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Performance of Bitter Gourd in Association with Karanja (pongamia Pinnata L.) Tree

Md. Nasir Uddin Khan
Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Mohammad Kamrul Hasan
Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted at the Char Kalibari which is situated along the bank of Old Brahmaputra River under Sadar Upazila of Mymensingh district during November 2013 to March 2014 to observe the performance of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) as arable crop with karanja (Pongamia pinnata L.) trees in an agroforestry system. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications having four treatments viz., T₀ (open field condition referred as control), T₁ (< 50 cm distance from the tree base), T₂ (50-100 cm distance from the tree base) and T₃ (>100 cm distance from the tree base). The result showed that all the growth parameters and yield of bitter gourd were significantly influenced by the associated tree component at different distances from the karanja tree base. The highest (1.92 tha^-1) fresh yield of bitter gourd was obtained in open field condition compare to any other treatments but no significant different was found from the treatment T₃ (distance >100 cm from the tree) while the lowest (0.8 tha^-1) in < 50 cm distance from the tree base. It was found that on an average 58.33%, 29.17% and 14.58% yield of bitter gourd were decreased in <50 cm, 50-100 cm and >100 cm distances from karanja tree base compare to open field condition. On the other hand, the growth performance of karanja trees i.e. both height and girth increment was better in sole tree condition compare to tree with bitter gourd condition. Therefore, it can be concluded that tree-crop combination i.e. >100 cm distance from the tree base would be possible although there was some yield loss (14.58%) which was less significant compare to alone bitter gourd. Through this combination we can get diversified product. So, we can follow this agroforestry system to improve char based farming system of Bangladesh during the early establishment period of trees.

Keywords: Char land, Agroforestry, Growth, Karanja, Bitter gourd

Location: Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2013

End Date: 00-03-2014

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Karanja, Bitter gourd

Objectives:

1. To observe the performance of bitter gourd in association with karanja tree in the Char Kalibari in the bank of Old Brahmaputra River, Mymensingh.

Methodology:

Experimental site and geographical position - The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm in the SPGR project field Char Kalibari, Mymensingh Sadar, under the control of Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from November 2013 to March 2014. The district Mymensingh is located between 24°38′3′′ north and 90°16′4′′ east latitude. Total area of this district is 4394.57 km² and situated on the west bank of Brahmaputra River. The district has total 12 upazila and the study area i.e. Char Kalibari belong to the Mymensingh sadar upazila. The geographical position of Char Kalibari located between 24°45′ to 45′40′′ north and north and 90°24′4′′ to 90°24′44′′ east latitude. Total area of this char land is about 2.57 km2 where cultivated land is about 175 ha, 10 ha wetland, 40 ha fallow land, 23 ha household and rest forest area. Total population is 2350 of which 1238 male and 1112 female. Characteristics of soil and climate - Char Kalibari is one of the char land area of Mymensingh district located at the Old Brahmaputra river side. The topography of the field is medium high land above flood level belonging to the Old Brahmaputra flood plain agro-ecological zone-9. It is characterized by non-calcareous dark grey flood plain soil having pH values from 6.5 to 6.8. Most of the soil has silty to clay texture. The climate at the locality is subtropical in nature. It is characterized by high temperature and heavy rainfall during kharif season (April to September) and a scanty rainfall during rabi season (October to March). The overall relative humidity remains high almost all over the year except the winter. Tree and plant materials - In this study we considered three year's old previously established karanja (Pongamia pinnata) tree as test tree component and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) as plant material. Land preparation - The experimental land was first opened on Ist November 2013 and the operation was done by spade. At first the soils at the base of trees were loosening very well and made friable. Then the land was kept fallow for few days. All the crop residues and weeds were removed from the field and finally the land was properly leveled. Only recommended dose (5 tha-1) of well decomposed cowdung was applied for the crop during final land preparation. No chemical fertilizer was applied. Experimental design and treatment combination - The experimental design was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Four treatments considering the distance from tree to bitter gourd were viz. T₀= Open field referred as control, T₁= <50 cm distance from the tree, T₂= 50-100 cm distance from the tree and T₃= >100 cm distance from the tree. Test crop establishment and management - Bitter gourd seeds were directly sown in the experimental plot on 5th November 2013. After seed sowing, necessary intercultural operations were done properly. To keep the plots free from weeds, weeding was done three times for experimental plots. The plots were irrigated by using water cane to supply sufficient soil moisture for the vegetable. Mulching was used to conserve water. Emergence of bitter gourd seedling was started after two weeks from the date of seed sowing. Bitter gourd seedlings were thinned out at three times. First thinning was done at 15 days after sowing while second and third thinning was done at 5 days interval from every thinning. No pesticide and fungicide were used in the experimental field for tree-vegetable association. Sampling and data collection - Bitter gourd was harvested at 90 days after seed sowing. It was harvested at several picking. Five bitter gourd plants were randomly selected from each unit plot to record the morphological and yield contributing characters viz. vine length (cm), total leaves per plant, number of primary branches per plant, number of female and male flower per plant, number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight (g), fresh and dry yield of fruits (tha^-1). All the above parameters were taken in three stages of bitter gourd growth like vegetative, flowering and harvesting stage except the fruit yield. Data analysis - Data were statistically analyzed by using MSTAT-C and wasp2 (Web Agri Stat Package) software package to find out the statistical significance of the experimental results. The analysis of variance for each of the studied parameter was done by F (variance ratio) test. The mean differences were evaluated by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) and also by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test.

Source of Information: Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 2, No. 1, April 2015: 63-73; ISSN : P-2409-0603, E-2409-9325

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is observed that growth and yield of bitter gourd gradually decreased with decreasing distance towards the tree base. Growths of any vegetables are directly related with moisture availability in soil but in agroforestry system where a competition occurred between tree and crop for moisture beneath the tree canopy. For this reason, may be growth and yield of bitter gourd remarkably reduced beneath the tree canopy or near the tree base. However, the agroforestry practice is profitable for farmer because from the same land they can produce crop/vegetable and tree/fruit at the same time while other practices like monocropping produces only one product from the same land. Therefore, it can be concluded that agroforestry practices like bitter gourd with karanja tree is better than other practices like agriculture or monocropping system in char based farming system of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal