Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

BIOMASS YIELD OF SPICE CROPS AS AFFECTED BY LIGHT INTENSITY UNDER DIFFERENT PHOTO-SELECTIVE COLOUR SHADENETS

C.D. Desai, B.V. Padhiar, C.S. Desai and P.S. Mistry

Abstract

The photo-selective netting (shade house) with different color shades were studied in spices viz., fenugreek, coriander and garlic grown at Soil and Water Management Research Unit, N.A.U., Navsari, Gujarat-396450 during summer season (April-May 2014). In the experiment, five different photo-selective colour shade nets viz., Yellow (S1), Red (S2), White (S3), Blue (S4), Green (S5) with relative shading (50% PAR) were used. Exposure of full sunlight used in open field as Control (S6). Light intensity and radiation was found lower under different colour shade net as compared to open field. Growth parameters like plant height was significantly the highest in the garlic (22.49 cm) grown under red shade net (24.71 cm). Number of primary braches per plant was significantly found higher in coriander (5.84) in red shade net (5.40), the maximum root length (7.51 cm) and number of leaves per plant (23.92 per plant) in fenugreek and in red shade net 6.92 cm and 20.69, respectively. Fresh biomass was significantly recorded the highest in fenugreek (93.81 kg/100m2) under red shade net (80.22 kg/100m2) which was at par with green shade net 73.44 kg. Dry matter yield was highest in garlic (16.22%) as compared to coriander (11.57%) and fenugreek (11.44%); and it was observed higher in white shade net (14.06%) which was at par with red (13.56%), blue (13.47) and green (13.39) shade nets.