Performance of Aroid Under Jackfruit-Based Agroforestry System in Terrace Ecosystem of Bangladesh Z
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Ann.Z. A. BangladeshRiyadh, M. A.Agric. Rahman, (2019) M. 23 G. (2) Miah, : 79-87 S. R. Saha, M. A. Hoque, S. Saha andISSN M. M. 1025-482X Rahman (Print)79 2521-5477 (Online) PERFORMANCE OF AROID UNDER JACKFRUIT-BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM IN TERRACE ECOSYSTEM OF BANGLADESH Z. A. Riyadh1, M. A. Rahman1*, M. G. Miah, S. R. Saha1, M. A. Hoque2 S. Saha1 and M. M. Rahman1 Abstract The terrace ecosystem is considered as hotspot of jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) in Bangladesh having potential for understory cropping. However, most of the jackfruit orchards are often found utilized or underutilized. A field experiment was conducted under the jackfruit orchard to study the performance of aroids (Colocasia esculenta L.) from April to October, 2017 in Belabo upazila of Narsingdi district. Four distances (1, 2, 3 and 4 m) from the base of jackfruit tree were considered for aroid planting to evaluate its performance as agroforestry crop in comparison to sole aroid. Land use and economic performances of agroforestry and sole systems were also evaluated. The results indicated that the production of jackfruit increased by 62.73%, while the yield of aroid reduced by 33.48% in agroforestry systems as compared to the yields of sole (non-agroforestry) systems. In agroforestry system, the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was severely reduced by 85-77% on aroid crop that caused yield reduction. It was also observed that soil temperature was lower in agroforestry system as compared to sole cropping of aroid, while soil moisture showed inverse trend in sole jackfruit. Economic analysis in terms of benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 2.60 in agroforestry, while the BCR of sole aroid was only 1.83. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was 2.31 in agroforestry system. The present results indicate that aroid cultivation in jackfruit-based agroforestry system under terrace ecosystem can ensure overall higher production and improve economic return. Keywords: Benefit cost ratio, land equivalent ratio, active radiation, sole crop, understory. Introduction security remain under challenge due to Bangladesh has a population of about 163 insufficient vegetable and fruit production million making it one of the most densely against huge demand. The country has only populated countries of the world and struggling 7.76 million ha of arable land and per capita hard to feed the increasing population (BBS, arable land availability decreasing at an 2018). Bangladesh has increased national alarming rate, from 0.174 ha in 1961 to 0.048 capacity for securing food access of large ha in 2016 (World Bank, 2018). Furthermore, population (GoB, 2013). Though the grain the soil fertility of arable land is decreasing food production increased, food and nutrition day by day due to intensive cropping with 1Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, 2Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh. *Corresponding author: [email protected] 80 Performance of aroid under Jackfruit-Based Agroforestry System in Terrace Ecosystem improper management. Under these scenarios, lean period (August to October). Aroids are it is necessary to develop alternate systems rich sources of carbohydrate and contains that could increase crop production and land enough protein (Verma and Singh, 1996). use efficiency wherever possible. Because of Despite huge demand of aroids, its production increasing demand for food, fruits, timber, is low in Bangladesh. Thus, there is a scope fodder, fuel wood, and poles, production of cultivating aroid in jackfruit orchards to of multiple products from the same land increase the system productivity and economic management unit are indispensable. So, benefits, and augment the supply of aroids combined production system integrating in domestic market. There is not enough field crops with perennial trees, which is information on the performance of aroid as called agroforestry, may be a viable option to a component of jackfruit-based agroforestry overcome the future challenges. Such systems system. In this context, the present experiment would increase production per unit area and was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the per unit time, and at the same time would performance and economic return of aroid and maximize the utilization efficiency of natural micro-environmental changes in jackfruit- resources (Bhuiyan et al., 2012). Moreover, based agroforestry system in the terrace such cropping systems are highly productive ecosystem of Bangladesh. and sustainable that provides the opportunity for year-round production. Worldwide, fruit tree-based agroforestry systems are highly Materials and Methods popular among resource limited producers The experiment was conducted in the (Bellow, 2004) and are capable in providing existing jackfruit orchards at Belabo upazila higher economic return even under stressed of Narsingdi district during April 2017 to growing conditions prevailing under the October 2017. Geographically, the study site upland situations than the other annual is located at 24°05´ North latitude and 90°50´ crops (Bikash et al., 2008). Jackfruit based East longitude at an elevation of 9m above the agroforestry systems are widely found in sea level and characterized by a sub-tropical terrace ecosystem of Bangladesh with various climate with mild-summer and winter, heavy vegetable and spice crops. Though most of the rainfall during the months from April to jackfruit trees are not planted in a systematic manner, there is enough space to grow suitable September and scanty rainfall during the understorey crops and reported to increase the rest of the year. The soil of the experimental overall production (Miah et al., 2018). area is clay-loam in texture belonging to Madhupur Tract (AEZ-28) and classified Under jackfruit-based agroforestry system, as shallow red-brown under Inceptisol soil aroid (Colocasia esculenta L) is a compatible category according to USDA Soil Taxonomy crop due to its shade tolerant nature and is (Brammer, 1971; Shaheed, 1984). The land extensively grown in terrace ecosystem. Aroid is a popular vegetable, which is widely grown topography is characterized by upland and in Kharif season and contributes a considerable closely associated narrow-valleys, popularly amount of total supply of vegetables during alluded to as Chala and Baid, respectively. Z. A. Riyadh, M. A. Rahman, M. G. Miah, S. R. Saha, M. A. Hoque, S. Saha and M. M. Rahman 81 The soil of the study area is red-brown in color per plant, total cormel weight per hill and and strongly acidic in nature with low-organic yield were recorded from the average of ten matter content and poor fertility levels. plants at harvesting. The yield performance of jackfruit tree in both the agroforestry and The field experiment was conducted in non-agroforestry systems were measured. randomized complete block design (RCBD) Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) with three replications. Each jackfruit tree was above aroid in agroforestry and open field considered as unit plot for a single replication. were measured by sunfluxceptometer in terms Plot size of each replication were not similar of µmolm-2s-1. Soil moisture percentage was due to various age, canopy size and shape of recorded by DSMM500 soil moisture meter jackfruit trees. There were five treatments and the soil temperature (ºC) was measured for aroid viz. 1-meter distance from tree base by Temp 4/5/6 Thermistor Thermometer. (1m), 2-meter distance from tree base (2m), All microclimatic data were taken at noon. 3-meter distance from tree base (3m), 4-meter Benefit cost ratio (BCR) and land equivalent distance from tree base (4m) and open field ratio (LER) were calculated according to (non-agroforestry/control). There were two the procedure Mead and Willey (1980). The treatments for jackfruit tree, open field (non- recorded data were statistically analyzed to agroforestry) and agroforestry. Heterogeneous find out the significance of the results by the jackfruit trees with the age between 26 and “Analysis of Variance” (ANOVA) technique 30 years were selected for this study. The using computer package “Statistix 10”. The seed tubers of aroid (local var. Gaitta) were mean differences of treatments were compared planted on 3rd April 2017 at a depth of 6-8 by Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P < cm by maintaining the spacing at 50 cm × 30 0.05. Finally, relevant tables and figures were cm. Rainfed aroid plots were fertilized with prepared according to the objectives of the cowdung, Urea, TSP and MoP at the rates of study. 5000, 150, 100 and 120 kg ha-1, respectively (FRG, 2012). The full doses of cowdung, TSP Results and Discussion and MoP were applied at the time of final land preparation. Urea was applied in two equal Performance of aroid splits at 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP) Plant height: The plant height of aroid of aroid. Weeding was done twice at 30 and varied significantly in agroforestry system in 45 DAP. Earthing up of aroid was done by comparison to that of non-agroforestry system taking up the soil from the space between the (Table 1). The tallest plant (116.23 cm) was rows of aroid field at 60 and 90 DAP. found at 1m distance from jackfruit tree base in agroforestry system and the shortest (95.42 th Aroid was harvested on 4 October when cm) was found in sole (open) aroid field. the leaves become pale yellow after 180 However, aroid plant height increased by DAP. Data on plant height and leaves per 21.81, 19.34, 12.69 and 5.64%, respectively, plant were measured when it reached peak at 1, 2, 3 and 4m distance from the tree base, at 130 DAP; whereas, number of sucker per when equated with sole aroid field. This result hill, cormel number per hill, corm weight might be due to variations of light percentage 82 Performance of aroid under Jackfruit-Based Agroforestry System in Terrace Ecosystem Table 1.