PLANT ECOLOGY of COCONUT

Coconut is a plant species of the tribe of palm-arenan or Arecaceae and is the sole member in the genus Cocos. These herbs are used almost all its parts by humans so it is considered as a versatile plant, especially for coastal communities. Coconut is also the name for the fruit produced by this plant. (Anonim1, 2010)
Ecology Coconut
Coconut plants require a suitable environment for growth and production. Environmental factors are sunlight, temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil conditions and wind speed. In addition, climate is an important factor that will determine the growth of coconut.
1. Soil
Coconut plants can grow on the alluvial soil type, lateril, volcanic, sandy, clay and rocky soil. The degree of acidity (pH) of the best soil for growing coconut tanamaan is 6.5 to 7.5. However, oil can still be grown on land that has a pH of 5-8.
2. Climate
Several climatic factors to consider are: location of latitude, altitude, rainfall, temperature, kelembababn, solar radiation and so on. Coconut growing optimum at 10 LS-10 LU, and still grow well at 15 LS-15 LU. Therefore, numerous palm grows in tropical areas such as Filipinos, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Several climatic factors are important in the growth of coconut.
a) The Coconuts grow well in areas with rainfall between 1300-2300 mm / year, even up to 3800 mm or more, as long as the soil has good drainage. However disttribusi rainfall, soil's ability to hold rain water and ground water depth, is more important than the amount of rain throughout the year.
b) The wind plays an important role in pollinating flowers (for cross pollination) and plant transpiration.
c) Oil liked by long exposure to sunlight a minimum of 120 hours / month or 2000 hours / year as an energy source of photosynthesis. When shaded, the growth of young plants and fruit will be too late. In the months where the monthly jumlaah irradiation is higher than the average, total production is usually a lot more.
d) Coconut rendaah very sensitive to temperature and grows best at a temperature of 20-27 C. At a temperature of 15 C, there will be changes in physiological and morphological plant coconut. Palm growth is strongly influenced by temperature, especially during fruiting. Low temperature is not suitable for the optimal 27 C with a maximum daily variation of 7 C.
e) Elevation, coconut crops commercially can grow well at altitudes from the seafront up to 600 meters above sea level. Optimual altitude 0-450 m above sea level. Coconuts can grow above that altitude, but the result is reduced. At an altitude of 450-1000 m above sea level change terlambta time, the production of small and low oil levels. In some locations on the edge paantai, many grow up with the good fairy.
f) Humidity, in addition to hot weather crops like coconut moist air. However, if the air is too humid for a long time, also not good for plant growth, as it reduces evaporation and absorption of nutrients and invites fungus diseases. Palm will grow well in average monthly rH 70-80% minimum of 65%. When rH air is very low, high evapotranspiration, plant drought early fruit fall (before cooking), but if rH is too high causing pests and diseases. (Anonim2, 2010)
According to James A. Duke, 1983 that coconut can be found ranging from dry subtropical regions to temperate regions through the wet tropics. Even these plants are found down to very dry climates to wet forest zone. Coconuts are reported from the station takes 7-42 dm annual rainfall (average of 35 cases = 20.5), requiring annual temperature 21-30 ° C (average of 35 cases = 25.7 ° C) with a range of 4 - consecutive 12-month ice-free, with at least 60 mm rainfall, and pH 4.3 to 8.0 (average of 27 cases = 6.0)