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Production of Trees in the Crop Field

M. A. HAQUE
Department of Crop Botany, BAU, Mymensingh

M. A. HOSSAIN
Department of Crop Botany, BAU, Mymensingh

D. HOCKING
Swiss Development Cooperation, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

M. K. ISLAM
Swiss Development Cooperation, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Different species of woody perennials were grown in the crop fields at various locations in Bangladesh. In rice based crop fields, 339 farmers produced 23 species of tree plants in 373 modules. In 0.25 ha of land, each module accommodated 27 trees (3 species X 9 saplings per sp.) with 8m X 8m spacing. Each module was replicated twice. Two species, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia nilotica, were constant in each module and third species was from remaining 21 species. To minimize the adverse effects of trees on crop production, the shoots and roots of trees were severely pruned just before cultivation of each crop. The trees looked like living poles during cropping season but juvenile plants with compact canopy during non-cropping period. Among 23 test species the overall performances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Melia azadirach, Cassia siamea, Term in alia arjuna, Acacia albida, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Samanea sam an and Logerstromea ilos- reginae had been found to be quite good in the high lands and medium high lands. Casuarina equisetifolia, Trewia nudiflora and Eryrhrina indica are in trial at the low land. The net grain or loss to the farmers from unit area of land under tree-crop intercropping system has not yet been estimated but it appears that within a minimum period of seven years the net income would be much higher from the land, producing trees along with field crop than that producing only the field crops.

Keywords: Aqroforestrv, Farm forestry, Tree-crop intercropping

Location: Farmers' fields at different locations of Dinajpur, Saidpur, Bogra, Rajshahi, Natore and Mymensingh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Tree

Objectives:

The objectives of the production of trees in the crop fields are to (i) produce fuel wood, fodder and timber along with crop production, (ii) increase crop production by increasing soil fertility, soil moisture and humidity. (iii) reduce direct sun heat, wind speed and erosion and (iv) bring back and maintain the ecological equilibrium in the locality in order to stabilize weather and to minimize natural hazards.

Methodology:

Tile action research works are in progress in the farmers' fields at different locations of Dinajpur, Saidpur, Bogra, Rajshahi, Natore and Mymensingh. In rice based crop fields 339 farmers produced 23 species of tree plants in 373 modules. Each trial required 0.25 ha of land. Each module consisted of 27 trees (3 species X 9 saplings/species) with 8m x 8m spacing (Hocking, 1986, 1989). So in 373 modules there were 10,071 trees (373 modules X 27 trees/module), 213 Each module was replicated twice. Two tree species, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia nilotica were constant in each module. The third species was on e of the following (1) Acacia auricul itormis, (2) Acacia albida, (3) Terminalia arjuna, (4) AI- bizzia moluccana, (5) Gmelina arborea, (6) Melia ezedlrech, (7) Leucaena leucocephala, (8) Tamarindus indica, (9) Logerstroemia jllosreginae, (10) Casuarina equisetifoJia, (11) Antho- cepahalus cadamba, (12) Acacia mengium, (13) Cassia siemee, (14) Azadirachta indica. (15) Samanea saman, (16) Dalbergia sissoo, (17) Parkinsonia aculeata. (18) Ficus benghalensis, (19) Trewia nudiflora, (20) Colliandra calothyrsus and (21) Terminalia bellirica. At the Agroforestry Germplasm Centre of Bangladesh Agricultural University, a total of 24 important exotic and indigenous species/varieties/ecotypes have been growing. They are used to study the vegetative growth, branching habit, canopy pattern, flowering and fruiting behaviour etc. at natural growing condition as well as stresses due to water (excess and deficit water) and pruning (root and shoot). The growth features and performance of different types of tree plants as recorded on 30.6.91.

Source of Information: Proc. BAU Res. Prog. 6: 212-218, 1992

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

During the present investigation the net gain or loss to the farmers from a unit area of land under tree- crop intercropping system has not yet been estimated but it appears that within a minimum period of seven years, the net income would be much higher from the land producing trees along with field crops than that producing only the field crops. The area of stem base of the tree and the land having a radius of about 25 cm outside it, can be considered as "no-crop zone" for each tree. No field crop can be grown in this zone. The production of field crops is likely to be reduced due to the presence of these zone. But the fertility of soil outside these zones is increased due to addition of organic matters and nitrogen by the nitrogen fixing trees. Therefore. the net yield of the field crop is increased which will compensate the loss of production caused by "no-crop zone". Moreover. the farmers get fuel wood and fodder from the trees through pruning of the shoots at the regular intervals. Ultimately they get the whole trees. They can earn a lot by selling these or they can use these for fodder, fuel wood and/or timber. The farmers are getting interest to grow trees in their crop fields.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings