Tamil Nadu Experts’ Advice on Rejuvenating Coconut Trees

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in India has come out with a package to rejuvenate the surviving coconut trees in districts affected by Cyclone Gaja, reports The Hindu. The package was presented by a team of experts headed by M. Jawaharlal, Dean, Horticulture College, Coimbatore, at a meeting organised by Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi in Thanjavur.  The experts said, seedlings between one and three years old in slanting position could be restored to the original position with the support of a scaffold. “Irrigation, application of organic manures and fertilisers in recommended doses, drainage, weeding, mulching and other protection measures should be followed for rejuvenation,” they said.
    Pointing out that the cyclone had affected the physiological and metabolic activities of the trees, affecting normal growth and yield, the TNAU experts said palms that were healthy and with minimum damage could be rejuvenated by TNAU coconut tonic. The tonic measuring 200 ml per tree should be given once in six months for two years. The experts recommended planting of green manure crops such as Sunhemp, Calapagonium or Daincha at the time of plowing to enrich the soil. The trees with bleeding patches may be applied with Copper Oxychloride to prevent fungal infection. To prevent stem bleeding (oozing of browning fluid from trunk), 2 ml hexagonozole in 100 ml water should be applied in roots in three months interval.