Above - ground growth performances of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum presel) as affected by potting media

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna mapalana, during May to September, 2004, to study the above ground - growth performance of Cinnamon as affected by three potting media (gravelly soil, silver sand soil and mixture of top soil: sand: compost 1:1:1 ratio). Seeds were sown in 10 x 15 cm size poly bags and seedlings transferred to large poly bags after 6 months (15 cm x 25 cm) and maintained up to 10 months. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five replicates and each replicate with 8 poly- bagged seedlings. Leaf number, leaf area, leaf dry weight, plant height and above ground biomass were measured at two monthly intervals up to 10 months. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated using DMRT. Results did not show a clear trend with regard to the growth parameters up to 8 months of plating. Most of the growth parameters were not significantly affected by potting media at the early stage, but at a later stage, it showed a different trend. There was no significant difference in leaf number up to 8 months period, but significantly higher leaf number was recorded in gravelly soil after 8 months of planting and no significant difference in other media. Although there was no significant difference at the early stage, significantly (Pd”0.05) higher leaf area was recorded in plants grown in silver sand soil compared to gravelly soil and soil mixture, after 8 months of planting. Significantly higher (Pd”0.05) leaf dry weight was recorded in plants grown in gravelly soil after 8 months of planting. Plant height was not significantly different among different potting media. No significant difference was recorded in above ground biomass up to 8 months and after that it was significantly higher (Pd”0.05) in gravelly soil, whereas no significant difference was observed in plants grown in silver sand and soil mixture. Considering all growth parameters, it could be concluded that plants grown in gravelly soils showed better shoot growth performance, followed by those raised in silver sand and soil mixture.