Author(s):

Siddappa R, Basavaraju TB, Maheswarappa HP and Manjunath Hubballi

Abstract: <em>Morinda citrifolia</em> known commercially as Noni, grown widely throughout the pacific and is one of the most significant source of traditional medicinal plant among pacific island societies. It prefers tropical humid island and coastal climate for its natural growth and development including of flowering and fruit setting round the year An experiment was carried out Horticultural research station, Arsikere during 2008. The Noni plants of seedlings and tissue culture plants are planted in 40 years of old coconut garden at a spacing of 7.5 X7.5 m. The Number of fruits per plant and fruit yield (kg/ ha) was higher with tissue culture plants (807, 9893) compared to seedlings (6.49, 8476) at end of 6^thyear of planting. The weight of the fruits per plant was also higher with the tissue culture (23.81Kg/Plant) plants compared to seedlings (27.79Kg/Plant). The juice content and TSS were similar both seedling and tissue culture plants. The biomass addition through leaf litter was higher in tissue culture plants (1643kg/ha) compared to seedlings (1455kg/ha). There was improvement in fertility status of soil due to addition of leaf litter. The coconut yield was unaffected by the intercropping of Noni in coconut garden. The net returns were higher in the mixed cropping system of tissue culture plants with coconut compared to seedlings. Based on the net returns coconut and Noni from tissue culture plants (Rs 244768/ha) was higher compared coconut with Noni seedling (Rs 224415/ha). Hence it can be recommended for commercial cultivation in southern karnataka under irrigated condition.

Pages: 157-160  |  1589 Views  301 Downloads

Download (537KB)