Kalpavruksha Pots
Heavily dependent on the use of thin plastic bags for planting sapling, the Forest Department of Chhota Udepur (Gujarat) were struggling for options to make its district Plastic-Free. An off-the-cuff suggestion of its District Collector has not only helped rid the forest of plastic, but has set a new precedent for many to follow, and in the process saving the country crores in unwarranted expenses….
The Department elaborates, “During our routine cleanliness drive we collect many empty Coconut shells and are required to dispose them in an eco-friendly manner. It was proposed to use the empty shells to rear the plants as it will help manage waste and also reduce the dependence on plastic bags.”
The Social Forestry division decided on testing the idea, planting 1500 saplings of Basil, Sevan and Nilgiri, and the rest is history.
How Coconut shells were used for Plantation?
As the re-use of empty Coconut shells as a ‘planting’ material at the Department’s nursery became a
norm, the team went about fine-tuning the entire plantation process of the sapling. The shells were
carefully chopped at the bottom prior to planting them into the soil pit so as to allow the root to grow beyond the shell into the soil.
What are the advantages of using this method?
Coconut shells being bio-degradable, it did not adversely affect the plant. On the contrary, as the
Coconut shells slowly degenerated into the soil, the coco coir and peat derived from it could be a critical source of nutrients for the plant’s healthy growth. The husk of the shell acts as a sponge holding water ten times of its weight in the root zone. So, the plant is able to use it when it needs it the most. At the same time, as the husk has the ability to soak in so much water, it also helps get rid of excess water so that the plant doesn’t become waterlogged.
Why Coconut husk and peat are better mediums for plantation?
Recent studies have found the Coconut husk and peat to be a better medium for plantation than soil, on several accounts.
- The husk contains high lignin content that makes it naturally resistant to bacterial and fungal
growth.
- The husk being highly porous in nature, the plants happen to be free from soil borne pest and the roots are comparatively healthy on account of higher supply of oxygen.
- Farming on Coconut husk does not require tilling, fumigation and pulling of weeds as required in the case of soil based farming.
- Coconut husk based plantation may be best bet for rooftop gardening as its weight is less and owing to high water retention properties of the fibre the excess water does not flow out of the pots.
- Coconut husk can be continuously used for more than 10 years and low on maintenance cost, making it economically feasible.
- The fact that a single Coconut tree produces an upward of 150 coconuts per year, Coconut
shells/husk and peat would always be readily available for plantation.
At a time, when the entire world is moving towards eco-friendly and sustainable means of plantation to limit the damage to the environment, Coconut shells could be one renewable source of growing
material.
Moreover, it may probably be the only tree which is virtually free from the use of pesticides and
insecticides for maintaining good health; thus making these input materials organic in nature.
Importantly, the by-products of the Coconut plant are rich in natural hormones that act as bio-stimulants and have several vital nutrients like Iotassium, iron, Manganese, Copper and Zinc, which are very beneficial for plant growth. Also, the fact that Coconut husk and peat releases these nutrients very slowly, the plants grown in this medium can feed on these nutrients on an ongoing basis over a longer duration…
Undoubtedly, Coconut is truly a Kalpavruksha as each part of the tree is of some use.
-Manoj Mahanta
