Nair, P.K.R.2014-07-162014-07-162007-02In: Proceedings, International Conference on Cocoa and Coconuts, Kuala Lumpur, 21-24 Jun., 1978 p-606-620http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/4140The effects of growing different species of crops in close proximity with coconuts are examined based on the experience and limited experimental results on scientific crop combinations with coconuts in India. Plant community interactions in intensive crop combinations with perennials are of greater magnitude and different nature than in the case of sole crops. Interactions between neighbouring plants with respect to growth factors are often described as forms of competition - for the growth factors absorbed through both leaves (light and CO2) and roots (water, nutrients and oxygen). Apart from competition, interaction between components of the multispecies crop combinations may also result in sharing of growth factors and cause changes in the physical and biological variables in the ecosystem. Favourable ecoclimate, increased activity of beneficial rhizosphere micro-organisms and better efficiency in the use of native and applied nutrients are manifestations of such complementary interactions. Other interaction effects involving annidation, allelopathy, plant parasites, land equivalent ratio and economic complementarity are also considered. Present knowledge on plant community interactions in perennials is too meagre; research has to be intensified on various aspects because research information available on the crop management of sole crop systems may not be applicable to the management of crop combinations. A few aspects which deserve immediate attention are indicated. The factors to be considered in such studies are so many that the conventional experimental techniques may be of only limited applicability.enArticle