Fortifying Influences of Coconut Milk and Cow's Urine on 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy- acetic Acid in the Control of Button Shedding in the Coconut

Abstract

DURING several trials carried out by us with different hormones in the control of button shedding in the coconut, there was clear indication that, while sprays of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetie acid in 30 p.p.m. strength helped in securing a heavy set of buttons, quite a large number of them turned out to be abnormal or barren and markedly reduced in size when they attained maturity. This was observed to be particularly pronounced when pre-fertilization sprays were given. Although a change from pre-fertilization to post-fertilization sprays brought about a considerable reduction in the occurrence of abnormal and barren nuts and an appreciable improvement in the size of nuts at maturity, it did not help in completely offsetting the defects. It was therefore thought worth while to test the utility of coconut milk and cow's urine in overcoming these defects, since these might, by virtue of their growth-promoting properties, be expected to fortify the action of 2,4-di-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, acting synergistically¹ or in some other way.