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Melia dubia Cav. spatial geometries influence the growth, yield and essential oil principles content of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees Ex Steud.) W.Watson

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Abstract

The present study was carried out to screen out the suitable spatial geometry of Melia dubia, an industrially important fast-growing multipurpose tree, for Cymbopogon flexuosus by evaluating its growth, physiology, herbage, and essential oil yield and major essential oil principles. The experiment was conducted in 2 years old M. dubia plantations of 2 × 2, 3 × 3, 3 × 2, 4 × 4 and 4 × 2 m spatial arrangement. The study revealed that growth, physiological attributes, fresh and dry herbage production and essential oil yield were higher under silvi-medicinal (M. dubia–C. flexuosus) systems as compared to sole cropping. Among studied silvi-medicinal systems, C. flexuosus attained significantly maximum plant height (109.62 cm), number of tillers (36.25 tillers/clump), plant spread (75.83 cm2) and leaf area (cm2/leaf) under 4 × 4, 2 × 2, 3 × 3 and 2 × 2 m spatial geometries, respectively. Leaf area index and specific leaf weight did not bear any significant effect due to land use systems. Chlorophyll content index (26.62) and leaf nitrogen (1.03%) was maximum under 3 × 2 and 3 × 3 m spatial geometries. Significantly higher total fresh (12.94 tonne/ha) dry herbage yield (6.53 tonne/ha) was highest in 3 × 3 m and 2 × 2 m spatial geometry, respectively. However, it was the least (8.21 tonne ha−1) in C. flexuosus sole cropping. M. dubia (3 × 3 m)–C. flexuosus tree–crop combination provided higher total oil yield (108.78 kg ha−1). The major essential oil principles viz., Citral-a, Citral-b and Geranyl acetate were higher under 2 × 2, 3 × 3 and 2 × 2 m M. dubia spatial geometry. The study pinned out that tree–crop interactions under different M. dubia spatial geometries were positive and hence C. flexuosus could be adopted as intercrop for better quantitative and qualitative attributes.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to Dean, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India, for providing necessary support for completion of this research work. Authors heartily acknowledge Dr. P. Manivel, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat, India, for rendering help in phytochemical analysis of essential oil of C. flexuosus in his prestigious institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, 396 450, India

    N. S. Thakur, Sumit Mohanty & R. P. Gunaga

  2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Boriavi, Anand, Gujarat, 387 310, India

    N. A. Gajbhiye

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  1. N. S. Thakur
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  2. Sumit Mohanty
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  3. R. P. Gunaga
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  4. N. A. Gajbhiye
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Thakur, N.S., Mohanty, S., Gunaga, R.P. et al. Melia dubia Cav. spatial geometries influence the growth, yield and essential oil principles content of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees Ex Steud.) W.Watson. Agroforest Syst 94, 985–995 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00465-6

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