Photosynthetic efficiency of PSII and growth of young rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) planted with mucuna (Mucuna bracteata) cover crop
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Abstract
Mucuna bracteata is a legume crop recommended for use as a cover crop to plant between rows of young rubber trees in an intercropping system. It has many advantages as a cover crop including its rapid growth rate, deep root system, drought tolerance and high nitrogen fixation rate. However, there is little information regarding the physiological roles, particularly in regards to enhancement of photosynthetic efficiency and growth performance, in which M. bracteata plants provide for the young rubber trees. Photosynthesis parameters including Photosystem II efficiency, chlorophyll content, the greenness or relative chlorophyll content of leaves (SPAD values) and growth of two-year-old rubber trees planted with or without M. bracteata were evaluated. The rubber plantation was situated at Khon Kaen University (NE Thailand) and the measurements were performed during the dry (March) and rainy (July) seasons in 2015. The results showed that the soil temperature in the experimental plot with cover crop was significantly lower than that in the plot without the cover crop. In contrast, soil moisture content in the plot with the cover crop was significantly higher than that without the cover crop. In the dry season, the effective quantum yield of PSII, ΔF/Fm', and the maximal fluorescence in the light-adapted state (Fm') of young rubber trees growing in the plot with the cover crop were found significantly higher than those without the cover crop. However, in the rainy season, ΔF/Fm', and Fm' of the rubber trees planted with the cover crop were significantly lower than those without the cover crop, whereas other fluorescence parameters were not different. In both seasons, the contents of Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and total Chlorophyll, SPAD values, leaf area and girth of rubber trees planted with the cover crop were significantly higher than those without the cover crop. This suggested that the use of M. bracteata as cover crop for the rubber plantation was beneficial for growth of young rubber plants. M. bracteata provided a favorable environment for the plantation leading to higher chlorophyll content, increased photosynthetic performances and hence better growth of the young rubber trees
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