Long Term Effects of Manure and Fertiliser on Plantation Crops in Humid Coastal Soils
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1989
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Available information on the effect of long term application of manures and fertilisers on the productivity of plantation crops like coconut, coffee, tea and rubber grown in the coastal humid soils of South India and the influence of manuring on soU characteristics and leaf nutrient contents are reviewed in this paper/ The crops respond very well to fertiliser application, but the importance of a particular nutrient element varies from crop to crop. Fertiliser application, in general enhanced soil available P and K contq was seldom affected. Plantation crops are grown in an area of about 3.3 million ha in India. They occupy only 2% of the total cultivated area, but contribute 80% of the export earnings from agricultural commodities. The major area of plantation crops is in the three southern states of Kamataka, KeraLi and Tamil Nadu. Among the plantation crops tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom are grown mostly on commercial scale adopting scientific methods of production, whereas coconut, arecanut and pepper are grown mostly in homesteads, often without adopting the recommended package of practices. Cashew is grown under neglected conditions in poor soils, which are not suitable for other arops. Fertiliser requirements and use for plantation crops are influenced by a number of factors (16). They are: ,1. Once planted, the crops remain productive for periods ranging j . from 20 to more than 80 years. [2. Roots are coarse, less efficient i and less , evenly distributed | lihrough the top soil, but make I better use of water and nutrients I in the subsoil. |3. They are grown on soils having serious chemical and physical constraints. As the fields are rarely ploughed, correction of f structural and chemical defeots and fertiliser distribution and incorporation are more difficult. j^PRM. 1989 its. but available N was seldom affected.
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Fertilizer News 1989 v-34 i-4 p-61-66