THE SUITABILITY OF OPTIONAL MATERIAL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR COIR DUST IN RAISING COCONUT SEEDLINGS IN POLYBAGS

Although coir dust is recommended in the current potting mixture for raising coconut seedlings in polybags, it is becoming a scarce resource even within the coconut triangle. Therefore it was considered imperative to test the suitability of other options available locally. An experiment conducted at the Bandirippuwa Research Nursery of the Coconut Research Institute revealed that saw dust, paddy husk, decomposed straw and weed trash were similar in action to coir dust in the potting media, considering the growth parameters of seedlings. However, with due respect to practical considerations, saw dust was found to be the best alternative. If there is no labour shortage, partially decomposed straw and weed trash can be used. Paddy husk was found to be the least important.