Influence of stem cuttings, spacing, group planting, light, irrigation and harvesting period on yield in Plectranthus vettiveroides (K.C. Jacob) N. P. Singh & B. D. Sharma

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2010-11, near coastal area at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Puthenthope, Thiruvananthapuram for the development of agrotechnology package in Plectranthus vettiveroides. For propagation, the positional effect and size of stem cuttings on survival rate and sprouting under open and 50% shade net conditions were tested. Influence of stem cuttings from shoot tip to basal portion, individual and group planting per pit, spacing, light intensity, irrigation schedule and harvesting period on growth performance and yield were also tested. The results revealed that four shoot tip cuttings with 1-6 nodes (~15 cm length) planted per pit at a spacing of 35 cm  35 cm under light intensity range of 3000-6000 lux and irrigated daily twice during morning and evening hours showed optimum growth performance and yield. The plants harvested after 70 days of planting yielded maximum shoot and root biomass and oil per unit area basis.