Comparative study of different shading types on growth and yield of ginger plants

Abstract

Ginger plant recently is gaining attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries because of its medicinal importance and as a spice. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different shading types on growth and yield of ginger plants (Zingiber officinale), during two seasons (2017 and 2018) at Dokki Research Station, Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Egypt. The experiment consisted of seven treatments [Control (without shading), two levels of shade by using saran 30 and saran 60%, the two level of shade covered with plastic (30%+plastic cover and 60%+ plastic cover) and intercropping ginger with sweet corn in different densities (4 ginger + 4 sweet corn plants/m and 4 ginger + 8 sweet corn plants/m)]. The treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Data for ginger growth parameters were obtained during the experiment period while the yield parameters were obtained at harvest. The results showed that the highest values of growth parameters were obtained from 60% shading+ plastic cover and intercropping ginger at 4 plants (with sweet corn) at 8 plants/ m. Rhizome yield was increased with increasing levels of shade. The growth of ginger plants enhanced with decreasing light transmission and increasing relative humidity and air temperature. The economic evaluation shared that intercropping ginger at 4 with sweet corn at 8 plants/m was more economic compared with net shade, net shade+ plastic and without shade.