Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management and Plant Growth Regulator on Generation of Recyclable Biomass in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Based Cropping System

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the tropical coastal climate of Bhubaneswar by taking five crop combinations. Coconut was grown as main crop along with four component crops; banana, guava, pineapple and colocasia in a system. Different nutrient sources were used and crop specific growth regulators were applied at specific growth stages. The study was conducted to assess the effects of cropping system, nutrient and growth management practices on the generation of recyclable biomass from coconut as well as from the system as a whole. The biomass was calculated on the basis of dry weight of the plant products. The production of total recyclable biomass was found highest (18.5 t/ha) in the cropping system where the plants were managed with 50 % RDF+ 50 % N (organic recycling with vermicompost + in situ green manuring + vermicompost wash) with biofertilizers and plant growth regulators (PGRs). The sole cropping of coconut was found to have lowest production of the same.  The cropping system which is managed with fully organic sources of nutrient without any growth regulator was found least among all other systems except the sole cropping. The incorporation of intercrop has increseaed the amount of plant recyclable biomass to the extent of double than the coconut.