Coconut Spacing Success Quiz Quiz

Explore essential aspects of coconut planting, focusing on optimal spacing and its impact in agriculture. This quiz highlights practical scenarios and key concepts crucial for cultivating healthy coconut palms.

1. Optimal Distance Selection

   What is the standard recommended spacing for planting tall coconut varieties in most agricultural plantations?

   1. 12 meters x 12 meters
   2. 2 meters x 2 meters
   3. 4 meters x 4 meters
   4. 8 meters x 8 meters

   Explanation: The 8 meters x 8 meters spacing allows enough room for healthy root and canopy development, reducing competition. 4 meters x 4 meters and 2 meters x 2 meters are too close, causing overcrowding and poor growth. 12 meters x 12 meters is wider than required, making inefficient use of land.

2. Spacing Purpose

   Why is proper spacing important when planting coconut palms in the field?

   1. To allow enough sunlight and reduce disease spread
   2. To keep the soil constantly moist
   3. To maximize the shade for nearby crops
   4. To reduce the need for fertilizers

   Explanation: Proper spacing ensures each palm receives adequate sunlight and air, minimizing competition and disease risk. Maximizing shade can impede coconut growth, moist soil alone is not achieved by spacing, and fertilizer requirements are not directly reduced simply by spacing.

3. Dwarf Varieties Placement

   What spacing is generally suitable for planting dwarf coconut varieties compared to tall varieties?

   1. 7 meters x 7 meters
   2. 9 meters x 9 meters
   3. 5 meters x 5 meters
   4. 10 meters x 10 meters

   Explanation: Dwarf coconut varieties are smaller and can be planted closer, with 7 meters x 7 meters commonly recommended. 10 meters x 10 meters and 9 meters x 9 meters are unnecessarily wide, while 5 meters x 5 meters is too crowded even for dwarfs.

4. Impact on Yield

   How can excessively close spacing between coconut palms affect plantation yield over time?

   1. It eliminates weeds immediately
   2. It increases competition leading to reduced nut yield
   3. It boosts growth due to more plant density
   4. It causes the palms to produce larger nuts

   Explanation: Close spacing causes palms to compete for light, water, and nutrients, which lowers yields. Higher density does not guarantee increased growth, weeds may persist regardless of spacing, and nut size generally isn't enhanced by crowding.

5. Spacing Adaptation Example

   A farmer in a cyclone-prone coastal area is advised to use triangular planting with 160 palms per hectare. What is the approximate spacing he should use?

   1. 9 meters x 9 meters
   2. 3 meters x 3 meters
   3. 12 meters x 12 meters
   4. 6 meters x 6 meters

   Explanation: Triangular planting with 160 palms per hectare typically requires 9 meters x 9 meters spacing, which provides stability against wind. 3 meters x 3 meters is much too close, 12 meters x 12 meters would result in far fewer plants, and 6 meters x 6 meters exceeds 160 palms per hectare.