Relationship of Bark Yield, Bark and Leaf Oil Contents with Stick Parameters of True Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume)

Abstract

Acute shortage in labour compels some cinnamon farmers to sell the cinnamon sticks and also processors are ready to purchase cinnamon sticks to process in their factories because they can maintain the quality standards. Farmers can claim a fair price for sticks if the yield from cinnamon sticks can be predicted. An experiment was conducted at Cinnamon Research Station, Matara to define the relationship between bark yield and oil contents of cinnamon with stick parameters. Cinnamon stems of mature stage were harvested and weight of leaves, branches, stick, wood, bark and scrape were recorded. Leaf and bark oil contents were also analysed. Stick weight and circumference had high correlation with bark yield and therefore suitable to use in prediction ofyield. At proper maturity stage of cinnamon, average dry bark yield was 5% on fresh weight of stick. The share of leaves, branches and stick over total fresh weight of total stem were 33.5% , 17% and 49.5% , respectively. Percentage of wood, bark and scrape of the total fresh weight of stick were 80% , 12.5% and 7% respectively. Harvesting at shorter intervals with 10-15 cm of circumference can increase the productivity of lands because over mature stems are given higher percentage of wood compare with correct maturity stage. Leaf oil and bark oil contents did not have any significant relationship with circumference of stick.