Mulch the 1.8 m basin with 100 coconut husks (convex side up), 15 dried coconut leaves, or coir pith up to 10 cm, especially in summer. To fight drought and button shedding, bury 100 husks (concave side up) or 25 kg coir pith per palm in a circular trench 30 cm wide and 60 cm deep at 1.5 m from the palm; the husk soaks up and holds monsoon rain.
Pending expert review
Source
Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coconut – Drought management; husk burial, p. 213
Region
Tamil Nadu
Last updated
2026-11-04
Intercrops by palm age
Below 7 years: annual crops such as groundnut, sesame, sunflower, tapioca, turmeric and banana, up to about 5 years after planting depending on canopy; avoid paddy and sugarcane. 7–20 years: only green manure and fodder crops (Napier grass, guinea grass). Above 20 years (when over 50% sunlight reaches inside): annuals such as groundnut, bhendi, turmeric, tapioca, sweet potato, elephant foot yam, ginger and pineapple, and banana. Give intercrops their own water, manure and fertilizer.
Pending expert review
Source
Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coconut – Inter cropping, pp. 214–215
Region
Tamil Nadu
Last updated
2026-11-04
Why young nuts (buttons) fall
The source lists causes: excess acidity or alkalinity, poor drainage, severe drought, genetic causes, lack of nutrients, lack of pollination, hormone deficiency, pests and diseases. Remedies given include: lime if soil pH is below 5.5 and gypsum if above 8.0; drainage channels along contours; proper manuring; borax 200 g per palm per year in two splits for boron deficiency (crown choke); and 15 beehives per hectare to improve pollination, which also gives honey income.
Pending expert review
Source
Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coconut – Button shedding, pp. 220–221
