Abstract:
Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon), is an evergreen aromatic plant with several uses
and considered as a prominent spice throughout the world. Though, quills produced from
bark are the most familiar product of cinnamon, leaves and stems also yield some
economically valuable products. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying the effect
of spacing and type of planting material on the yield of leaves, bark, and stems of
cinnamon at the stage of the first harvest. Seedlings and vegetatively propagated plants of
cinnamon variety Sri Gemunu were planted under three different spacing as 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 as two-factor factorial RCBD at the Agriculture Faculty premises of University of
Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Seedlings in 1.2×0.6 m spacing with three plants per hill were used as
the control. The first harvest was collected after two years from the establishment and the
measurements were taken. According to the results highest mean dry weight of bark
(59.68 g), leaves (267.9 g), and stems (600.1 g) were recorded in control. But it was not
significantly different (p<0.05) from seedlings in 1.2×0.2 m spacing with one plant per
hill. The highest yield of quills per plant (55.58 g) and the highest mean weight of bark
per centimeter of the harvested shoot (215.41 mg cm-1) were also recorded in the control.
But it was significantly different (p<0.05) only from vegetatively propagated plants in
1.2×0.2 m spacing with one plant per hill. The type of planting material and spacing does
not have any significant influence (p<0.05) on the bark stem ratio of cinnamon plants at
the stage of the first harvest. When considering the results of the study, seedlings tend to
produce more bark, leaf, and stem yield when compared with vegetatively propagated
plants at the stage of the first harvest. Though vegetatively propagated plants have higher
yield potential, it appears to require more time to develop a better structure which can
give a higher yield.
Keywords: Cinnamomum verum J. Presl, Spacing, Planting material, Yield
