from
World War II where british and Japanese patients
were given coconut water intraveinously because
saline solution was in short supply. but doctors
today say that they would not be Inclined to set up
a coconut water for dehydrated patients. It could
be possibly cause elevated calcium and potassium,
which could be dangerous

86. Classification of coconut
Lunger (1920)
Classified into 7 varieties
1) Vridis –green nut
2) Rubescence –brown nut
3) Macrocarpa – very big nut
4) Rutila – very thick husk and small endosperm
5) Euberna – ornamental/albino
6) Rubilla – green dwarf and early bearing
7) Regia – yellow /red/orange dwarf

87. John and Narayana(1949)
Clssified into 5 varieties
1)Spicata –
tall unbranched inflorescence maleflowers
useually absent,spikelets 1-2
2) Typica –
Tall and monoecious
3) Androgens –
Male palms
4) – Jawanica –
dwarf or semi tall bearing in 4 yrs.
5) Nana –Dwarf palms bering in 3 yrs.

88. Freemond et.al(1966)
Classified into 2
1) Autogamic – (self pollinated)
All dwarfs
2) Allogamic – (cross pollinated)
all tall varieties
BASED ON STATURE
1) Tall varieties
2) Dwarf varieties