Light interception and leaf area index measurements from three different oil palm planting systems
2003
Mohd Haniff H. | Suboh I. | Dayang Fildia A,A.B. | Mohd Shahabudin I. | Siti Aminah K.
Light is an important growth resources that has to be intercepted by the plant canopy for use in photosynthesis. Light interception and leaf area index measurements were taken from seven-year old oil palms grown under three different planting systems, i.e. normal triangular, single avenue and double avenue plantings, to find out which is the best oil palm planting system for intercropping. Measurements were taken at 0.5 meter intervals along a line transect between two palms. The distribution of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) that penetrates the oil palm canopy was reduced by as much as 50% in the normal triangular planting as compared against the two avenue plantings. This was significantly correlated with the higher leaf area index (LAI) value in the normal triangular planting as compared against the two avenue plantings systems. The empty space between the oil palm avenue plantings is suitable for intercropping with selected crops, since mean PAR transmitted through the palm canopy was about 40%. The normal triangular planting was unsuitable for intercropping since the mean PAR transmitted through the palm canopy was less than 23% in seven-year old palms.
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