• Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam was started in the year 1958.

• Brought under TNAU in 1973.

• Since 1973, it is functioning as an ICAR co-ordinating centre under the - All India Co-ordinated Research Project on palms.

• Functioning as lead centre for research on Ganoderma disease under AICRPP.

• Coconut wilt scheme operated at Muthupet was merged with Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam during April 1977. 

• Research activities were strengthened in Agricultural Entomology in 1984 and Soil Science in 1997.

Objectives

• Collection, conservation and evaluation of coconut germplasm

• Development of high yielding coconut varieties/hybrids

• Development of  crop management technologies for high yield

• Development of improved coconut based cropping system.

• Development of appropriate protection technologies against pest and  diseases

• Transfer of technologies developed at Coconut Research Station to the farmers.

Current activities

Research

A.     Crop Improvement

• Evaluation of coconut germplasm

• Screening of coconut  varieties / hybrids for quality attributes suited for tender coconut

• Evaluation of existing hybrid combinations for high nut yield and copra yield

B.     Crop Production

• Development of ideal coconut based intercropping system

• Development of packages for coconut waste  disposal

• Study on fertigation and drip irrigation

• Study on the physiological effects of soil mulch and root feeding of growth regulator on moisture stress through physiological and biochemical parameters.

• Study on the effect of environmental variables on coconut yield through physiological parameters.

C.     Crop Protection

• Evaluation of synthetic pheromone and attractants in the management of red palm weevil on coconut

• Management of coconut Eriophyid mite with new chemicals, botanicals, nutrients and bio pesticides.

• Isolation and study of strain variations of Ganoderma collected from different coconut growing areas

• Study on the serological relationship between the strains of Ganoderma sp.

Extension

• Farm advisory services

• On farm testing

• Demonstrations of new varieties / technology

• Training for farmers, farm women and extension functionaries

• Popularisation of technologies through meetings and mass media.

• Regular farm visits to transfer the latest crop production and protection technologies.

• Publication of technical bulletin on latest technologies

Information of Individual Teachers

Technologies Developed

Varieties released

Coconut hybrids/varieties released by CRS, Veppankulam.

CROP MANAGEMENT

• A spacing of 7.5 x 7.5 m is optimum for higher nut yield per unit area

• 0.56 : 0.32 : 1.20 kg NPK/palm/year gives higher nut yield in ECT

• 1.0 : 0.25 : 2.0 kg NPK/palm/year gives higher nut yield in hybrids

• Banana (Poovan) is the most profitable intercrop in coconut ( C : B ratio 1 : 4.2) when intercropped at 2.5 x 2.5 x 5.0 m spacing.  (Plate 3)                                        

• Spraying of 1 ml of NAA in 2 litres of water at 30 days after the opening of inflorescence increases the setting percentage upto 51.2.

• 200 g borax + 3 kg potash reduces barrennuts from 8.8 per cent to 1.8 per cent.

CROP PROTECTION

• Application of carbofuran 25 g + sand 100 g in the crown of coconut reduces the rhinoceros attack.  Crown application of 50 g neem seed kernel powder + 100 g sand is also effective.  (Plate 4)

• Root feeding of 10 ml monocrotophos + 10 ml water controls the red palm weevil

• Spot application of Triazophos 5 ml/lit or carbosulfan 2 ml/lit reduce the mite population

• Placing of 3 – 4 bits of bromodialone cakes controls rodent effectively.

• Application of 5 kg neem cake/palm/year and root feeding of 2 ml tridemorph in 100 ml of water combined with soil drenching of 40 litres of 1% Bordeaux mixture effectively controls basal stem rot (Thanjavur wilt) disease.

• Application of 500 g inoculum of Trichoderma harzianum in 50 kg FYM along with 200 g Phosphobacteria checks the  wilt disease

• Combined application of 50 g each of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride reduces severity of wilt incidence. (Plate 5)

• Root feeding of 2.0 g Thiophanate – methyl or carbendazim in 100 ml of water reduces the leaf blight incidence.

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