Ecological Requirements of Plantation Crops

Crop	Climate Requirements	Soil Requirements
Arecanut	Altitude up to 1000 m; Temperature 14–36°C; sensitive to extremes and wide diurnal variation	Gravelly laterite and red clay soils best; fertile clay with tank silt suitable; avoid sticky clay, sandy, brackish and calcareous soils
Cashewnut	Altitude below 700 m (best up to 400 m); Temperature >20°C; needs ≥600 mm rainfall; 9 hr sunlight; sensitive to frost, fog and heavy rains during flowering	Well-drained soils; red sandy loam, laterite and coastal sands best; pH acidic (<8); avoid waterlogging, saline and alkaline soils
Cocoa	Temperature 15–32°C; minimum >10°C; rainfall ~1500 mm (well distributed); high rainfall increases disease incidence	Deep (up to 1.5 m), well-drained, organic matter-rich soils; acidic to neutral; commonly forest soils
Coconut	Altitude up to 900 m; rainfall 800–2500 mm; optimum temp ~27°C; humidity 80–90%; sensitive below 7°C	Laterite, sandy, alluvial and black soils; well-drained, acidic (pH 4.5–6.8); tolerates waterlogging