Evaluative performance towards coconut multispecies cropping system as mixed crop with noni (Morinda citrifolia L.), a underutilized medicinal species

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out at coconut plantation AICRP on Palms, HRS Mondouri, BCKV, W.B during 2013 - 19 to study the performance of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) as mixed crop with 26 years old coconut in a non-replicated trial. Noni plants of Seedling and Tissue cultured material were taken. Plant height (230.2cm) in seedling plant was higher than in tissue culture plant (398.23 cm) The fruit yields was also higher in tissue culture plants (9704.57 kg/ha) compared to seedling plants (8206.36 kg/ha) in the 5th year after planting. B:C ratio of Coconut and Noni from tissue culture plants was 2.41 whereas it was only 2.13 for coconut and Noni from seedling plants. Initial studies have revealed that noni can be grown in coconut plantation as mixed crop very well. This crop is an important medicinal crop this date and has potential of restoring livelihood of the farmers in W.B.