Effect of Irrigation on Establishment and Early Growth of Coconut (VAR.CRIC 60) in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka.

Abstract

The vigour and growth of seedlings of CRIC60 cultivar of coconut were studiedin different irrigation treatments during the drought period, in a sandy soil in the dryzone. Nine irrigation treatments including a control with no watering were tested.Larger number of casualties were observed in the control while none in the irrigatedplots. The best irrigation treatments in order of response were 40 litres applied twicea week, two earthenware pots buried on either side of the seedlings and filling themtwice a week (27 litres per week) and 20 litres applied twice a week. However, therelative efficiency between 40 litres and 20 litres suggest that application of 20 litrestwice a week could be preferred considering the savings on cost and the use of water.If finances are not limiting burying of two earthenware pots on either side of the plantand filling twice a week could be preferred.