Influence of planting material and nutrients on herbage and oil yield of patchouli grown under coconut

A study was conducted at two locations to know the influence of planting materials and nutrient management practices on production of patchouli under coconut in 2004-2005. Influence of graded levels of nutrients (40:20:20, 60:30:30, 80:40:40 and 100:50:50 kg N:P:K ha-1 crop-1 ) and vermicompost were studied on rooted cuttings and tissue cultured plants at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Research Centre, Kidu. Number of main branches, which is the main yield contributing attribute, was significantly influenced by nutrient levels. Dry herbage yield was not significantly influenced due to type of planting material indicating the similar performance of both rooted cuttings and tissue culture plants as intercrop in coconut. The yield of patchouli among different nutrient levels varied from 1092 to 1544 kg ha-1 and was significantly different. Significantly higher herbage yield of 1544 kg ha-1 was observed with 60:30:30 kg NPK ha-1 . This suggests that 60:30:30 kg NPK is optimum for patchouli when intercropped in coconut plantation. Planting materials and nutrient levels did not show any significant impact on oil content. In general, the oil content varied between 0.34 to 0.56 %. At Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Vittal, patchouli was grown under coconut with organic farming approach. Different organic sources viz., farmyard manure, vermicompost, neem cake, composted coir pith and green leaf manure (gliricidia) were applied in different combinations. The results revealed that the Composted Coir Pith (CCP) + green manure (gliricidia) treatment recorded significantly higher plant height at 45 DAP (37.6 cm) over other treatments. Combined application of composted coir pith and green leaf manure produced significantly higher herbage yield (2098 kg ha-1 ) followed by combination of vermicompost, composted coir pith and green leaf manure (2043 kg ha-1 ). Oil content among the treatments varied from 1.09 % to 2.3 % with combined application of vermicompost + CCP+ green manure resulting in higher oil content (2.3%) and oil yield (47.1 kg/ha).