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Performance of Medicinal Plants Under Mango Based Multistoried Agroforestry System

M.S. Bari
Department of Agroforestry, HMDSTU, Dinajpur

M.A. Rahim
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The investigation was carried out at the BAU Germplasm Centre of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during January 2005 to July 2007 to evaluate the performance of medicinal plants in mango based multistoried agroforestry system. Three medicinal plants viz. aloe vera (Aloe indica), asparagus (Asparagus racemosus) and misridana (Kaempferia angustifolia) were cultivated in the floor of a mango based multilayered garden (MAF). It was consisted of mango at the top layer, guava at the middle layer, and the tested medicinal crops were at the ground layer. Again, as control treatment all the medicinal plants were grown in open conditions. In the open conditions the crops received 100% sunlight; while multistoried agroforestry systems allowed 19 to 23% sun light for the growth of the ground layered medicinal crops. The influence of mango based multistoried agroforestry systems on growth, yield and economics of the three ground layered crops were studied for two consecutive years. The results of the study revealed that there was a significant effect of mango based multistoried agroforestry systems (MAF) on the growth and yield of the crops. Among the three medicinal plants, asparagus and misridana gave maximum yield under MAF, while aloe vera gave maximum in sole cropping. The yield of the cultivated medicinal plants under MAF may be ranked as misridana>asparagus>aloe vera. In the economic point of view it was very interesting that in spite of lower yield of aloe vera and asparagus, the highest gross returns were registered under mango based multistoried agroforestry systems compared to sole cropping. It was due to the substantial additional contribution by mango and guava fruits, while extra benefit is absent under sole cropping. Moreover, among the tested three medicinal crops, the degree of their profitability under mango based multistoried agroforestry systems may be ranked as misridana>aloe vera> asparagus. So, the present study suggest that the growing of all the three medicinal plants in mango based multistoried agroforestry systems ensures regular income from MAF intervention.

Keywords: Multistoried, Agroforestry system, Mango, Guava, Aloe vera, Asparagus and misridana.

Location: BAU Germplasm Centre of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-01-2005

End Date: 00-07-2007

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Guava, Mango, Asparagus, Aloe Vera

Objectives:

1. To evaluate the performance of three commercial and important medicinal plants like aloe vera (Aloe indica), asparagus (Asparagus racemosus) and misridana (Kaempferia angustifolia) as intercrops under mango based multistoried agroforestry system.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted in the existing multistoried mango garden of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh throughout the growing seasons of 2005-2007. The experimental area is under sub-tropical climate characterized by heavy rainfall during the months from April to September and scanty rainfall during the rest period of the year. The soil of the experimental area is silty loam in texture. It is a medium high land and fertile well drained. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with five replications and two treatments viz. T₁= mango + guava + individual three medicinal crops as ground layer crops; T₂= sole cropping of the three individual medicinal crops (open conditions).Treatment T₁ was a three layered mango garden consisted of mango at the top layer, guava at the middle layer, and the three medicinal plants were at the ground layer and T₂ was in open conditions. In the open conditions, T₂ received 100% sunlight; while mango+guava based multistoried agroforestry system (T₁) allowed 19 to 23% sunlight for the growth of the medicinal plants. The upper layer occupied by mango tree was planted in 1978 and the spacing of plantation was 8m x 8m. As the middle layer plant, guava was seven years old and was in full bearing conditions. The guava trees were planted between the rows of the mango trees maintaining 3m x 3m plant to plant and row to row distance i.e. the guava population was 897 trees/ha. Standard pruning techniques for mango and guava trees were followed and the pruned materials were not added into the plot. Mango and guava trees were not dressed with fertilizer. But, the ground layer crops were fertilized with the recommended doses of fertilizers for each crop consisting of cowdung, urea, triple super phosphate (TSP) and muriate of potash (MP). Seedling of aloe vera and asparagus was planted on 28 February 2005 and 10 March 2005, respectively. The mother rhizomes of misridana were also planted in the experimental plot on 5 March 2005 and 13 March 2006. These planting materials were collected from Haybotpur village of Natore district. The spacing of the planting was maintained by 60 x 45 cm for both aloe vera and asparagus and 50 x 40 cm for misridana. The experimental plots were kept weeds free by weeding frequently. The plots were irrigated whenever needed by using hose pipe and watering cane. Economics of various treatments was calculated taking into account the current costs of inputs and produce. The data on various growth and yield performance characters of aloe vera, asparagus and misridana were statistically analyzed and the mean differences were evaluated by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test.

Source of Information: J. Agrofor. Environ. 3 (2): 99-102, 2010; ISSN 1995-6983

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The total cost of production was the highest (76117 Tk./ha) in sole cropping and the lowest (57419Tk./ha) was recorded from mango+guava based MAF. But, the highest value of gross return (492603 Tk. /ha) was obtained from the mango+guava based MAF. The highest gross return was obtained from mango+guava based MAF due to the high price of mango and guava. In case of benefit-cost ratio, the highest (8.58) was recorded from mango+guava based MAF and the lowest benefit-cost ratio of 2.33 was observed in sole cropping. The study suggests that the combination of medicinal crop with commercial fruit tree species on the same land ensures diversified products and greater profit to the farmers. Three high value medicinal crops viz. aloe vera, asparagus and misridana can be grown successfully as intercrops in the floor of mango orchard.

Knowledge Management: Journal