Assessment of variation in soil quality and land productivity in coconut-pineapple under-storey cropping systems in Sri Lanka | |
| Author | Ratnayake, Willoram Mudiyanselage |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-06-18 |
| Subject(s) | Coconut--Sri Lanka Pineapple--Sri Lanka Soils--Sri Lanka--Quality |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment Resource and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-06-18 |
| Abstract | Coconut is a high income crop in Sri Lanka, yet its nut yield and income are affected due to unforeseen stresses that encounter during its nut development period. Reduced income is compensated by growing pineapple as an under-storey crop. Although pineapple brings high incomes, the growers face varying problems including fertility declines. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pineapple association on the soil fertility and land productivity in coconut lands in Sri Lanka. The study was a field survey for information and soil sample collection cum laboratory analysis of soil samples collected from representative cropping systems adopted sites. Three coconut growing regions, namely Kuliyapitiya, Kurunegala and Lunuwila were selected for the study. Soil samples from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths in the coconut lands were collected and analyzed for soil physical and chemical properties. Bulk density in the upper 30 cm soil profile in all treatments ranged from 1.1 to 1.3 g/cm3. Total N content in pineapple sites was significantly higher compared to that of coconut monoculture and one year after removal of pineapple. The overall fertility status indicates that bulk density is in the medium range, pH is medium in the monoculture, and lower than 5.1 (alarming) in the pineapple grown lands. Organic C and total N are very low in all cropping systems including coconut monoculture. Calcium is low in all cropping systems including monoculture, while P is very high in all cropping systems including coconut monoculture and Mg is very high in coconut monoculture and medium in pineapple grown lands. Potassium is medium in coconut monoculture, medium in 3 and 4 years in pineapple grown lands and low during the rest of the period. The coconut yield was significantly higher in monoculture lands. The low nut yield reported by growers in their lands assigned to pineapple showed an increase overtime in the presence of pineapple. However, nut yield showed a rapid decline after removal of pineapple. Pineapple was also shown to be over-crowded during the second-year onward and enhanced it competition |
| Year | 2006 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-06-18 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems (AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Jayasuriya, H.P.W. ;Clemente, R.S.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | NORAD AIT Fellowship ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |