Quantitative and qualitative aspects of cinnamon (<em>Cinnamomum verum</em> J. Presl) bark yield under modified planting systems

Abstract

Cinnamon is one of the most important export crops in Sri Lanka, which generates a considerable amount of foreign exchange for the country. Therefore, special emphasis should be given to enhancing its production as well as quality. Hence, the study was conducted to evaluate some important quantitative and qualitative aspects of the cinnamon yield, namely, cumulative bark yield, bark dry matter percentage, biological yield, the composition of the biological yield and organoleptic properties under some modified planting systems. Seedlings and vegetatively propagated plants of cinnamon variety Sri Gemunu were planted under three different spatial patterns 1.2×0.6 m with three plants per hill, 1.2×0.4 m with two plants per hill and 1.2×0.2 m with one plant per hill while maintaining equal planting density in a unit area. Plants were harvested according to two harvesting intervals, 6 and 8 months and required measurements were taken. According to the results, the effect of harvesting interval and the interaction effect between planting material and the spatial pattern was significant (p < 0.05) for the cumulative cinnamon bark yield for two years (kg/ha). However, tested factors were not significant (p < 0.05) for the bark dry matter percentage. In contrast, the effects of harvesting interval and planting materials were significant (p < 0.05) for the biological yield of cinnamon plants. When considering the composition of the aboveground biological yield of cinnamon plants, the interaction effect between planting material and the spatial pattern was significant (p < 0.05) for the percentages of all components (bark, leaves, stem wood, scrape, immature stems and the un-peelable portion of the mature stems and branches). Vegetatively propagated plants consist of a higher bark oil content and a cinnamaldehyde percentage than seedlings. In contrast, seedlings consist of higher eugenol and cinnamyl acetate percentage than vegetatively propagated plants. When considering benzyl benzoate, β-linalool and β-caryophyllene, an impact from the tested factors was not observed.