M. A. Hossain
Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
Farmland, Live fence, Multistoried, RAMPT model, Roadside agroforestry, Slopeland
Bangladesh Agricultural University Campus, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Resource Development and Management
Income generation
The study was conducted and established along farm roadsides (starting from BINA farm side) of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from 2005 to 2007. The area is located at 24°75′ N latitude and 90°50′E longitude at a height of 18 m above the sea level (UNDP and FAO, 1988). The area is under tropical monsoon climate where rainfall is heavy, humidity and temperature are also high during April to September and low rainfall associated with low temperature during October to March. The winter season is dry and cool, and receives only 2% of the total rainfall mostly as occasional drizzles between November to February. The plant materials used in this study were : 1. Neem (Azadirachta indica, A. Juss., Meliaceae), 2. Bara Mehogani (Swietenia macrophylla King., Meliaceae), 3. Bakphul (Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir., Leguminosae), 4. Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L., Euphorbiaceae), 5. Lemon (Citrus spp. L., Rutaceae), 6. Acalypha (Acalypha sp. L., Euphorbiaceae), 7. Eryngium (Eryngium foetideum L., Umbelliferae), 8. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L., Compositae), 9. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae), 10. Stem amaranth (Amaranthus oleraceus L., Amaranthaceae), 11. Chilli (Capsicum annuum L. and C. frutescens L., Solanaceae), 12. Ladies finger/okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moen., Malvaceae), 13. Country bean (Dolichos lablab L., Leguminosae), 14. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L., Cucurbitaceae), 15. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Solanaceae) and 16. Sweetgourd (Cucurbita maxima Duch., Cucurbitaceae). The Neem and Mehogani are high quality and valuable timber yielding plants having medicinal and insecticidal properties. These plants are propagated mainly through seeds. Bakphul is a very fast growing tree producing forage for animals, flowers as vegetables, root and shoot biomass (with continuous litter falls from standing trees) that improve soil quality both physically and chemically through the addition of atmospheric N2 and finally producing fuel woods. Jatropha is a biodiesel yielding shrubby to small tree like plant which can be grown in low to high rainfall areas for long periods. The lemon is a bushy shrub and is well known for its fruit (citron) production. It has also medicinal values. In this study, the lemon plant has been used for both live fencing and protection purposes as well as for fruit production. Acalypha is a shrubby species and has been used as hedgerow along the innermost line (near foot path/side way) towards the main road, although it has good medicinal value. The rest of the species were mostly grown as understoried spices and vegetable crops as well as for soil conservation and erosion control. Thorny branches of Parkinsonia aculeata L. and Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. were used for initial protection of these planted saplings. Subsequently lemon cuttings followed by Acalypha cuttings were planted to develop live fencing system on the innerside of tree saplings and outer side of sideway/footpath. In some other cases, Duranta hedgerow was established along lemon cuttings instead of Acalypha. Due to thorny nature, this Duranta and lemon fencing was placed on outer side of first row of tree saplings. The temporary nylon net fencing/bamboo cross-stick fencing was given in between side way/ footpath and developing live fences to have initial protection of cuttings and understoried crops. The first flat bed of about 0.5 – 1.5 m wide (depending upon land situation) for understoried crop cultivation along first row of tree plantation were prepared, sown/planted with crops followed by one or two (alternately arranged) rows of Eryngium on outer side of the 1st flat bed to check soil erosion from the systems. For fruit (citron) production from the living fence, the branches from outer side of lemon hedgerows were allowed to extend outwards in between the growing crops/other plants on the 1st flat bed.
Progress. Agric. 18(2) : 99-107, 2007 ISSN 1017-8139
Journal