Morpho-physiological changes in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) tenera hybrid seedlings raised under different shade levels

Climatic conditions prevailing in oil palm growing states of India indicate the need for shade during primary stage of oil palm nursery for optimum growth and vigour of seedlings. Experiments were conducted to standardize the shade requirement based on growth/quality of oil palm seedlings in summer, rainy and winter seasons by providing 25%, 50% and 75% ultra violet stabilized high density poly ethylene (HDPE) shade nets. Results were found significant among the treatments for most of the growth parameters studied over the seasons. Higher growth for key characters like seedling height, leaf area, collar girth and dry matter production were recorded at 75% shade level. Similarly, higher chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and inter cellular CO2 concentration were observed at 75% shade. Among the season, seedling growth was vigorous in rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons. Hence, provision of 75% shade found to be ideal for raising seedlings during primary stage of nursery in oil palm.