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Autochthonous nutrient recycling driven by soil microbiota could be sustaining high coconut productivity in Lakshadweep Islands sans external fertilizer application

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Abstract

The soils of Lakshadweep Islands are formed as a result of the fragmentation of coral limestone, that is carbonate-rich, with neutral pH, but poor in plant nutrients. Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) is the main crop cultivated, supporting the life and livelihood of the islanders. No external fertilizer application or major plant protection measures are adopted for their cultivation as the Islands were declared to go organic decades back. Yet, Lakshadweep has one of the highest productivity of coconut compared with other coconut growing areas in India. Therefore, a question arises: how is such a high coconut productivity sustained? We try to answer by estimating in three main islands (i) the nutrients added to the soil via the litter generated by coconut palms and (ii) the role of soil microbiota, including arbuscular mycorrhizae, for the high productivity. Our results indicated that, besides adding a substantial quantum of organic carbon, twice the needed amount of nitrogen, extra 20% phosphorus to the already P-rich soils, 43–45% of potassium required by palms could be easily met by the total coconut biomass residues returned to the soil. Principal Component Analysis showed that soil organic carbon %, potassium, and organic carbon added via the palm litter and AM spore load scored >± 0.95 in PC1, whereas, available K in the soil, bacteria, actinomycetes, phosphate solubilizers and fluorescent pseudomonads scored above >± 0.95 in PC2. Based on our analysis, we suggest that the autochthonous nutrients added via the coconut biomass residues, recycled by the soil microbial communities, could be one of the main reasons for sustaining a high productivity of the coconut palms in Lakshadweep Islands, in the absence of any external fertilizer application, mimicking a semi-closed-loop forest ecosystem.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, for funding Network Project on “Application of Microorganisms in Agriculture and Allied Sector (AMAAS)” under which this study was undertaken. Thanks are due to Mr. M.I. Arif, Senior Technician, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Minicoy (presently with ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute), for hel** in the collection of soil samples at Minicoy, Kalpeni and Kavaratti. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their critical comments which helped to improve the ms significantly.

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  1. George V. Thomas

    Present address: , Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India

  2. P. M. Jacob

    Present address: , Kottayam, Kerala, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala, India

    Murali Gopal, Alka Gupta, V. Arunachalam, H. P. Maheswarappa & George V. Thomas

  2. ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Goa, India

    V. Arunachalam

  3. University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India

    H. P. Maheswarappa

  4. ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station (Presently ICAR-CIARI), Minicoy, Lakshadweep, India

    Murali Gopal, V. Arunachalam & P. M. Jacob

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MG and AG had conceptualized the hypothesis and the work plan. MG had collected soil samples with the support of technical staff. Vegetation diversity survey was carried out by VA and PMJ. Microbial analysis was carried out by MG and AG, soil physico-chemical properties by HPM, and statistical analysis by VA. Manuscript was written by MG, AG and VA with inputs from all authors. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Gopal, M., Gupta, A., Arunachalam, V. et al. Autochthonous nutrient recycling driven by soil microbiota could be sustaining high coconut productivity in Lakshadweep Islands sans external fertilizer application. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 213 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-022-03373-7

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