Which crop is grown along with tea to provide shade in plantations?

Rubber
Coconut
Areca nut
Albizia

The correct answer is: d) Albizia.

Albizia is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae. The genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Albizia trees are often planted as shade trees in tea plantations. They provide a number of benefits, including:

  • Shade: Albizia trees provide shade for the tea plants, which helps to protect them from the sun’s harsh rays. This can help to improve the quality of the tea leaves.
  • Windbreak: Albizia trees can also act as a windbreak, which can protect the tea plants from strong winds. This can help to prevent the tea plants from being damaged or uprooted.
  • Nitrogen fixation: Albizia trees are able to fix nitrogen from the air, which can help to improve the soil quality. This can benefit the tea plants by providing them with more nutrients.
  • Mulch: The leaves and branches of Albizia trees can be used as mulch, which can help to improve the soil quality and suppress weeds.
  • Biomass: Albizia trees can be used as a source of biomass, which can be used to generate energy or produce compost.

Rubber (a), coconut (b), and areca nut (c) are not typically grown along with tea to provide shade in plantations.