Performance of mint (Mentha Spp.) under the humid tropical conditions of Kerala
Loading...
Files
Date
2004
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture,Vellayani
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the year 2003-2004 to study the ‘Performance of mint (Mentha spp.) under humid tropical conditions of Kerala’. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with three shade levels (open, 25 and 50 per cent) as treatments and three replications. Artificial shade was provided using high density polyethylene shade nets. Observations of various growth characters were taken at two months intervals. PAR, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll contents were measured 4 MAP. Fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield and oil content were measured at the time of harvesting.
Under open, 25 per cent and 50 per cent shade condition M. piperita (S2) recorded the highest plant height, internodal length, number of branches, stomatal conductance, LAI, fresh herbage yield and dry herbage yield. This shows that the species is well adapted to open, 25 and 50 per cent shade condition.
No significant difference in the total herbage and dry herbage yield was noticed in the fifteen accessions evaluated, irrespective of the shade condition under which they were grown. This indicates that shade has significant influence on the growth and yield of mint accessions.
When the herbage yield of the three species under different shade levels is compared, it can be summarized that all species produced the highest herbage yield under 25 per cent shade condition followed by open condition. The lowest yield was noticed under 50 per cent shade condition in all species. Thus it can be concluded that among the three shade levels, 25 per cent shade was found to be ideal for all species evaluated followed by open condition and 50 per cent shade was found to be the least favourable for all species.
From this it can be deduced that mild shade (25 %) condition is ideal for producing better yield followed by open condition, partial shade (50 %) is not ideal for getting higher yield in different mint species.
With regard to the performance of different accessions, pepper mint accessions like S2A4, S2A3 and S2A2 recorded the highest fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield and benefit cost ratio (BCR) under mild shade (25 %) condition. So these three accessions were found to be promising under Kerala condition.