The Performances of Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) As Component of Agroforestry on Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) Plantation

Abstract

Adlay is an edible high nutritious minor cereal. The research aimed to study the adlay performance when cultivated intercropped on young teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantation. The treatments were consisted of two factors that were arranged by factorial (3 × 3) in randomised completed block design with four replicates. The first factor was three fertilisation dosages of NPK (16-16-16), as 0 g/hole (F0), 2 g/hole (F2) and 4 g/hole (F4). The second factors were three planting space as 2 m × 2 m (PS2), 3 m × 3 m (PS3) and 4 m × 4 m (PS4). The parameter observed were vegetative growth which was consisted of plant height, the number of leaves, tillers and sub tillers, leaf chlorophyll content, grain production and biomass weight. The results revealed that fertilisation treatment were significantly affected the growth and production of adlay. On 12 weeks after planting, the F4 treatment produced the tallest plant, and the highest leaf number. The highest grain number/plant was achieved on the F2 treatment that was significantly different compared with the control (F0). The shading intensity due to the teak coverage significantly affected adlay growth and production. The PS4 treatment produced the highest number of leaves, tillers and grains. The combination of F2 and PS4 treatments resulted in the best growth and production. The PS2 treatment which has lower light intercepted by plants due to lower incident light intensity, resulting in a significant reduction in plant growth and production. It is suggested that adlay offers potency as a component of agro-forestry on the teak plantations.