GREENING AGRICULTURE WITH COCOPEAT: PAVING THE WAY FOR SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION

Soil degradation, a worldwide problem, can be considered a global pandemic. One of the mitigation measures involves integrated nutrient management and organic amendments involving the use of locally available organic resources and external fertilizers. Cocopeat is one such organic material that is a secondary product obtained from coconut processing industries in abundant amounts. Cocopeat is also known as coir pith. Several studies proposed that cocopeat can be used as either soilless growing media with few organic amendments or as soil amelioration that may enhance the physicochemical, and biological properties of soil. The study was conducted from mid-April to mid-June during the time of 60 days. The soil was amended with varied concentrations of cocopeat (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 100%), and appropriate fertigation was done. The present study evaluates the effect of cocopeat amended soil on soils physicochemical properties and plant growth of Clitoriaternatea seedlings. The results demonstrate that increasing cocopeat concentration improved physicochemical parameters of growing media compared to control treatment, i.e., 100% soil resulting in increased availability of nutrients to plants and stimulating plant growth. Also, cocopeat incorporation into soil improved the morphological parameters of plants grown in them as shown by enhanced seedlings height and dry weight compared to control. But application of 100% cocopeat showed growth inhibition in Clitoriaternatea seedlings.