Effects of planting distance and stages of harvesting on the growth and dye yield of 'Malatayum' (Indigofera tinctoria L.)

Malatayum planted at 0.75 m x 0.75 m and 0.50 m x 0.50 m from each other was significantly taller with a mean of 105.68 cm and 105.01 cm, respectively than those planted at 1 m x 1 m distance with a mean of 94.53 cm. This implied that compared with wide spacing, closer spacing stimulated plant growth. Also, malatayum was significantly taller when harvested during the pod maturity stage. With regards to crown diameter, results revealed that malatayum planted at 1 m x 1 m distance had the highest mean increase in diameter (59.90 cm). This was followed by 0.75 m x 0.75 m distance (58.34 cm). On the other hand, it was observed that the lowest mean increase of 50.23 cm was obtained in plants spaced at 0.50 m x 0.50 m. It was during pod maturity that crown diameter of the plants was biggest while the smallest crown diameter was obtained when the plants were harvested during the flowering stage. It was also during pod maturity that higher fresh matter was obtained when the plants were harvested during the flowering stage. It was also during pod maturity that higher fresh matter was obtained with a mean of 3.93 kg planted at 1 m x 1 m distance and 3.52 kg on plants spaced at 0.75 m x 0.75 m. During pod formation, malatayum harvested had an average fresh weight of 2.73 kg when spaced at 0.75 m x 0.75 m and 2.23 kg at 1 m x 1 m distance. The least fresh weight was obtained when the plants were harvested during the flowering stage, which implied that the stages of harvesting more than the distance of planting influenced the fresh weight of malatayum. Meanwhile, the highest dye yield was obtained during the pod formation stage with a mean of 33.57 g planted at 0.75 m x 0.75 m followed by plants spaced at 1 m x 1 m with a mean of 29.57 g. At pod maturity, malatayum harvested yielded 20.83 g at 1 m x 1 m and 17.77 g m 0.75 m x 0.75 m distance and the least dye yield was obtained during the flowering stages. Same as with the fresh weight, the stages of harvesting also influenced the amount of dye recovered from the extraction process. During the pod formation stage, more dye (1.42%) was recovered from plants spaced at 1 m x 1 m while 1.23% was recovered at 0.75 m x 0.75 m distance. The plants harvested during flowering stage had a 1.22% dye recovery spaced at 1 m x 1 m and the least percentage of dye was recovered from plant harvested at pod maturity. Result revealed that although more fresh matter was taken from plants harvested at pod maturity, more dye yield was obtained during pod formation. This indicated that 84 kg of fresh matter harvested at pod formation, 100 kg at flowering and 188 kg at pod maturity was needed to produce 1 kg of dye.