Selecting suitable coconut plantations for Gliricidia inter cropping.

Gliricidia grows well in the places where the coconut plantations are situated like Galle, Gampaha, Kurunagala, Puttalama, Matara, Hambantota. Additionally Kandy, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Anuradapura areas have the best climate condition for the Gliricidia plantation. Therefore dry, intermediate dry, intermediate wet and wet areas can be used to plant the Gliricidia well. It is better if the rain fall is within the range of 900-1800 mm. But if the dry period continues for about 6-8 months it is somewhat badly affect to the Gliricidia plant and decrease the growing rate.

Gliricidia grows well in various soils. So the Gravel is the best medium for the Gliricidia.

Sandy lome and clay lome soils also good for the Gliricidia. But in the more sandy soil the Gliricidia shows a low growing rate at the immature stage. Thus the dry season continuous for whole year, leaves are fallen down and shows a low growing rate. Because of the Gliricidia grows in eroded and less fertile areas it can be used to rehabilitate the areas like that.

           

•     Coconut Plantation at the early stage.

At early stage of a coconut plantation   that means up to 5 years the site has plenty of sun light. So Gliricidia can be planted within the coconut plant lines. However 5-15 years coconut plantation with 26×26 spacing doesn’t have not sufficient sun light for Gliricidia. So it is useless to grow Gliricidia except the coconut plantation is somewhat week in condition.

•      Coconut plantation within 15-55 years.

Coconut plantations within this age group have sufficient sun light in the field. So the Gliricidia can be grown well. But at the age of 60 which have to reestablish the coconut plant is not suitable to plant Gliricidia.