Lessons

Drip irrigation and fertigation

Drip irrigation and giving fertilizer through drip (fertigation), crop by crop.

The advice below comes from each crop's guide — every item shows its source, region and date. It is pending expert review; ask your local officer whether it suits your area.

Crops with advice (25)

Tap a crop to open its advice.

  • Mango1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation

      Water regularly until the plants are established. For cultivation under irrigated conditions, adopt the drip system of irrigation.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Mango – Irrigation
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Onion1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Raising seedlings

      Seed rate: 7.5 kg/ha (2.5 kg/ha is given for the fertigation system). Before sowing, apply 10 kg FYM and 1 kg VAM per m² to the beds. On raised beds 30 cm high, mix the small seeds with fine sand and sow in lines 10 cm apart, cover with a thin layer of sand and then paddy straw, and water with a rose can twice a day.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Big onion – Seed rate & sowing; quality seedling production, pp. 151–152
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Cabbage2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Field and spacing

      Bring the soil to a fine tilth. Plains: ridges and furrows 45 cm apart, plants at 45 x 30 cm. Hills: pits at 40 x 40 cm. For hybrids with drip, a paired-row system of 60 x 45 x 45 cm on raised beds is given. Avoid deep hoeing — cabbage roots feed near the surface.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cabbage – Preparation of field; spacing, p. 120
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04

    • Irrigation and fertilizer

      Keep the soil continuously moist. Plains: basal FYM 20 t/ha, N 50, P 125 and K 25 kg/ha with 2 kg Azospirillum; top-dress 50 kg N one month after planting and earth up. Hills: FYM 30 t/ha and NPK 90:90:90 kg/ha basal, then 45:45:45 kg/ha at 30–45 days. Fertigation for F1 hybrids: 200:125:150 kg NPK/ha, applied every three days.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cabbage – Irrigation; application of fertilizers, p. 120
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Cucumber2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and irrigation

      Plough four times and form long channels 1.5 m apart. Sow 2.5 kg/ha of seed treated with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg (a fungicide option is also listed) on one side of the channel, 0.6 m between hills; thin to 2 plants per hill. Irrigate before sowing, then weekly. With drip, sow 60 cm apart along the lateral on 120 cm raised beds, and keep polybag seedlings for gap filling.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cucumber – Preparation of field; season and sowing; irrigation, p. 98
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04

    • Fertilizer

      Apply FYM 40 t/ha as basal and 35 kg N/ha 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake per hectare. Fertigation for F1 hybrids: 150:75:75 kg NPK/ha in split doses, with 75% of the phosphorus as basal. Hoe and weed two or three times.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cucumber – Application of fertilizers; fertigation, p. 98
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Bottle gourd2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and irrigation

      Seed rate: varieties 2 kg/ha, hybrid 1 kg/ha. Treat seed with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg (a fungicide option is also listed). Dig 30 x 30 x 30 cm pits at 2.5 x 2 m; sow 3 seeds per pit and thin to 2 after 15 days. Irrigate before sowing, then weekly. With drip, 15-day-old seedlings from protrays or polybags are planted on 120 cm raised beds.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Bottle gourd – Season and sowing; seed rate; preparation of field; irrigation, p. 89
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04

    • Fertilizer

      Per pit: 10 kg FYM and 100 g of 6:12:12 NPK mixture as basal, then 10 g N per pit 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake per hectare. Fertigation for hybrids: 200:100:100 kg NPK/ha in split doses through the crop.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Bottle gourd – Application of fertilizers; fertigation, pp. 89–90
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Bitter gourd1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Fertilizer

      Per pit: 10 kg FYM and 100 g of 6:12:12 NPK mixture as basal, then 10 g N per pit 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake per hectare. Fertigation for hybrids: 200:100:100 kg NPK/ha in split doses through the crop.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Bitter gourd – Application of fertilizers; fertigation, p. 92
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Ridge gourd2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and irrigation

      Seed rate: varieties 2 kg/ha, hybrids 1 kg/ha. Treat seed with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg. Dig 30 x 30 x 30 cm pits at 2.5 x 2 m and form basins; sow 3 seeds per pit and thin to 2 after 15 days. Irrigate before sowing, then weekly. For hybrids with drip, the source gives 45 cm pits at 1.5 m between rows and 2 m between plants; seedlings raised in polybags for 15 days can also be planted.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Ribbed gourd – Seed rate; preparation of field; irrigation; sowing, pp. 86–87
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04

    • Fertilizer

      Per pit: 10 kg FYM and 100 g of 6:12:12 NPK mixture as basal, then 10 g N per pit 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake per hectare. Fertigation for hybrids: 250:100:100 kg NPK/ha in split doses through the crop.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Ribbed gourd – Application of fertilizers; fertigation, pp. 86–87
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Snake gourd2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and irrigation

      Seed rate: 1.5 kg/ha. Dig 30 x 30 x 30 cm pits at 2.5 x 2 m and form basins. Treat seed with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg (a fungicide option is also listed). Sow 3 seeds per pit; thin to 2 after 15 days. Irrigate the basins before sowing, then once a week. With drip, 12-day-old protray seedlings are planted 60 cm apart on 120 cm raised beds.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Snake gourd – Season and sowing; seed rate; preparation of field; irrigation, p. 84
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04

    • Fertilizer

      Per pit: 10 kg FYM and 100 g of 6:12:12 NPK mixture as basal, then 10 g N per pit 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake per hectare. With fertigation: 75:100:100 kg NPK/ha in split doses, with 75% of the phosphorus as superphosphate at planting.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Snake gourd – Application of fertilizers; fertigation, pp. 84–85
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Pumpkin1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Fertilizer

      Per pit: 10 kg FYM and 100 g of 6:12:12 NPK mixture as basal, then 10 g N per pit 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake per hectare. With fertigation: 60:30:30 kg NPK/ha in split doses, with 75% of the phosphorus as superphosphate at planting.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Pumpkin – Application of fertilizers; fertigation, pp. 82–83
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Drumstick1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and spacing

      Seed rate: 500 g/ha. Dig 45 cm pits 2.5 m apart each way and fill with topsoil mixed with 15 kg compost or FYM. Sow one seed per pit 2.5–3 cm deep, or raise seedlings in polybags and transplant at 35–40 days. High-density options in the source: PKM 1 at 1.5 x 1.0 m with two plants per hill and drip fertigation; PKM 2 at 1.2 x 1.2 m.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Annual moringa – Seed rate; preparatory cultivation; high density planting, p. 115
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Capsicum2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Nursery and transplanting

      Seed rate: varieties 1.25 kg/ha, hybrids 200 g/ha; nursery area about 3 cents per hectare. In a protected nursery (50% shade net, insect-proof side net), sow one seed per cell in 98-cell protrays with cocopeat mixed with neem cake, Azospirillum and phosphobacteria. Transplant 40–45-day-old seedlings 30 cm apart on ridges 45 or 60 cm apart; with drip, use a 90 x 60 x 60 cm paired-row system on 120 cm raised beds. Fill gaps on the 7th day. (A chemical seed treatment is also listed — ask your officer.)

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Capsicum – Seed rate; nursery; protected nursery; preparation of field, pp. 78–79
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05

    • Irrigation, fertilizer and weeding

      Irrigate every 7–10 days. FYM 25 t/ha and NPK 40:60:30 kg/ha as basal, then 40 kg N/ha on each of days 30, 60 and 90. Fertigation for F1 hybrids: 250:150:150 kg/ha. Hoe, weed and earth up once on the 30th day.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Capsicum – Irrigation; application of fertilizers; weed control, pp. 79–80
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Turmeric1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Seed rhizomes, field and spacing

      Plant mother or finger rhizomes; seed rate of finger rhizomes: 2,000 kg/ha. Plough the main field well and form ridges and furrows 45 cm apart (or 120 cm raised beds for drip). Dibble rhizomes of 25–30 g at 4 cm depth, at 45 x 15 cm spacing.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Turmeric – Propagation; field preparation; spacing, pp. 171–172
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Banana2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation

      Irrigate immediately after planting and give a life irrigation after 4 days. Then irrigate once a week in garden lands and once in 10–15 days in wetlands, and irrigate copiously after every manuring. With drip: 15 litres per plant per day up to the 4th month, 20 litres from the 5th month to shooting, and 25 litres from shooting until 15 days before harvest.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Banana – Irrigation, p. 8
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04

    • Nematodes, Panama wilt and Sigatoka: non-chemical measures

      Nematodes: sow sunnhemp on the 45th day and incorporate it a month later; apply pressmud 15 t/ha and neem cake 1.5 t/ha one month after planting; intercrop marigold at 4:1. Pseudomonas fluorescens liquid formulation at 4 l/ha through drip at the 2nd, 4th and 6th month manages Panama wilt and nematodes. Panama wilt: uproot and destroy badly affected plants and apply 1–2 kg lime in the pit. Sigatoka leaf spot: remove affected leaves and burn them.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Banana – Nematode; Panama disease; Sigatoka, pp. 11–12
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Grapes1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation and nutrition

      Irrigate right after planting, on the 3rd day, then weekly. Stop irrigation 15 days before pruning and 15 days before harvest. The source gives a drip schedule by growth stage, with most water during shoot growth and ripening. Nutrient needs vary with variety, vine age, soil and water — the source advises fertilizing based on soil, water and petiole tests. Too much nitrogen gives leafy growth and fewer bunches; phosphorus helps flower-bud formation; potash helps cane maturity and bunch quality.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Grapes – Irrigation; manures and fertilizers, pp. 21–23
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Sweet orange1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation

      Irrigate copiously right after planting and then once in 10 days; keep irrigation regular during fruit development. Water must never touch the trunk, so use a double-ring or check-bund basin, and avoid stagnation near the plant. Drip irrigation saves water. Stopping irrigation 1–2 months before flowering is beneficial.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Sweet Orange – Irrigation, p. 17
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Acid lime1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation and fertilizer per plant

      Water young plants every 8–10 days after the monsoon and every 5–7 days in summer. Use a double-ring basin so water never touches the trunk; avoid stagnation; use drip for new plantings. Per plant — 1st year: FYM 10 kg, N 200 g, P 100 g, K 100 g; increase every year by FYM 5 kg, N 100 g, P 25 g, K 40 g; from the 6th year: FYM 30 kg, N 600 g, P 200 g, K 300 g. Apply N in March and October, and FYM, P and K in October; Pseudomonas 20 g and VAM 200 g per plant can be added with the FYM.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Acid Lime – Irrigation; manures and fertilizers per plant, p. 14
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Watermelon2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and irrigation

      Form long channels 2.5 m apart. Sow 3.5 kg/ha of seed treated with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg (a fungicide option is also listed) on one side of the channel, 0.9 m between hills; thin to 2 per hill after 15 days. Irrigate before sowing, then weekly. Seedlings can also be raised in polybags or protrays and transplanted at 12 days; with drip, plant 60 cm apart on 1.2 m raised beds.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Watermelon – Season and sowing; preparation of field; irrigation; nursery, p. 101
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05

    • Fertilizer and weeding

      Basal: FYM 20 t/ha with P 55 and K 55 kg/ha; N 55 kg/ha 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake. Fertigation: 200:100:100 kg NPK/ha. Hoe and weed three times. (An Ethrel growth-regulator spray is also listed.)

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Watermelon – Application of fertilizers; fertigation; after cultivation, pp. 101–102
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Muskmelon2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Sowing and irrigation

      Form long channels 2.5 m apart. Sow 3 kg/ha of seed treated with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg (a fungicide option is also listed) on one side of the channel, 0.6 m between hills; thin to 2 per hill after 15 days. Irrigate before sowing, then weekly. With drip: 12-day-old protray seedlings at 1.5 m x 30 cm on 120 cm raised beds.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Muskmelon – Season of sowing; preparation of field; irrigation; sowing, pp. 103–104
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05

    • Fertilizer and weeding

      Basal: FYM 20 t/ha and NPK 40:60:30 kg/ha; N 40 kg/ha 30 days after sowing. Before the last ploughing, apply Azospirillum and phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha each and Pseudomonas 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM and 100 kg neem cake. Fertigation: 200:100:100 kg NPK/ha. Hoe and weed three times.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Muskmelon – Application of fertilizers; fertigation; after cultivation, pp. 103–104
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Amla1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation and manuring

      Irrigate young plants until they establish. No irrigation is needed in the rainy and winter seasons. Drip irrigation saves 40–45% of water. Apply manures immediately after pruning.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Amla – Irrigation; manures, p. 41
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-04
  • Jasmine1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Yield given in the source

      Yield given in the source: 8–9 t/ha of flowers (concrete recovery 0.14–0.19%), and 12 t/ha under the precision production system (drip, fertigation, 1.2 x 1.0 m spacing). Actual yields depend on variety, care and local conditions.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Malligai – Yield; precision production technology, p. 251
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Coconut2 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation

      In the first year, irrigate on alternate days; from the second year until bearing, twice a week as needed. From the 5th year, the source gives a schedule by region and month. For example, in the eastern region for best yield: drip 80 litres/palm/day in March–September and 50 litres/day in October–February, with lower amounts for water scarcity. For drip, open four 30 cm pits 1 m from the trunk, place the dripper inside a slanting 40 cm PVC pipe so water drips 30 cm below the surface, and fill the pits with coir pith.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coconut – Water management, p. 213
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05

    • Manures and fertilizers per palm

      From the 5th year, per palm per year: 50 kg FYM, compost or green manure; urea 1.3 kg (560 g N), superphosphate 2.0 kg (320 g P2O5) and muriate of potash 2.0 kg (1200 g K2O), in two equal splits in June–July and December–January. Apply in a circular basin 1.8 m from the base, mix in and irrigate; the soil must be moist at manuring. In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, smaller fractions of this dose are used (see the source for the exact fractions). Fertigation at monthly intervals with 75% of this dose is also given.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coconut – Manuring, p. 214
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Arecanut1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation and fertilizer

      Irrigate weekly in November–February and every 4 days in March–May — about 175 litres per palm per day by flooding, or 16–20 litres by drip. Bearing palms (5 years and above): 10–15 kg FYM or green leaf and NPK 100:40:140 g per palm per year; half this dose for younger palms. Apply in January–February in a basin of 0.75–1 m radius, 20–30 cm deep.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Arecanut – Irrigation; manuring, p. 223
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Oil palm1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation and fertilizer

      Palms of 3 years and older need at least 150–200 litres of water a day, up to 300 litres in hot summers in older plantations; with drip, four drippers of 8 litres/hour for 5 hours give about 160 litres a day. Widen weed-free basins each year (1 m, 2 m, then 3 m radius) without piling soil at the collar. Five-year-old palms: 50 kg compost, FYM or green leaves. N:P:K:MgSO4 per palm per year — 400:200:400:125 g in year 1, 800:400:800:250 g in year 2, and 1200:600:1200:500 g from year 3, in two splits (July–August and December–January).

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Oil Palm – Irrigation management; basin management; manuring, pp. 225–226
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Tea1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Irrigation and fertilizer

      Young tea can be given sub-soil irrigation in summer. Start manuring 2 months after planting. Phosphorus: 80–100 kg/ha as rock phosphate placed 15–25 cm deep once a year until the first pruning, then every two years. N and K per hectare per year: 180 and 270 kg in year 1, 240 and 360 kg in year 2, 300 and 450 kg in year 3, and 300 and 300 kg from year 4, applied before the monsoon around the drip circle, away from the collar.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Tea – Irrigation; manuring, p. 193
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05
  • Mulberry (sericulture)1 recommendations
    Full guide for this crop →

    • Fertilizer and irrigation

      Irrigated: FYM 20 t/ha/year and NPK 300:120:120 kg/ha/year in five splits after each pruning (375:140:140 for V1). Azospirillum 4 kg/ha after each pruning can replace 25% of the nitrogen; phosphate-solubilising bacteria 10 kg/ha/year. Short crops such as greens, green gram, black gram, coriander, cowpea, horse gram and sunnhemp can be grown after each pruning. Irrigate every 7–8 days; drip saves about 40% water. Rainfed: FYM 20 t/ha/year and NPK 100:50:50 kg/ha/year.

      Pending expert review
      Source
      Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Sericulture – Mulberry cultivation: nutrient management; water management, p. 364
      Region
      Tamil Nadu
      Last updated
      2026-11-05