Abstract

Several tree species are interplanted in plantations of spices, mostly for providing shade to herbaceous plants. Several genera of spices (such as Eugenia, Cinnamomum, Myristica etc.) are also trees. Water consumption by trees has not been extensively studied, especially in the tropics, but tree water use characteristics are important criteria in the management of irrigation in spice plantations. A detailed ecophysiological investigation was undertaken of plantations of Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. grandis, Acacia auriculiformis, Anacardium occidentale and Tectona grandis at sites between latitudes 10 and 12 degree and longitudes 76 and 78 degree, in 1990-93. Based on this, 3 general characteristics were defined as important in determining tree water consumption in the tropics: (1) the rooting depth of the tree determines the water potential of the leaf, which in turn regulates stomatal opening and seasonal consumption of water(2) the atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD)