Plantation Crops

Features of ideal shade trees

1) Nature of tree: Evergreen: Tree should be evergreen. However, deciduous trees which shed leaves during monsoon can also be used.

           Eg. Cidrella toona ( gandhagarige/ Red cidar)

2) Flushing interval: Interval between shedding of leaves and emergence of new flush / leaves must be short.
3) Feathery leaves: Selected trees preferably should have feathery leaves as to allow filtered light. Avoid dense foliage and broad leaved trees.
            Eg : Albizzia lebbeck A. Stipulata
4) Clean trunk / Single stem: Trees should produce a clear trunk upto 30-35 feet to avoid damage caused by dripping of rain water.
5) Spreading habit: Trees with wider canopy is preferred as to get maximum canopy from minimum number of trees.
6) Withstand wind damage : Trees should not be brittle
7) Legume: Selected trees should be a legume.
8) Economically important: Tree should serve either as a timber (Eg. Dalbergia latifolia is a good timber) yielding tree.or fruit plant (Eg. Jack tree) or standard for trailing black pepper
            ( Eg. Silver oak is a very good standard for black pepper and wood is also of good quality )
9) Withstand Lopping/ pruning/ trimming.
 
Shade trees absorb effective rays so that, light quality decreases. In open we get better growth than in shade because of good quality light.

Shade regulation wrt permanent shade trees
Shade regulation is necessary in coffee and it has to be done every year i.e., just before the commencement of monsoon.
Season : May – June – July ( Monsoon) by cutting/lopping of branches. It is because during this period coffee receives less sunlight.