Influence of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) essential oil yield under inter - cropping with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)<em> </em>with special reference to the plant - soil relationship

Abstract

The rain -fed/oasis areas, where lemongrass and pomegranate are grown as intercropping crops, are considered as the best ecosystem with particular properties. No research has been made to investigate the relationship between lemongrass essential oil and pomegranate fruit quality in such an environment. A comparison between pomegranate trees was intercropped with lemongrass crop and regular orchards with full sun conditions have been investigated in terms of yield of lemongrass essential oil and pomegranate fruit quality. The intercropped microclimate was more favourable for the production of lemongrass essential oil and pomegranate arils with attractive red colour and high total anthocyanin content. Pomegranates under these conditions contained total volatile content that was about two times higher than that in separate fruits. Particularly, hexanal and limonene were the most abundant compounds characterizing the aroma profile of fruits cultivated under intercropped, and their arils were the most appreciated in terms of colour, odour, and taste by Indian consumers. However, fruits from partial shade oasis provided the sweetest juices with high concentrations of glucose and fructose. Titratable acidity and total organic acid content were also higher in fruits grown under the two conditions. Red colour intensity, monoterpenes, hexanal, citric and quinic acids were useful to discriminate full shade oasis. These compounds seem to contribute to the typical organoleptic properties of oasis pomegranate fruits. The correlations between intercropped varieties of pomegranate and lemongrass, irrigated water, soil, and manure factors, elevated moisture in the soil in the intercropping impaired the expression of high yield of fresh herb and lemongrass oil of the good quality and pomegranate fruits production.