Use of Fertilizer in Coconut Seedling Establishment in a Grassland Area of New Britain.

Abstract

Regular applications of nitrogen sulphur resulted in good coconut seedling growth and initial inflorescence production 4 years after transplanting of replants on a very old and sparse coconut stand in a grassland area. Additions of trace elements failed to produce any additional improvements in growth. Sole nitrogen applications were deleterious and caused the deaths of a quarter of the seedlings within 9 months of transplanting. Applications of sulphur alone had little beneficial effect initially, presumably due to low soil nitrogen levels. There were indications that after about 3 years, nitrogen applications may have become superfluous, as legume cover-crop became established at the trial site.