Industrial Crops

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Increasing Coconut Yields and Income on the Sandy Soils of the Tanganyika Coast
(1967) Anderso, G.D
Copra production on the Tanganyika coast is hindered by inadequate bush control, low palm populations, insect attack resulting from poor sanitation, poor copra quality and soil deficiencies. Where the general husbandry is good, the factor most limiting high yields and income in many areas is inadequate nutrition of the palms. While much more information is necessary from existing and new coconut trials and soil surveys before precise recommendations on optimum fertilizer use can be made, it is already clear from an experiment near Tanga that yields could be increased by fertilizers over considerable areas. From these preliminary findings and Ceylon recommendations, it is suggested that a dressing of 2 lb. muriate of potash (60 per cent KoO), 1 lb. double superphosphate (42 per cent "PPs) and 1 lb. calcium ammonium nitrate (20.5 per cent N) be spread uniformly within a 6 ft. radius of slow-growing or bearing palms. For best results this should be cultivated into the ground, but on these sandy soils it is not essential to do this to produce a good response. It may be possible to save on the cost of nitrogen fertilizers by sowing legume cover crops in the fertilized areas beneath the coconuts. In addition to benefiting the palms, this would provide an improved protein source for cattle-a very great need in many of the coconut areas.