Effect of different levels of NPK fertilizers on yield, and biochemical properties of inflorescence sap of coconut

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the influence of nutrition to coconut palms as different levels of NPK fertilizers viz., recommended dose of fertilizers (0.5: 0.32:1.20 kg NPK/Palm), 125% of recommended dose, 150% of recommended dose and 175% of recommended dose on yield, sap production duration and biochemical properties of coconut inflorescence sap. The experiment was laid out in RBD on west coast tall variety under rainfed condition. The results indicated that the yield of coconut inflorescence sap was 134% higher in the treatment receiving 175% POP recommendation compared to normal recommendation. The treatment receiving the highest level of nutrients, i.e. 175% of POP recommendation recorded significantly higher values for biochemical properties such as pH, electrolyte concentration, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, total sugar, alcohol, phenol and vitamin-C content of coconut inflorescence sap. Hence it can be concluded that higher yields and better quality of coconut inflorescence sap can be achieved by the application of an additional 75% of NPK fertilizers over and above the recommended dose of fertilizers for nut yielding coconut palms.