Abeywardena, V.

Coconut Research Institute Repository

A N A G R I - M E T E O R O L O G I C A L P R O J E C T A T T H E C O C O N U T R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E By V. A B E Y W A R D E N A, Biometrician, Coconut Research Institute. The influence of the weather on coconut crops is known to be significant. For the same the crop variations brought about by the weather amount to as much as or even more than se due to genetical and nutritional causes. Yet although this profound influence of the tther on crops is an accepted fact, our knowledge of its exact influence is very vague. Leave tie other meteorological factors that control crops, even about a common and obvious factor (rainfall wc could only make broad statements. t From the rigorous viewpoint of the scientific Iculturist, such generalisations even though reasonable are found to be unsatisfactory, in jt it does not enable htm to depict this association bet ween the weather and the crops by means [formula with a predicting value in it. To cover up this gap in our knowledge, the Coconut Research Institute recently launched •ojcct on Agri-Meteorological Research, (t marks the firsf positive attempt to answer some 'e problems relating to climate and coconut crops. A fully equipped Meteorological Station W installed at Bandirippuwa Estate in consultation with the Government Meteorological tment and further a block of 300 palms is set apart for paral!eltyield recording. Moreover •ements are now being made to open up two other agri-meteorological, stations in al areas in the dry zone, viz. Batticaloa and Puttaiam. These will serve as sub-stations investigation. ^ . • Broadly the purpose of this long-range investigation is to ascertain in what manner and i&t degree, the meteorological environment influences the ultimate yield of coconuts. The em is more complicated than what it appears to be at first sight. By the meteorological" :nment is implied a combination of several meteorological factors: (i) the amount and "stribution of rainfall (ii) the temperature (iii) humidity and vapour pressure gradient of (iv) the wind velocity (v) the amount and intensity of sunshine (vi) cloudiness of the sky e soil temperature and its gradient and (viii) the water table. lese factors interacting among themselves and with different soil types and seasons present climatic environment.-milarly when one talks of coconut crops what is implied is not merely the number of a nuts that we collect at'a pick but a chain of events or stages of development leading to product. These factors are: (i) the rate of production of inflorescences (ii) the of female flowers* (or potential nuts) in an inflorescence (iii) the setting of female (iv) the number of nuts that fall before maturity (v) the number of mature nuts .tfd at pick (vi) the copra outturn, and (vii) finally the oil content itself. This investigation directed mainly towards ascertaining what particular, climatic factor or combination 07 til b, t *' 1 • t N:* 1 dt ar ! of factors influence a particular stage of development of a bunch of coconuts and also nature and extent of the particular influence, ' ' The usefulness of the results of this investigation to the coconut industry is manif, Firstly it will provide the basic and essential information regarding these relationships to] Research Officers on coconuts for their more advanced studies. Secondly it will help to deA the optimum and minimum climatic requirements for the economic growing of cocom|| Thirdly it will ascertain whether the problem of marginal areas is really due to the weather 0 r otherwise—if due to weather, the question of reclaiming such land can be ruled out until s?fl| time that we are in a position to control the weather. Fourthly such knowledge o j f l relationship between the weather and crops could be made use of for commercial purpose because the ability to predict crops and outturns, etc. will help estate management both ft the point of view of checking on estate crops as well as in matters relating to crop (Reference ' Crop Disposal' by V. Abeywardena—Ceylon Coconut Quarterly, Vol. V , No. $ Lastly its importance is far-fetched, yet so real when one considers the present rate^i scientific advancement.' The time may not be far off when man will be able to cont ro l^ weather to suit his needs. Let us then be prepared to get the maximum of sucli ff' eventuality by knowing exactly what the weather can do to coconut crops. . ^ (In this connection the reader is also referred to the article on '' Rainfall and Crops r H y . Abeywardena in Volume V I . Nos. 1-2 of the Ceylon Coconut Quarterly, and theaccompanjfjjjj article on ' Coconut Crops and Environment' by M. L . M. Salgado, I. Summary. Editor, Ct Coconut Quarterly). fcrJ tlispsfl mt i 1 it 1 1 i wil , | nei 1 on - \ \ oH .jj bei: , 4 i wit dov ' j| the und, Cari' , hop ! , VVhH ' ' ' I T H A S U N F O R T U N A T E L Y F O R M A N Y Y E A R S B E E N A P R E V A I L ­ING D O C T R I N E T H A T T H E C I N G A L E S E MUST B E C O M P E L L E D T O L A B O U R , A S T H E R E I S NO W A Y O F OVERCOMING T H E I R N A T U R A L I N D O L E N C E B Y E N C O U R A G E M E N T . . . I AM C O N V I N C E D O F I T S B E I N G U N F O U N D E D . T H E C I N G A L E S E , L I K E EVERY O T H E R P E O P L E , H A D R A T H E R B E POOR AND I D L E T H A N W O R K FOR. N O T H I N G ; A N D D U R I N G T H E D U T C H G O V E R N M E N T T H E Y H A D NO O T H E R A L T E R ­N A T I V E , . . . . ' I N T H E N E I G H B O U R H O O D O F , T H E G R E A T TOWNS, A N D E V E N I N T H E I N T E R I O R O F T H E C O U N T R Y , T H E Y ' A R E E V E R Y D A Y A C Q U I R I N G T H A T K N O W - E D G E (OF T H E R E L A T I V E V A L U E OF L A B O U R A N D ACQUIS IT ION) W I T H A R A P I D I T Y W H I C H A S T O N I S H E S M E ' . Governor North to Directors of East India Company. 24 November, r S o 2 . 

An agri-meteorological project at the coconut research institute

http://cri.nsf.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/1/2068/COCOQ-6-%283-4%29_97.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

An agri-meteorological project at the coconut research institute

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Coconut Research Institute Repository