Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Relative Prevalence and Species Richness of Tree Species and Their Effects on Understorey Crops in Homestead and Cropland Agroforestry Systems in Dinajpur District

M. M. U. Miah
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Agroforestry,Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur.

M. A. S. Mondol
Assistant Professor
Agricultural Extension,Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur.

M. S.I. Sikder
Assistant Professor
Agronomy, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur.

M. A. Khatun
Assistant Professor
Animal Husbandry, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The purpose of the study was to investigate the abundance of tree species and their effects on uderstorey crops in the homestead and cropland Agroforestry practices of 100 farmers of two upazilas viz. Sadar and Ghoraghat under Dinajpur district. Ten selected characteristics of the farmers were the independent variables while the number of trees in the farm was the dependent variable. Correlation analyses indicate that all the characteristics of the respondents and the farm components with the number of tress on Agroforestry farms were statistically significant. The average farm size was 1.46 hectare comprising of 0.22 ha. of homestead, 1.09 ha of cropland and 0.152 ha of wood lot. The area occupied by tress and bushes in the landless, marginal, small, and medium farm categories were smaller than that of large one. The most prevalent species of homestead was litchi (35.15) and the least one was tamarind (0.18); while the same in the crop field was eucalyptus (25.00) and lemon (0.04), respectively. In total 66 tree species were found in the farm of which fruit, timber, medicinal and other species were 28,21,13 and 4, respectively. Among the tree species, the most prevalent one was litchi (35.15) followed by mango (20.92), jackfruit (8.00), sissoo (5.89) and eucalyptus (4.47). The highest number of species (28) regardless of fruit species were found in the large farm categories whereas the lowest number of species (6) were found in the landless farm category. The study also raveled that sugarcane, maize and rice were found associated commonly with mango and sissoo as crop land agroforestry system. Eucalyptus was found in rice and maize fields as scattered and boundary plantations. Sugarcane and maize were also cultivated under jackfruit and goraneem trees. Canopy effects on understorey crops were severe towards the base of the trees and thus 0.5 to 2.5 meter distance from tree base was not suitable for crop production depending on canopy diameters and shapes.

Keywords: Relative prevalence, Species richness, Agroforestry

Location: Four unions under two upazilas of Dinajpur districts namely Sadar and Ghoraghat.

Start Date: 00-02-2004

End Date: 00-03-2004

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Rice, Maize

Objectives:

To study the farmer's responses in the Agroforestry practices specially in homestead and in crop land, with particular emphasis on the relative prevalence and species richness of different tree species and finally its effects on the associated crops.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in four unions under two upazilas of Dinajpur districts namely Sadar and Ghoraghat. A sample of 100 farmers were selected, 50 from each upazila with equal probability to each farm category by the stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected from February to March 2004. The collected data were coded and tabulated for analyses. Qualitative data were converted into quantitative ones by means of suitable scaling wherever necessary. Appropriate methods and procedures were followed to measure the dependent and independent variables. Number of trees was used as the dependent variable. Relative prevalence of tree species was determined by multiplying the number of trees per farm by the percentage of farm containing that species.

Species richness is the number of tree species within an area. Trees of four locations were grouped into four categories namely fruit, forest, medicinal and other tree categories. Proportion of different tree groups were also calculated. The ten selected characteristics of the farmers namely age, education, family size, farm size, crop land size, wood lot size, annual income, communication exposure and knowledge of Agroforestry practices were the independent variables of the study. Descriptive analyses such as range, frequency number and percentages, mean standard deviation and rank order were used in describing the variables of the study. Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used in order to explore the relationships between the concerned variables.

Source of Information: J. Sci. technol.(Dinajpur) Vol. 4: 82-89 (2006) (ISSN 1994-0386)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study also raveled that sugarcane, maize and rice were found associated commonly with mango and sissoo as crop land agroforestry system. Eucalyptus was found in rice and maize fields as scattered and boundary plantations. Sugarcane and maize were also cultivated under jackfruit and goraneem trees. Canopy effects on understorey crops were severe towards the base of the trees and thus 0.5 to 2.5 meter distance from tree base was not suitable for crop production depending on canopy diameters and shapes.

Knowledge Management: Journal