Evaluation of different cover crops on vacant areas (pottal) in mature tea plantation

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at a low country tea plantation in Matara district to Evaluate differentcover crops species for vacant areas. It was conducted during the period of January to June 2006; theselected site was 2nd year after pruning, T.R.I 2025 that was establishing in 1980 and the field with lotof vacant areas.Six cover crop species (Desmodium triflorum, Arachis pintoy, Desmodium heterocarp, Vetiveriazizaniodes. Crotalaria ochroleuca. Cymbopogon nardus) were selected for the experiment. Theexperiment followed a Latin Square Design. Trees planted in vacant areas, with the space of6 inchesfor 1,2,3, spp and 8 inches for 4,5,6 spp. Data were collected one month after the establishment.Soil nitrogen content, pl I, biomass production and soil organic matter content were measured. Weedscount was taken two weeks interval. Survey was conducted to evaluate workers preference level ofthe each cover crop.There was no significant difference within the treatments in soil pH, organic matter % and soil N %,but Vetiver was found to be suitable for acid soil (p>0.05). Organic matter added by D. heterocarpon,D. triflorum was significantly higher than other species. D. heterocarpon and Crotalaria washighly effective in improving the soil N among the legumes. Before the experiment soil C: N was 7:!.D. triflorum improved the soil C: N (10.7: 1) during research period.In generally workers did not like cover crops. However they preferred legume rather than grasses.60% of the workers selected D. triflorum as their first choice. 26% of the workers selected A.pinloyas their first choice. D. heterocarpon, C. ochroleuca, and C. nardus were selected by only 3%.Workers did not select vetiver as their first choice. Dry matter production of grasses was higher thanthat of legumes. V zizanioides, D. triflorum had approximately similar shoot: root ratios.Treatments effect for weeds population was not significant (p>O.05), but A. pintoy, D. heterocarpwere fast growing and suppressed the weeds than other legumes. It was concluded that workerspreferred four legume species rather than two grasses. A. pin toy. D. heterocarpon, C. nardus canaggressive!y suppress the weeds. D. heterocarpon, D. triflorum were highly improved soil nitrogenand organic matter than other legumes during the research period.