light interception

1. WELCOME

2. Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University
COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE, V. R .Gudem
SEMINAR ON
“Light interception by trees in relation to
multistoried / multitier cropping system”
P.Leela Janaki
VHM/15-14
Department of
-PSMA
Course incharge
Dr.M.Rajsekhar
Professor

3. TOPIC DIVISION
 Introduction of multistoried cropping system
 Benefits and principles of multistoried cropping system
 Multistoried cropping system combinations
 Light interception
 Impact of light interception on crop production
 Standard methods for measuring light interception
 Measurement of light interception in oil palm plantation
 Light interception in coconut
 Light interception in coconut based multistoried cropping system
 Light interception in arecanut based multistoried cropping system
 Light interception in oil palm
 SWOT analysis of multistoried cropping system
 Conclusion
3

4.  Multi-story/Multi-tier Cropping
Growing plants of different height in the same
field at the same time.
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4

5. INTRODUCTION
 Other names are multi-layer cropping and multi-tier
cropping.
 It is one kind of intercropping.
 It is mostly practiced in orchards and plantation
crops for maximum use of solar energy .
 The main objective is to utilize the vertical space
more effectively.
 In this system, the tallest components have foliage of
strong light and high evaporative demand and shorter
components with foliage requiring shade and
relatively high humidity. 5

6. BENEFITS OF MULTISTORIED CROPPING SYSTEM
 Helps to maximize land use.
 All growing space is used as crop fit together vertically (tall,
medium & short), horizontally (all planting spots occupied)
and underground (deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants).
 Reduces the impacts of hazards like high intensity rainfall, soil
erosion.
 Efficiently utilizes the soil moisture at different depths of soil
and catch solar energy at different heights.
6

7. BENEFITS OF MULTISTORIED CROPPING
SYSTEM
 Natural resources are utilized properly.
 Efficiency in water use.
 Enrich in fertility status of soils.
 Improve the soil characteristics and adds organic matter to
soil
 Effective utilization of leaching materials.
 It helps in effective weed control
7

8. EXAMPLES OF SOME MULTISTORIED
CROPPING PATTERN
 Coconut+ black pepper+ cacao+ pineapple
 Coconut+ jackfruit+ coffee+ papaya+ pineapple
 Coconut+ papaya+ pineapple
 Coconut+ coffee+ papaya+ pineapple
 Coconut+ coffee+ black pepper
 Coconut+ banana+ coffee
 Coconut+ banana+ black pepper
 Coconut+ papaya+ pineapple+ peanut
 Coconut+ banana+ Taro
 Coconut+ banana+ ginger
 Coconut+ banana + pineapple
 Areca nut+ betel vine+ papaya+ pigeon pea+ pineapple+ ginger 8

9. FEASIBILITY OF MULTI STORIED CROPPING SYSTEM IN
HORTICULTURAL CROPS
 Horticultural crops especially fruits and plantation crops are
perennial in nature and long pre-bearing period (Mango,
Coconut, Areca nut, Cashew).
 Crops have wider spacing and are tall growing eg: Coconut
(7.5X7.5m, 15-20m ht.), Areca nut (2.7X 2.7m, 15-20m ht.),
Oil palm (9X9m, 10-15m ht.).
 Canopy cover (Occupation of space) is very slow, took years
together and more than 60-70% inter space is not effectively
utilized (Mango, Sapota, Coconut, Areca nut).
 Crop geometry and rooting pattern among perennials, semi-
perennials and annual crops could be compatible without any
adverse effect on main crops(Arecanut, Cocoa, Banana, Ginger,
Turmeric, Pineapple). 9

10.  Crops are shade loving and tolerance to dripping of rain drops
and high humidity (Banana, Cocoa, Turmeric, Ginger,
Pineapple, Pepper).
 Crops are the good source of bio-mass and byproducts which
are easily recyclable and decomposable (Cocoa, Coconut,
Areca nut, Cashew, Tree spices, Turmeric, Ginger, Mango,
Guava).
 Crops having different harvesting time and period which
facilitates for sustainable income (Banana, Cocoa, Coconut,
Areca nut, Pineapple, Ginger, Turmeric).
 Suitability / tolerance to prevailing micro – climatic condition
(Black pepper, Cocoa, Pineapple, Tree spices, Heliconia,
Marigold, Jasmine) .
10

11. PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN MULTISTORIED
CROPPING
The basic principles of multistorey cropping system include
 Opportunities for crop diversification on scientific,
ecological & economic principles;
 Maximize system productivity;
 Utilization of resources with higher efficiency;
 Intensive input use and
 Sustainability of farm resources & environment on long
term perspective.
11

12. MULTI-STOREY CROP COMBINATIONS
 Multistoried cropping with permanent and annual
crops
 Multistoried cropping with permanent crops only
12

13. MULTISTORIED CROPPING WITH PERMANENT AND
ANNUAL CROPS
 Trees like coconut, rubber and oil palm plantations are generally
quite widely spaced and the trunks only occupy a small fraction
of the land surface.
 Since the tree canopies generally let through most of the light, it
is possible to grow crops underneath them.
 Subject to soil fertility, a second or even third crop can be
supported.
 Nelliat et al (1974) described interesting multistoried crop
combination consisting of coconut and black pepper and coffee
and pineapple
13

14.  In Malaysia, intercropping in the two main plantation crops
rubber and oil palm, is done successfully with maize, upland
rice, soya beans, groundnuts and cassava (Benclove, 1975).
 Associations of rubber and maize or cassava can also be found
in Latin America (Morales et al,1949).
 In such plant communities, shading and windbreak effects
create a favourable micro-climate for the storeys below, the
crop chosen for each successive lower storey should be less
light demanding than the one above.
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15. MULTISTORIED CROPPING WITH PERMANENT
CROPS ONLY
 Multi-storey cropping of rubber and cacao is reported by
Hacquart (1944) in the Congo, by Allen (1955) in
Malaysia and by Hunter (1961) in Costa Rica.
 Associations of rubber and coffee can be found in
Malaysia (Allen, 1955),Indonesia (Cramer, 1957),and
Costa Rica (Hunter,1961).
 A less common system can be found in arid areas where
many layers of date palm, apricot and vegetables are
traditionally grown in desert oasis (Baldy, 1963). 15

16. 12/19/2016
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17. Light interception
 Sun light intercepted by tree canopy, relative to total
incoming sunlight is called as the light interception.
 In the interception of light (LI) by a canopy, difference
between the solar incident radiation and reflected
radiation by the soil surface (Villalobos et al., 2002)
 It is a determining factor in crop development and
provides the energy needed for fundamental
physiological processes such as photosynthesis and
transpiration.
17

19.  Plants intercept direct and diffuse sunlight.
 The upper leaves receive both types of radiation, while the
lower leaves intercept a small portion of direct radiation.
 Diffuse radiation therefore, becomes more significant in the
lower leaves due to radiation transmitted and reflected from
the leaves and the soil surface.
 From a practical point of view, the solar radiation spectrum is
divided into regions, each with its own characteristic
properties
19

20.  Visible radiation, between the wavelengths of 400 and 700 nm,
is the most important type from an eco-physiological
viewpoint, as it relates to photosynthetically active radiation
(PAR).
 Only 50% of the incident radiation is employed by the plant to
perform photosynthesis (Varlet-Gancher et al, 1993).
 The quantity of radiation intercepted is influenced by leaf
angle, the leaf surface affecting light reflection, the thickness
and chlorophyll concentration, which affect the light
transmission, the size and shape of the leaf phyllotaxis and the
elevation of the sun and distribution of direct and diffuse solar
radiation.
20

21. LIGHT INTERCEPTION
 Of the 100% total energy received by the leaf only 5% is
converted into carbohydrates for biomass production
later.
 Losses of energy are:
By non-absorbed wavelengths: 60%.
Reflection and transmission: 8%.
Heat dissipation: 8%.
Metabolism: 19%.
 Of the global radiation incident on the plant canopy only
a proportion is used to carry out photosynthesis: PAR
(photosynthetic active radiation). 21

22. Photosynthetically Active Radiation : 400-700nm
22

23. EFFECT OF INTERCEPTED RADIATION ON
GROWTH AND CROP PRODUCTION
Depends on
 The ability of plant cover to intercept the incident
radiation.
 The architecture of vegetation cover.
 Conversion efficiency of the energy captured by the plant
into biomass
 The efficiency of interception of PAR depends on the
leaf area of the plant population (Varlet-Grancher et al.,
1989) as well as on the leaf shape and inclination to the
canopy.
23

24.  The incident solar radiation, which is the main factor
influencing the efficiency of interception of a canopy
corresponds to the capacity of the plant population in
photosynthesis and the transpiration processes (Thorpe, 1978).
 The efficient crops tend to spend their early growth to expand
their leaf area; they make a better use of solar radiation.
 Solar radiation also has an important role in the processes of
evaporation and transpiration.
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25. STANDARDIZED METHODS FOR
MEASURING INTERCEPTED PAR IN
CANOPIES
25

26.  Light (solar radiation) provides the energy to drive
photosynthesis.
 Of the light spectrum, the range that can be used by plants for
photosynthesis are wavelengths between 400 nm (blue) and
700 nm (red), and is termed ‘photosynthetically active
radiation’ (PAR).
 The amount of light within the crop canopy can be measured
with a ceptometer (a long thin probe with up to 80 PAR
sensors along its length), from which the amount of PAR
intercepted by the crop can be estimated.
26

27. LEAF AREA INDEX
 LAI is broadly defined as the amount of leaf area (m2) in
a canopy per unit ground area (m2)Watson (1947)
 LAI is related to photosynthesis and primary production
(biomass)
 LAI influences how light moves through a Canopy
 LAI influences microclimate
 LAI can be used as an indicator of canopy health or
development
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28. 28

29. 12/19/2016
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30. Awal et al., (2005) has given methodology for measurement of
radiation interception by quantum sensor of the oil palm plantation.
 LICOR radiation sensors, model LI-190SA and model LI-191SA
were used for photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) measurement
above and below the canopy with "Triangular" method and
"Circular" method.
Measurement procedure
 Squire (1984) used a square method for the determination of PAR
interception under oil palm tree.
 Twenty-five points are normally used with the PAR sensor around
each palm tree for small areas, and selected measuring points for
large areas.
 However, two different measuring techniques were evaluated in
this study.
30

31. 12/19/2016
31
Quantum sensor for above-
canopy
measurement of PAR
Quantum sensor for below
canopy
measurement of PAR

32. METHODS FOR PAR MEASUREMENT
32
TRIANGULAR METHOD CIRCULAR METHOD

33. The triangular method
 A triangle was formed using plastic rope connecting three
palms.
 Every arm of the triangle was divided into six equal parts.
 Each marking point of the triangle was joined by a plastic rope.
 Every intersection point was treated as a measuring point,
where the quantum sensor was placed for the below canopy
radiation data recording.
33

34. The circular method
 In the circular method, a circular area under the palm tree
was considered.
 The outermost circle corresponds to the frond tip while the
frond base considered as the centre point of the circle.
 This circle was divided into sectors according to zenith and
azimuth angles for proper PAR estimation of spatial
variation.
 Each circle and line were drawn by white marking powder.
 A total of twenty-four measuring points were used for
every palm tree in order to measure the below canopy
radiation.
34

35.  In both the triangular method and the circular method,
the quantum sensor was placed 0.5 meter above the
ground for the below canopy data recording.
 The line quantum sensor was used for the below canopy
recording.
 LI = (PAR above canopy - PAR below canopy) / (PAR
above canopy)
Or
 LI = [1-(PAR below canopy) / (PAR above canopy)]
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36. CALCULATION OF RADIATION
INTERCEPTION IN OILPALM CANOPY
PQ sensor
reading
Conversion
factor
Above
canopy
reading
Below canopy
reading
Radiation
interception
1000.10 0.95 950.10 287.20 0.6977
967.81 0.95 919.42 256.34 0.7211
1007.40 0.95 957.03 220.30 0.7698
1013.20 0.95 962.54 216.37 0.7752
938.68 0.95 891.75 215.10 0.7587
989.41 0.95 939.94 346.80 0.6314
1025.90 0.95 974.61 296.60 0.6956
1065.10 0.95 1011.81 301.26 0.7022
1064.10 0.95 1010.89 299.35 0.7038
1036.00 0.95 984.20 289.35 0.7060
1013.70 0.95 963.02 276.31 0.7130
1052.80 0.95 1000.16 274.21 0.7258
36

37. Light interception in coconut based multistoried
cropping system12/19/2016 37

38.  The coconut palm has the potential, under favourable climate
and soil conditions, to live for over 100 years.
 In the absence of seasonal variation in temperature and water
supply, the palm produces a new frond every 25 to 30 days
throughout much of its life.
 In spite of this regularity, however, the shape of the coconut
crown, and its ability to intercept light, go through a distinct
series of changes with age of the palm.
(Foale et al. 1993)
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39. THIS SERIES OF DRAWINGS OF THE CROWN OF A
COCONUT PALM AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF ITS LIFE
39

40. 1. In a young palm less that 8 years old all fronds retain an
upward sweep.
2. As the palm begins to produce fruit, physical pressure
between the frond bases begins to force them downwards,
giving the crown a hemispherical shape.
3. A 'fully mature' palm assumes a spherical shape as few
fronds reside in a horizontal position and many decline
below that plane.
4. An extreme case of rapid 'drooping' of fronds in response to
a heavy load of fruit or to severe water deficit.
5. An older palm showing signs of reduced longevity and size
of the fronds,which results in a further decline in light
interception.
6. A senescent palm showing a low number of surviving
fronds and rapid drooping of new fronds. 40

41. Canopy structure and light utilization
 Coconut crown and the orientation of leaves allow
part of the incident solar radiation to pass through
the canopy and fall on the ground.
 The light intensity at ground level was always higher
than 6700 lux at all the periods of the year (Nair,
1979)
 The leaves in the crown are not randomly
distributed, but clumped around growing points.
 This non-random distribution will also lead to low
extinction coefficient of around 0.65 for PAR.
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42. Age and spacing of coconut palms, soil
fertility, varietal characteristics, leaf area and
time of the day influence the light penetration
through the canopy.
With the movement of sun and that of
coconut fronds in the wind, the light and
shade patterns under the palms are constantly
changing.
The distribution of light at different positions
in the canopy zone of coconut varies very
much because of the non-random distribution
of leaves
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43. LIGHT ULTILIZATION IN COCONUT
The amount of light transmitted ranges from 5%
in a five to ten year old D x T hybrid to about 90%
in a 60-70 year old plantation.
Nair and Balakrishnan (1976) estimated,56% of
the sunlight was transmitted through the canopy
during the peak hours (10-16 hours) in palms
aged around 25 years.
The diffused sunlight facilitates growing a number
of shade tolerant crops in the interspaces.
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44. Apparent coverage of ground by coconut canopies of
various age groups
(Source: Nelliat et al., 1974)
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45. Based on the growth habit and the amount
of light transmitted, the life span of coconut is
divided into :
a. Planting till full development of canopy (about 5- 8
years):
 A major portion of the solar energy is not being
intercepted by coconut leaves.
 The suitable crops are cereals, grain legumes,
vegetables, spice crops, fruit crops like banana,
pineapple etc.
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46. b. Young palms (8 to 25 years):
• Maximum ground coverage and low-
moderate canopy to poor light availability- not
congenial for multiple cropping.
• The suitable intercrops are black pepper,
chillies, beverage crops like cocoa, coffee, fruit
crops like rambutan, mangosteen, citrus etc.
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47. c. Mature trees (more than 25 years ):
Increase in trunk height; reduction in crown size -
light transmission increasing with age (high light
levels) .
The amount of slant rays of sun falling on the
ground increases and consequently, the apparent
coverage of ground by the canopy of coconut
decreases progressively.
Ideal for raising annual/perennial crops as
multiple and multi-storeyed cropping models.
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48. RECOMMENDED INTERCROPS UNDER THE THREE
PHASES OR STAGES OF THE LIFE-SPAN OF COCONUT
• In open-fields, the full sunlight intensity is around
6,600 ft-candles (300-330 photosynthetic active
radiation or PAR).
• But in coconut stands (under the tree), it ranges from
1,100-2,500 ft-candles (50-119 PAR), depending on
the age and spacing of the trees.
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49. Growth Duration and productivity periods, levels of
sunlight transmission and suitable intercrops
Phase
(Stage)
Duration Level of available sunlight/ highly suitable intercrops
I Field-planting to
6 years
High to Moderate/Highly Suitable Intercrops:
Cereals - corn, upland rice
Legumes - cowpea, peanut
Root crops - sweet potato
Fruit crops - pineapple, citrus, watermelon, papaya, banana
II 7-25 years Moderate to Low/Highly Suitable Crops:
Black pepper, cacao, coffee, tomato, vanilla, ginger,
rambutan, durian, mangosteen,
III 26-60 years High/Highly Suitable Crops:
Cereals - corn, upland rice
Legumes – peanut,cowpea, beans
Vegetables - tomato, eggplant, cabbage, sweet pepper
Root crops - sweet potato, gabi, cassava
Beverage crops - coffee,cocoa 49

50. Annual and perennial crops grown in coconut
garden as storey crops
Sl.no crops References
1 Tubers/Root crops and Rhizomatous
spices
Cassava, Elephant foot yam, Sweet potato,
Greater yam, Lesser yam, Chinese potato,
Colocasia, Ginger, Turmeric, Potato
Nair (1979), Varghese et al.(1978b),
Ramakrishnan Nayar and
Sadanandan (1990),
Maheswarappa et.al (2003)
2 Cereals and millets
Rice, Pearlmillet, Fingermillet, Baragu,
wheat
Gopalasundaram and Nelliat (1979)
3 Pulses and Oilseeds
Cowpea, Green gram, Black gram,
Redgram, Ground nut, Soybean,
Bengalgram, Sunflower
Gopalasundaram and Nelliat(1979),
Potty (1978),
Hegde and Yusuf (1993)
4 Vegetable crops
Chillies, Potato, French bean, Snake gourd,
Amaranthus, Brinjal, Bottle gourd, Ridge
gourd, Coccinia, Dolichos bean, Tomato,
Rethinam (1989),
Hegde et al. (1993),
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51. Sl.
no
Crops References
5 Fruit crops
Banana, Pineapple, Papaya, Guava,
Lemon,
Lime
Nelliat et al. (1974), Nair (1977),
Gopalasundaram and Nelliat (1979),
Gopalasundaram et al. (1993),
Maheswarappa et al. (2003a), Subramanian
et al. (2009)
6 Fodder crops
Pusa Giant, Hybrid napier
Guinea grass, Fodder cowpea,
Hybrid napier, Centrosema,
Hybrid bajra napier (CO-3)
Ramakrishnan Nayar and
Sahasranaman(1978),
Jacob Mathew and Shaffee (1979),
Sahasranaman et al. (1983),
Maheswarappaand Hegde (1995), CPCRI
(2004),
Subramanian et al. (2007)
7 Medicinal and Aromatic crops
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides),
Indian long pepper (Piper longum)
Maheswarappa et al. (2008),
CPCRI (2008),CPCRI (2003)
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52. Sl.no Crops References
8 Flowering crops
Heliconia, Anthurium, Jasminum sp.
CPCRI (2003), Arunachalam
and Reddy
(2007)
9 Tree crops
Acacia mangium, Acacia auriculoformis,
Casuarina equisetifolia, Ailanthus sp.,
Tectona grandis, Tamarindus indica,
Erythrina indica
CPCRI (1989)
10 Spices/Tree spices
Black pepper, Vanilla, Nutmeg,
Cinnamon, Clove,
Nelliat et al. (1974), Nair
(1977), CPCRI, (1984),
Maheswarappa and Anitha
Kumari (2002),
Maheswarappa et al. (2003b),
CPCRI (2009)
11 Cocoa Nelliat et al. (1974), Nair
(1977),
Abdul
Khader et al. (1984), Bavappa
et al. (1986),
Nair et al. (1975)
12 Mulberry CPCRI (2002)
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53. 53
LIGHT INTERCEPTION IN COCONUT
BASED MULTISTORIED CROPPING
SYSTEM

54.  Rahim et al ., (2012) conducted experiment at coconut
orchard of Bangladesh Agricultural University, to investigate
the performance of three medicinal plants viz. aloe vera,
asparagus and misridana
 Coconut trees were planted thirty years before (August, 1978)
in the spacing of 8m x 8m. As the middle layer plant, both
guava and lemon were five years old. Spacing between plants
of guava and/or lemon and between rows were 3m × 3m.
 Three treatments combinations were:
T1- coconut + guava + individual three medicinal plant
T2- coconut + lemon + individual three medicinal plant
T3- individual three medicinal plants in open condition.
54

55.  In the open condition, T3 received 100% sunlight; while
coconut + guava based system (T1) and coconut + lemon
based system (T2) were allowed 42 to 46% and 53 to 58%
sunlight for the growth of the three medicinal plants,
respectively.
 The results revealed that among the three medicinal plants,
asparagus and misridana produced maximum yield under
multistoried system, while aloe vera yielded maximum in sole
cropping.
 Despite of lower yields of aloe vera, the highest gross returns
were observed under coconut based multistoried systems
compared to sole cropping.
55

56.  A trial was conducted at Horticultural Research Station,
Ambajipeta during 2008-12 with cocoa, banana, pineapple,
elephant foot yam and heliconia as intercrops in coconut.
 The mean data of four years revealed that nut yield of 117.3
per palm was recorded in coconut as intercrop and 96.5 nuts
per palm when grown as monocrop.
 With respect to intercrops, cocoa recorded yield of 2.0 kg dry
beans/tree, banana 22.7 kg/plant, pineapple 0.9 kg/plant,
elephant foot yam yielded corm of weight 2.8 kg/plant and
Heliconia 12 spikes/plant.
 With respect to biomass production, a total quantity of 34.5
t/ha/year on fresh weight basis collected from the bio-system
(7.6 tonnes from coconut,15.0 tonnes from cocoa ,6.0 tonnes
from banana , 3.6 tonnes from Pineapple, 1.3 tonnes from
elephant foot yam and 1.0 ton from heliconia) which was
used for the preparation of compost.
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57. MULTISTORIED CROPPING SYSTEM IN
HRS,AMBAJIPETA
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58. THE GEOMETRIC SPACING OF INTERCROPS,
VARIETY AND RECOMMENDED DOSE OF
FERTILIZERS ARE GIVEN BELOW.
Main crop/Inter
Crop
Variety/Hybrid Spacing No. of Plants
Recommended dose of
Fertilizer as per DrYSRHU
Coconut
Godavari ganga
(ECT X GBGD)
8.0 x 8.0 m 90 palms
500:320:1000g NPK/palm
Cocoa Forestero 2.75m x 2.75 m 108 plants
100:40:140g NPK/plant
Banana T C keli 1.5 x 1.5 m 324 plants
200:50:200g NPK/plant
Pineapple Kew 0.45 x 0.45 m
72 beds/ 12 plants per
bed (864 plants)
8:4:8 g NPK/plant
Elephant foot yam Gajendra 0.60 x 0.60 m
27 beds/18 plants per bed
(486 plants)
9:3:9 g NPK/plant
Heliconia Golden Torch 0.45 x 0.45 m
27 beds/ 18 plants per bed
(486 plants)
20:20:20 g NPK/plant
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59. LIGHT INTERCEPTION IN THE CROPPING SYSTEM
AND MONOCROP:
Treatments PAR
(µ mole/m2/s)
Light
Interception (%)
Open Field 1900 -
CBCS 1330 30.0
Monocrop 1710 10.0
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59

60.  Philippine Coconut Authority(Department of Agriculture)
(2003) has given a model for multistorey cropping model i.e.,
coconut+ papaya +pineapple+ peanut
60

61.  To optimize the achievable yield of intercrops under the coconut-
pineapple-papaya-peanut cropping system, it is essential to
provide the suitable conditions for the various intercrops.
Factor Coconut Pineapple/papaya Peanut
Altitude (m above sea
level)
Less than 600 Less than 750 Less than 750
Temperature (o C) 24- 29 15-35 15-35
Light >2000 sunshine
hours/year
3000-8000 ft-candles 3000-8000 ft-
candles
Total annual rainfall
(mm)
1500- 2500
(well distributed)
>1000
(10-12 months)
>1000
(10-12 months)
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62.  Some of the key benefits of the coconut+ papaya+ pineapple+
peanut cropping system are as follow:
 Do not compete for soil resources, except when grown in dry
growing zones.
 Intensifies land use which increases returns on cash inputs.
 Provides better labor-use pattern and income distribution.
62

63.  NAIR, P. K. R, BALAKRISHNAN, T. K,1976 had given pattern of
light interception by canopies in a coconut cacao crop combination
 The intensity of light falling on the ground at different times of the
day in a coconut [Cocos nucifera] cacao [Theobroma cacao] crop mix
was measured during different seasons of the year.
 During the peak bright hours of the day (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) an average
of 44% light was intercepted by coconut in a pure palm stand.
 Of the 56% sunlight available for cacao, the crop was able to
intercept 63% when it was planted in a single hedge only, and at least
76% when planted in double hedges as a mixed crop with coconut.
 The light available for cacao on a per plant basis was less in double
hedge; this could be one of the reasons for less yield per plant in
double hedge than in single hedge.
63

64.  Rahman et al.,(2014) has done experiment on productivity and
profitability of different fruit crops grown in multistorey coconut
Garden.
 An experiment on established multi-storied fruit garden (coconut
+ litchi + sweet orange+ pineapple) was conducted.
 In multi-storied fruit garden each fruit crop was taken as one
treatment and its sole garden, as another treatment.
 Light availability for litchi, sweet orange and pine apple were
about 55% less than that for the sole crop.
 The shade provided by coconut tree helped producing quality
sweet orange fruit.
 The growth of the pineapple plant was positively influenced by
the shade.
64

65. LIGHT AVAILABILITY FOR DIFFERENT FRUITS OF
MULTISTOREY FRUIT GARDENING AND THE
CORRESPONDING SOLE CROPS
65
Fruit crop Light availability (Lux) Reduced light compared
to full sun (%)
Coconut in MSFG 977 x 100 -
Litchi in MSFG 434 x 100 55.5
Sweet orange in MSFG 436 x 100 55.4
Pineapple in MSFG 441 x 100 54.86
Coconut (sole) 982 x 100 -
Litchi (sole) 975 x 100 -
Sweet orange (sole) 979 x 100 -
Pineapple (sole) 968 x 100 -

66.  D. K. GHOSH and A. BANDOPADHYAY has given productivity
and profitability of coconut based cropping systems with fruits and
black pepper in West Bengal
 ·Six coconut based cropping models are
Model I:Coconut + Black pepper + guava,
Model II: Coconut + Black pepper + lime,
Model III :Coconut+ Black pepper+ lemon,
Model IV :Coconut+ Black pepper+ Pineapple,
Model V: Coconut+ Black pepper +Banana
Model VI : Coconut+ Black pepper
 Economic assessment of models revealed that out of 6 models,
Model-V (consists of coconut, black pepper, pineapple) was more
remunerative.
 It was also observed that multiple cropping in coconut plantation
under recommended package of practice of both main crop and
intercrop, had no adverse effect on production of coconut
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68.  On an average 8-9 leaves are borne in adult arecanut palm.
 The canopy area and leaf area are about 11.2 m2 and 22.0 m2,
respectively.
 The arecanut canopy covers a ground area of 9.1 m2and the
LAI is found to be 2.44.
 The first fully open and third leaves showed the highest
photosynthesis.
 Approximately 30-50% of PAR is transmitted through the
arecanut canopy (Balasimha and Subramonian, 1984 and
Balasimha, 1989).
 Under the arecanut canopy, the light environment is highly
dynamic due to variations in shade cover, solar angle and
canopy structure.
68

69.  The orientation and structure of arecanut canopy permits 32.7-
47.8% of incident radiation to penetrate down to the ground
depending on spacing of arecanut.
 It was further reported that light interception varied between 57
to 64% in arecanut planted at 2.7 x 2.7 m, while it went up to
97.2% with the presence of intercrops (Muralidharan, 1980).
 The review by Balasimha (2004) indicated that only 43% of
light is intercepted by arecanut monocrop, while it can be
increased to 95% with mixed crops.
69

70.  The interception of the remaining radiation depends on the
nature of intercrop canopy and leaf area index.
 Balasimha (2006) observed that cocoa intercepted 98% of the
light once the canopy fully develops compared to 76.5% at
the initial years.
 For example, cocoa with compact canopy and more leaf area
intercepts nearly 90% of available light.
 Black pepper which is trained on arecanut palms receives
differential light, which is dependent on directional and
diurnal effects.
 The above review implies that 40% of land and 43% of light
are utilized in sole arecanut and there is an excellent
opportunity for temporal and spatial distribution of crop
species in arecanut gardens.
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71.  The light penetration from an arecanut canopy and yield were
optimum in 1:1 ratio of arecanut and cocoa combination at 3.3 x
3.3 m spacing.
 However, in the existing arecanut gardens with 2.7 x 2.7 m
spacing, a planting of 2.7 x 5.4 m for cocoa is good due to least
self-shading.
 The leaf morphology and photosynthetic rates attain optimum
levels under these conditions (Balasimha, 1987 and 2006).
 Multistoried cropping in arecanut typically comprises of black
pepper, cocoa, clove, pineapple, coffee and banana occupying
different vertical airspaces.
 Growing these crops did not affect the main arecanut crop
(Bavappa et al., 1986 and Abdul Khader et al., 1992).
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72. PAR PROFILE UNDER ARECANUT CANOPY AT
DIFFERENT SPACING
SOURCE:V.RAJAGOPAL AND D.BALASIMHA,(2004)
SPACING
PAR
μ mol m-2 s-1
9.00 h 12.00 h 15.30 h
2.7 X 2.7 m 73 470 135
3.3 x3.3 m 80 1410 307
3.9 X 3.9 m 43 950 600
1.8 x 5.4 m 650 1710 810
72

73.  The crop occupying higher airspace should have lower
interception efficiency and higher photosynthesis.
 More shade tolerant species are desirable at lower vertical
heights.
 Plants adapt to shade by modifications in leaf thickness
and higher chlorophyll contents.
 These under storey plants recorded higher chlorophyll and
leaf thickness.
 Light interception by different canopies of intercrops at
different heights and measurements of canopy structure in
relation to light were reported in multistoried cropping
(Abdul Khader et al., 1992)
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73

74. PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF
INTERCROPS OF ARECANUT
SOURCE:V.RAJAGOPAL AND D.BALASIMHA,(2004)
Species PAR
μ mol m-2 s-1
Leaf temp 0C Transp
μ mol m-2 s-1
Banana 508 2.3 33.01
Clove 613 31.7 1.72
Coffee 438 31.6 2.23
Cocoa 980 34.9 3.52
Pepper 352 31.9 2.02
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75.  This is used for demonstrating the relative competition for light
by component species.
 The crop species with leaf areas at higher strata is always at an
advantage to larger radiation.
 When such canopies become large enough and intercept most
of the light, the component species at lower strata are at a
disadvantage and are to be subsequently removed.
75

76. LIGHT INTERCEPTION AND COCOA GROWTH IN
MULTISTORIED ARECANUT PLANTATION
 Cocoa is grown as mixed crop in arecanut plantations in India.
 For optimum productivity, proper canopy management to
maintain shape and size is required.
 The experiments with seedling progenies and grafts have shown
with cocoa (two spacings (S1 - 2.7 x 2.7 m; S2 - 2.7 x 5.4 m).
 Three canopy sizes (P1 - small, P2 - medium and P3 - large)
treatments, the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and
light interception varied significantly among the treatments
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77. LIGHT INTERCEPTION IN COCOA GRAFTS
GROWN UNDER ARECA CANOPY
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78. LIGHT INTERCEPTION IN OIL PALM

79. SCOPE OF MULTISTORIED CROPPING IN
OILPALM
 Normally, it is planted in an equilateral triangular system having
9x9x9m spacing.
 Such a wide spacing is required for canopy development at peak
vegetative growth which comes after 10 years of planting.
 Based on growth, the life span of oil palm is divided into three
distinct phases i.e.,
First phase called juvenile/pre bearing is spread over 3 yrs
Second phase (yield stabilizing) 4-10 years and
Third phase (mature) starts from 11th year onwards.
 Complete covering of inter space, crisscrossing of leaves and short
trunk (<1 m height) will make inter cropping difficult during the first
3 years (4, 5 & 6 yr) of II phase.
Ramachandrudu et al., (2013)
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79

80.  After 10 years, there is a gradual increase in trunk height and
reduction in crown size which facilitates more penetration of
sun light to reach the ground.
 The crop combination in the multi-tier system viz: oil palm+
cocoa or cinnamon or glyricidia with balck pepper+ pepper
trailed on oil palm+ anthurium or kacholam has enhanced the
out put of the system.
 This showed that the system does not have adverse effect on
the nutritional health and performance of oil palm.
 Crops like cocoa, coco-yam and banana add lot of organic
matter to the system
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80

81.  Onwubuya et al., (1988) noted that Nigerian peasant
farmers pruned oil palm groves to the spear leaf in order to
allow sufficient light for food crops. The same is practised
in Ghana.
 On the plantations, the small-scale farmers intercrop oil
palm with food crops, but this is limited to the early stages,
when the oil palms have not yet developed a closed canopy.
 This is because the majority of the food crops grown as
intercrops with oil palm such as maize, plantain and
cassava are not suited to grow under shade (Hartley, 1988).
81

82.  Sparnaaji (1957) in Nigeria reported that intercropping of
oil palm with maize, cassava and plantain during the
early years of tree establishment generally had no
adverse effect on the growth and yield of the palm.
 Hartley, (1988) observed that in oil palm shading and
competition for light are the major factors for yield
suppression of food crops by oil palm and other tree
crops.
 The extent of shading and radiation distribution within
canopies varies with tree species and is related to tree
growth stage (Rosenberg, 1974, and Vandermeer,1989)
82

83. STRENGTHS AND HOW TO
SUSTAIN/IMPROVE MULTISTORIED SYSTEM
 The technology is flexible.
 Failure of one crop component can be compensated by other
components (improved food security).
 It maintains soil fertility through the recycling of nutrients
 Incorporate tree legumes in the system (Gliricida as support
for Black pepper)
 It is a very effective way of using and conserving water.
 Strong research and development: because of its importance
in the economy, the technology has spawned various research
activities. 83

84. WEAKNESS IN MULTISTORIED
CROPPING SYSTEM
 Establishment of windbreaks: Leguminous trees such as
Acacias could provide wind protection for lower crops
like papaya or coffee.
 High labour requirement(eg: weeding, harvesting).
 Weeding may be reduced for some components (eg
coffee), but pineapple always requires difficult (due to its
thorny leaves)and intensive weeding.
 Pest and diseases (eg papaya virus, which may have
developed because it has been part of the system for a
long time) Intensified research and development.
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85. THREATS IN MULTISTORIED CROPPING
SYSTEM
 Drought conditions.
 Lack of funds.
 Lack of technical knowledge of cropping systems.
 Timely unavailability of inputs.
 Pest & disease incidents.
 Lack of irrigation facilities.
 Lack of labour availability.
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86. OPPORTUNITIES OF MULTISTORIED CROPPING
SYSTEM
 Strong research and development: because of its
importance in the economy, the technology has spawned
various research activities.
 Adequate and sustained government support.
 Strong extension service especially for pest and disease
control.
 Failure of one crop component can be compensated by
the other component
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87. CONCLUSION
 In this system, annual and perennial crops are grown side
by side in different tiers by vertical space more
efficiently
 Horticulture crops particularly fruit and plantation crops
have self-sustainable system where solar energy can be
harvested at different heights, soil resources are used
efficiently and can increase cropping intensities.
87