Light use efficiency and flower quality of Heliconia stricta in coconut based cropping system

Research was conducted during 2010-2013 at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kayamkulam, Kerala state, India, to analyse the effect of coconut shade on light use efficiency and quality of flowers of Heliconia stricta, when grown as intercrop under various nutrient management practices in sandy loam soils. Leaf characteristics, including area, leaf area index, specific leaf area, leaf area duration, chlorophyll content and wax content, were measured to determine the light use efficiency of the plants. To assess flower quality, visual appeal, pigment content, and wax content were measured. Light use efficiency and flower quality were positively influenced in plants grown under the coconut canopy compared with open conditions. In both open conditions and under coconut shade, the leaf and inflorescence parameters were superior in plants supplied with vermicompost and neem cake (200 and 100 g per plant, respectively) and 13:5:13 NPK fertilizer, vermicompost, and neem cake (2.5, 100, and 50 g per plant, respectively) at quarterly intervals beginning from three months after planting. Even with similar nutritional management the flower quality was higher for inflorescences produced in plants grown under coconut canopy revealing enhanced light use efficiency and flower quality of H. stricta in coconut based cropping system.