Opportunity to Sustain Coconut Ecosystem Services through Recycling of the Palm Leaf Litter as Vermicompost: Indian Scenario (A Technology/ Research Note)
Keywords:
Coconut, ecosystem, socio-economic
Abstract
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is one of the important tropical oilseed crops grown in more than 80 countries. It is called the ‘Tree of Life’ because every part of the palm finds one or other use in everyday life. India is one of the leading coconut producing countries in the world and many millions of Indians are dependent on this crop for their livelihood.
Many research experiments are in progress to increase the yield of this crop as well as develop post-harvest products that will improve the socio-economic status of the farmers who cultivate it. The coconut cropping system, being unique, offers a wide range of ecosystem services which has not been studied in much detail. A recent paper from Philippines, however, throws some light on the importance of ecosystem services offered by coconut types.
In this article we attempt to enunciate the ecosystem services provided by coconut in Indian scenario and the possibility of sustaining it through the recycling of coconut leaf litter as vermicompost.
References
Avilan, L., Rivas, N. & Sucre, R. (1984) Study of the root system of the coconut (Cocos nucifera). Oleagineux 39, 13-23.
Bawalan, D.D., and Chapman, K.R. 2006. Virgin Coconut Oil production manual for micro- and village-scale processing. FAO publication. Bangkok. p 112.
Biddappa, C.C., Upadhyay, A.K., Hedge, M.R., Palaniswami, C., 1996. Organic matter recycling in plantation crops. J. Plantn. Crops. 24 (2): 71–85.
Bopaiah, B.M., and Shetty, H.S. 1991. Soil microflora and biological activities in the rhizospheres and root regions of coconut-based multistoreyed cropping and coconut monocropping systems. Soil Biol. Biochem., 23: 89-94
Chandrika M, Nair CPR (2001) A shrub to combat the rhinoceros beetle. Indian Coconut Journal, 31 (11): 2-3.
Daily, G.C., Alexander, S, Ehrlich, P.R., Goulder, L., Lubchenco, J., Matson, P.A., Mooney, H.A., Postel, S., Schneider, S.H., Tilman, D., Woodwell, G.M. 1997. Ecosystem services: benefits supplied to human societies by natural ecosystems. Issues in Ecology, 2: 2-16.
Davis. J.A. 1954. Mysteries of cross-pollination. Indian Cent. Coconut Com. Ernakulam, Bul. 7: 226-227.
Edwards C A and Arancon, NQ. 2004. The use of earthworms in the break down of organic wastes to produce vermicompost and animal feed protein. In ‘Earthworm Ecology’ 2nd Edition. P 345-380. CRC press, Boca Raton
Garcia, J.N.M., Aguilar, E. A., Sangalang, J.B., Alcantara, A.J., Habito, Rcf., Medina, C.P., And Malayang Iii, B.S. 2009. Valuation of Ecosystem Services of Coconut Types: Framework and Methodology Development. J. Environ. Sci. Mgmt. 12: 68-78
Gopal, Murali. 2008. Effect of coconut leaf vermicompost on soil microbial biomass, microbial diversity and soil fertility. Rothamsted International Fellowship 2007-08 Deputation Report submitted to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India. pp 46.
Gopal, Murali; Gupta, Alka & Thomas, G.V. 2005. Prospects of using Metarhizium anisopliae to check the breeding of insect pest, Oryctes rhinoceros L., in coconut leaf vermicomposting sites. Bioresource Technology 97 (15): 1801-1806
Gopal, Murali and Gupta, Alka. & Thomas, G.V. 2009a. Importance of producing nucleus earthworm culture for the dissemination and popularization of coconut leaf vermicomposting technology. Indian Coconut Journal. 51: 8-12
Gopal, Murali; Gupta, Alka; Sunil, E & Thomas G.V. 2009b. Amplification of plant beneficial microbial communities during the conversion of coconut leaf substrate to vermicompost by Eudrilus sp. Curr. Microbiol. 59: 15-20.
Gopal, Murali; Gupta, Alka; Palaniswami, C; Dhanapal, R and Thomas, George V. 2010. Coconut leaf vermiwash: a bio-liquid from coconut leaf vermicompost for improving the crop production capacities of soil. Current Science, 98:1202-1210
Holdren, J.P. and P.R. Ehrlich. 1974. Human population and the global environment. American Scientist 62: 282-292.
Magat, S. 2009. Productive and Sustainable Coconut Farming Ecosystems as Potential Carbon "Sinks" in Climate-Change Minimization (Review and Advisory Notes). Cocoinfo International 17 (1): 24-31.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington. 155pp.
Pocock, C. 2005. `Blue Lagoons and Coconut Palms': The Creation of a Tropical Idyll in Australia. The Australian Journal of Anthropology. 16: 335-349.
Prabhu, S.R., Subramanian, P., Bidappa, C.C., Bopaiah, B.M., 1998. Prospects of improving coconut productivity through vermiculture technologies. Indian Coconut J. 29: 79 – 84
Reddy, D.V.S., S.N. Kumar and S.R. Prabhu. 2001. Evaluation of alternative media to potting mixture for raising coconut seedlings in polybags. Journal of Plantation Crops 29:62-65.
Roupsard O., Bonnefond J.M., Luyssaert S., 2007. Productivity of a tropical plantation of coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L.), compared with tropical evergreen humid forests. Asiaflux Newsletter, 23 : 4-9.
Tan RR, Culaba AB and Purvis MRI, Carbon balance implications of coconut biodiesel utilization in the Philippine automotive transport sector. Biomass Bioenerg 26:579–585 (2004).
Thamban, C., Palaniswami and K. Muralidharan 2010. On farm recycling of biomass for sustainable farming: An analysis of farmers’
experiences in the production and use of vermicompost. Paper presented in the ‘National Conference on Organic farming in Horticultural Crops with Special reference to Plantation Crops’, held at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod during 15-18 October 2008
Thomas, G.V. 2005. Annual Report 2004-05. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute. pp.30-32
Thomas, G.V., Prabhu, S.R.,.Reeny, M.Z and Bopaiah, B.M. 1998 Evaluation of lignocellulosic biomass from coconut palm as substrate for cultivation of Pleurotus sajor caju(Fr.) Singer. World J. Microbiol & Biotechnol. 14 : 879-882
Thomas, G.V., Iyer, R and Bopaiah, B.M 1991. Beneficial microbes in the nutrition of coconut J. Plantation Crops 19: 127-138.
Vijayalakshmi, K. and Pandalai, K.M. 1962. Nutrient enrichment of coconut soils of the humid Kerala coast through monsoon precipitations. Nature, 4823: 112-113.
Bawalan, D.D., and Chapman, K.R. 2006. Virgin Coconut Oil production manual for micro- and village-scale processing. FAO publication. Bangkok. p 112.
Biddappa, C.C., Upadhyay, A.K., Hedge, M.R., Palaniswami, C., 1996. Organic matter recycling in plantation crops. J. Plantn. Crops. 24 (2): 71–85.
Bopaiah, B.M., and Shetty, H.S. 1991. Soil microflora and biological activities in the rhizospheres and root regions of coconut-based multistoreyed cropping and coconut monocropping systems. Soil Biol. Biochem., 23: 89-94
Chandrika M, Nair CPR (2001) A shrub to combat the rhinoceros beetle. Indian Coconut Journal, 31 (11): 2-3.
Daily, G.C., Alexander, S, Ehrlich, P.R., Goulder, L., Lubchenco, J., Matson, P.A., Mooney, H.A., Postel, S., Schneider, S.H., Tilman, D., Woodwell, G.M. 1997. Ecosystem services: benefits supplied to human societies by natural ecosystems. Issues in Ecology, 2: 2-16.
Davis. J.A. 1954. Mysteries of cross-pollination. Indian Cent. Coconut Com. Ernakulam, Bul. 7: 226-227.
Edwards C A and Arancon, NQ. 2004. The use of earthworms in the break down of organic wastes to produce vermicompost and animal feed protein. In ‘Earthworm Ecology’ 2nd Edition. P 345-380. CRC press, Boca Raton
Garcia, J.N.M., Aguilar, E. A., Sangalang, J.B., Alcantara, A.J., Habito, Rcf., Medina, C.P., And Malayang Iii, B.S. 2009. Valuation of Ecosystem Services of Coconut Types: Framework and Methodology Development. J. Environ. Sci. Mgmt. 12: 68-78
Gopal, Murali. 2008. Effect of coconut leaf vermicompost on soil microbial biomass, microbial diversity and soil fertility. Rothamsted International Fellowship 2007-08 Deputation Report submitted to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India. pp 46.
Gopal, Murali; Gupta, Alka & Thomas, G.V. 2005. Prospects of using Metarhizium anisopliae to check the breeding of insect pest, Oryctes rhinoceros L., in coconut leaf vermicomposting sites. Bioresource Technology 97 (15): 1801-1806
Gopal, Murali and Gupta, Alka. & Thomas, G.V. 2009a. Importance of producing nucleus earthworm culture for the dissemination and popularization of coconut leaf vermicomposting technology. Indian Coconut Journal. 51: 8-12
Gopal, Murali; Gupta, Alka; Sunil, E & Thomas G.V. 2009b. Amplification of plant beneficial microbial communities during the conversion of coconut leaf substrate to vermicompost by Eudrilus sp. Curr. Microbiol. 59: 15-20.
Gopal, Murali; Gupta, Alka; Palaniswami, C; Dhanapal, R and Thomas, George V. 2010. Coconut leaf vermiwash: a bio-liquid from coconut leaf vermicompost for improving the crop production capacities of soil. Current Science, 98:1202-1210
Holdren, J.P. and P.R. Ehrlich. 1974. Human population and the global environment. American Scientist 62: 282-292.
Magat, S. 2009. Productive and Sustainable Coconut Farming Ecosystems as Potential Carbon "Sinks" in Climate-Change Minimization (Review and Advisory Notes). Cocoinfo International 17 (1): 24-31.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington. 155pp.
Pocock, C. 2005. `Blue Lagoons and Coconut Palms': The Creation of a Tropical Idyll in Australia. The Australian Journal of Anthropology. 16: 335-349.
Prabhu, S.R., Subramanian, P., Bidappa, C.C., Bopaiah, B.M., 1998. Prospects of improving coconut productivity through vermiculture technologies. Indian Coconut J. 29: 79 – 84
Reddy, D.V.S., S.N. Kumar and S.R. Prabhu. 2001. Evaluation of alternative media to potting mixture for raising coconut seedlings in polybags. Journal of Plantation Crops 29:62-65.
Roupsard O., Bonnefond J.M., Luyssaert S., 2007. Productivity of a tropical plantation of coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L.), compared with tropical evergreen humid forests. Asiaflux Newsletter, 23 : 4-9.
Tan RR, Culaba AB and Purvis MRI, Carbon balance implications of coconut biodiesel utilization in the Philippine automotive transport sector. Biomass Bioenerg 26:579–585 (2004).
Thamban, C., Palaniswami and K. Muralidharan 2010. On farm recycling of biomass for sustainable farming: An analysis of farmers’
experiences in the production and use of vermicompost. Paper presented in the ‘National Conference on Organic farming in Horticultural Crops with Special reference to Plantation Crops’, held at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod during 15-18 October 2008
Thomas, G.V. 2005. Annual Report 2004-05. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute. pp.30-32
Thomas, G.V., Prabhu, S.R.,.Reeny, M.Z and Bopaiah, B.M. 1998 Evaluation of lignocellulosic biomass from coconut palm as substrate for cultivation of Pleurotus sajor caju(Fr.) Singer. World J. Microbiol & Biotechnol. 14 : 879-882
Thomas, G.V., Iyer, R and Bopaiah, B.M 1991. Beneficial microbes in the nutrition of coconut J. Plantation Crops 19: 127-138.
Vijayalakshmi, K. and Pandalai, K.M. 1962. Nutrient enrichment of coconut soils of the humid Kerala coast through monsoon precipitations. Nature, 4823: 112-113.
Published
2010-10-01
How to Cite
Murali Gopal. (2010). Opportunity to Sustain Coconut Ecosystem Services through Recycling of the Palm Leaf Litter as Vermicompost: Indian Scenario (A Technology/ Research Note). CORD, 26(2), 14. https://doi.org/10.37833/cord.v26i2.130
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