Keywords

1 Introduction

Water is one of the most important needs of living things. It is second only to the air we breathe. Air, water and food are the three natural resources which determine the existence of human beings. Water is used for agriculture, industrial and domestic purpose. Water is also used for drinking, cooking, washing and bathing, called water for personal demand. The water used for drinking purpose must be free from all types of contaminations. Like air and food, water is also contaminated by various pollutants.

Water is regarded as “polluted” when it is changed in its quality or composition, directly or indirectly as a result of human activities. So that it becomes useless or less suitable for drinking, domestic, agricultural, fisheries or other purposes for which it would otherwise be quite suitable in its natural or unpolluted state. Pollutants bring about physical and chemical changes not only in the surface water but also in the ground water. The water is fit for consumption if it has biological organisms like guinea worms, tape worms, cholera and typhoid creating bacteria and excess chemicals such as fluoride, iron, arsenic and nitrate. All human activities, agriculture, industrial and domestic cause more pollution in water than natural sources (Das 2008; Gangali and Maulick 2013).

1.1 Coconut Cultivation

Coconut (Cocosnucifera) plays a significant role in the agrarian economy of India. Apart from the importance of copra and coconut oil which is widely used in the manufacture of soaps, hair oil, cosmetics and other industrial products, the husk is a source of fibre which supports a sizable coir industry. The tender nut supplies coconut water, a popular thirst quencher of health and hygienic value. Coconuts are typical single trunked palms which can reach up to 50–100 ft in height. They are believed to be largely crossed pollinated and produce fruits (nuts/seeds) which are ovoid in shape, up to 15″ long and 12″ wide. Coconuts are seed propagated. They are usually planted 25 ft apart in all directions and can be intercropped with staples like corn and even other tree crops. They mature within 2–7 years and the first fruit appears one year after flowering. One tree can yield an average 70–150 coconuts per year. The palms remain productive for 50–100 years and yields are highest between 10 and 20 years old (Lathika and Ajithkumar 2005).

The most important and economically valuable produce of coconut palm is its fruit popularly known as nut. It is made up of an outer excerpt, a thick fibrous fruit coat known as husk; underneath lays the hard protective endocarp or shell. Lining the shell is a white aluminous endosperm or coconut meat and the inner cavity is filled with a clear sweet refreshing liquid called coconut water. The kernel of a matured nut is the most precious product used for edible purpose. The dried kernel or copra is the richest source of edible oil and a by-product coconut oil cake, a source of vegetable protein used as an ingredient for livestock feed. The shell as such is used for fuel purpose, shell gasified as an alternate source of heat energy, making handicrafts, ice-cream cups and other commercial products like shell powder, shell charcoal and activated carbon. The husk yields fibres, which is converted into coir and coir products viz., coil carpets, coir geo-textile, coir composite, coir safety belts, coir boards, coir asbestos and coir pith. Coir pith, a secondary by product obtained during defibring process is used as soil conditioner and mending all types of soils (Devadas 2006).

Coconut is grown in more than 93 countries of the world notably Indonesia, Philippines, India are the major producing countries of the world. In 2008, 4.75 million tons were produced on 1.6 million hectares (7.7 % of world production). The average production in this group 2.6 tons/ha was way below the world average of 5.2 tons/ha. Forty seven of the seventy seven ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) member countries produced 4.59 million tons of coconuts in 2009 on 1.7 million hectares. This represented 7.4 % of world production. The reduction was as a result of storm damage as well as the wave of lethal yellowing and Red Palm mite infestation (Gopalakrishna et al. 2010).

Coconut in India is mostly a small holders crop contributing to about Rs. 83,000 million annually which is about 2 % of the contribution of agriculture and allied sectors with more than 10 million farming families dependent on the crop for their livelihood. India is one of the largest producers of coconut. Traditional areas of coconut in India are the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. However, several states like Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have emerged as non-traditional areas for the cultivation of coconut. In Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, coconuts are grown in more than 22,720 ha with an estimated 125.8 million nuts during 2012–13 with an average productivity of 5537 nuts per ha.

In India, coconut plays an important role in the social, economic and cultural activities of the people with a production of 12.83 billion nuts from an area of 1.93 million ha under coconut. Coconut provides livelihood to millions of farm families either directly or indirectly. Coconut occupies more than 40 % of the area under cultivation, but the productivity is low, because of the incidence of pests and diseases. The disease has attained a serious proportion in some of the localities, especially hilly tracts with high humidity. Since coconut is a perennial crop, the loss due to the disease is very high (Mohana and Basheer 2007).

Mathew (2007) states that the biggest obstacle to the competitive of India’s coconut sector is low rate of returns from the coconut holding, and reduces input-output realization especially in the traditional coconut growing states. The severe problem of price induced market instability of coconut and coconut products on accounts of seasonal variations in the production, market arrivals, the demand and influence of the prices of other cheaper vegetable oils and fats are the other factors responsible for the pessimistic growth of domestic coconut industry. The resultant import surge of cheaper palm oil and palm kernel oil has reducing the coconut oil market.

According to Sulochana (2008) report, the coconut tree or cocosnucifera has multiple uses, besides being an important oil seed crop. Its raw nut and edible copra are important items of food. Coconut is an indispensable items offered in divine oblation. Tender coconut water is a refreshing unadulterated cool health drink. The coconut shell and husk are main raw materials for the manufacture of handicraft articles. Coconut milk, the extract of the solid coconut endosperm, plays an important role in the cuisines of South Asia and in the food industries. The trunk of the tree is used as building material, fuel and for making utensils, furniture, etc. In short, every part of the coconut tree is of great utility and hence it is rightly called ‘Kalpavirksha’ or the ‘tree of heaven’.

Jesitha (2008) outlined the major problems confronting coconut growers. Production problems are that the coconut is generally grown in small land holding and homestead gardens mixed with other crops. Majority of the coconut growers have small size of coconut holding. Average management conditions though coconut palms start bearing between the age of 7 and 12 years, and yield stabilization takes place only around the age of 20 and yield declines around the age of 50. Since most of the trees are below the age group, the yield is low which results in declined productivity. The prevalence of root (wilt) disease is the major problem affecting the production and productivity of very serious disease of coconut palm.

A study on the water pollution on coconut cultivation has expressed concern at the presence of high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in groundwater. The crisis of water availability and pollution is worsening day by day. On the other hand, the groundwater level is going down rapidly, and the quality is getting worse. Vellore District faces serious problems of environmental pollution, water pollution from untreated community and industry flows into our rivers and streams, etc. In order to avoid the above problems, the following study has been chosen and objectives of the present study are to analysis the cultivation of coconut in the study area during study period; to find out the total impact of water pollution on coconut cultivation in the study area; and to study the trend and performance of coconut cultivation in the study area.

2 Methodology of the Study

This study is based on secondary data. Secondary source of data were collected from various sources i.e. journals, newspaper, books, electronic sources, publications from Govt. of India, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Pollution Control Board of Tamil Nadu, etc. The time series data which is relevant to the study have been collected for the period from 2000–01 to 2012–2013. Simple percentage tables, regression analysis and diagrammatic representation have been used for analysis purpose.

2.1 Analysis of the Data

This chapter deals with secondary data analysis and interpretation focuses on the reality of the study area. To achieve the objectives of the study an analysis was made on the basis of collected data.

3 Results

3.1 Coconut Production in World Scenario

Coconut production countries in the world was taken as a variable for analysis, through which the growth rate of world scenario can be identified from the year 2000–01 to 2012–2013. It helps to get sufficient information to reduce bias in the study.

From Table 1 it is observed that the five major countries in the world are producing coconuts from the period of 2000–01 to 2012–13. The results shows that there is large flexibility in the production pattern of coconuts. In the year of 2001–02 to 2006–07, there is a positive increase in the level of coconuts production from 51,925,165 to 61,906,731 metric tons of world level coconuts production. After this period the level of coconuts production is flexible because of the productivity of coconuts has decreased as the quality of water is impaired due to domestic wastes and as the use of chemicals has increased.

Table 1 The top 5 coconut producing countries year wise (2000–2013)
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3.2 Coconut Production in Indian Scenario

Coconut production states in India were taken as a variable for analysis, through which the growth rate of our nation from the year 2011 to 2012 is identified. It helps to get sufficient information as to where to reduce the bias in the study.

Table 2 shows the coconuts production in different states from the period of 2011 to 2012 in India. The results revealed that the maximum level is 4515.60 metric tons at 430.70 k ha in Tamil Nadu, 3973.90 metric tons at 766.00 k ha in Kerala, 3784.60 metric tons at 511.00 k ha in Karnataka, 1270.00 metric tons at 142.00 k ha in Andhra Pradesh, followed by Orissa, West Bengal, Goa, Puducherry, and other states. The lowest coconut production level is 06.30 metric tons at 0.80 k ha in Chhattisgarh.

Table 2 State wise coconut production the Indian scenario
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3.3 Coconut Production in Tamil Nadu

Coconut production districts in Tamil Nadu were taken as a variable for analysis; through which the growth rate of our State from the year 2012 to 2013 is identified (Fig. 1). It helps to get sufficient information where to reduce bias in the study.

Fig. 1
figure 1

District wise coconut production: Tamil Nadu scenario

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From Table 3 it is observed that the coconuts production in different Districts from the period of 2012 to 2013 in Tamil Nadu. The results revealed that the maximum level is 12,197.00 metric tons at 83,341.00 k ha in Coimbatore, 4230.00 metric tons at 34,747.00 k ha in Thanjavur, 4007.00 metric tons at 24,502.00 k ha in Kanyakumari, 1703.00 metric tons at 15,806.00 k ha in Tirunelveli, followed by Vellore, Erode, Salem, Madurai, Dharmapuri, and other Districts. The lowest coconut production level is 79.00 metric tons at 688.00 k ha in Thiruvanamalai.

Table 3 District wise coconut production in Tamil Nadu scenario
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From Table 4, that the cultivation of coconuts from the period of 2000–2001 to 2012–2013 is observed. The results show that there is large flexibility in the pattern of coconut production in Vellore district. In the year 2003–04 to 2005–06 (Fig. 2), there is a positive increase in the level of coconuts production and after this period there is a decrease of coconuts production because the quality of water is low or water is polluted. In the year 2012–13, there is very low production of coconuts compared to past 10 years due to water being highly polluted.

Table 4 Year wise coconut production in Vellore district
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Fig. 2
figure 2

Year wise coconut production in Vellore district

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3.4 Analysis of Water

Reports on variables on water quality parameters for the period of 2011–13 (Table 5) were taken for analysis, this could report whether the water is polluted or not.

Table 5 Report of water samples collected from Vellore district
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4 Discussion and Conclusion

The rate of coconut production is flexible because of the productivity of coconuts decreased due to impaired quality of water from domestic waste and increased usage of chemicals. The lowest coconut production level is 06.30 metric tons from 0.80k ha in Chhattisgarh. In TamilNadu, the lowest coconut production level is 79.00 metric tons at 688.00k ha in Thiruvanamalai. The tolerance limit of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is only 100 but in year 2011, it is observed as 180, and in year 2012 as 144. The tolerance limit of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is 2100 but now it has increased to 13,492 in 2013.

This study helps the researcher to gain more knowledge on the water pollution risks, functions and its effects. The expected outcome of the research is to eradicate or control the water pollution through the control of discharges like drainage, sewage, effluents, etc. to increase the production and productivity of coconuts. Hence, the water used for irrigation purpose should be pollution free so as to increase the productivity of the coconut cultivation. However, our study reports that the contaminated water has affected only some productive areas of the study area.