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Performance of Growth and Soil Properties Change by Four Multipurpose Tree Species in Alley Cropping System

S. Ahmed
Director Admin.
Green Global Foundation(GGF)-International, Dhaka, Bangladesh

S. Hasan
Senior Scientific Officer
OFRD, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Rangpur

A. H. M. R. H. Chowdhury
Executive Director
Center for Resource Development Studies Ltd., Dhaka-1215

A. K. M. M. A. Chowdhury
Scientific Officer
SRDI, Dhaka

M. A. Hossain
Fellow
Green Global Foundation(GGF)-International, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The experiment was carried out at the (BSMRAU) research farm, Gazipur during the period from November 2002 to April 2003 to evaluate the changes of soil properties at different nitrogen levels in alley cropping system. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with three replications. Four tree species namely, Gliricidia sepium, Indigofera tysmanii, Leucaena leucocephala and Cassia siamea were arranged in the main plots while five nitrogen doses (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% plus pruned material) were distributed to sub-plots. In the control plots, recommended N doses were used but no pruned materials were incorporated. The growth performance of four MPTS after pruning at different intervals showed that Gliricidia sepium maintained its superiority over the other tree species in terms of both tree height and number of branches per tree at all the measurement dates. The maximum amount of fresh pruned materials were produced and added to the soil by Gliricidia sepium (10.63 t ha^-1) which was followed by Indigofera tysmanii (10.48), Cassia siamea (7.73 t ha^-1) and Leucaena leucocephala (5.88 t ha^-1) species, respectively. Soil properties such as organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, CEC and S were 25.00, 31.25, 16.69, 53.26, 38.87, 15.35, and 19.75 percent higher in alley cropped plots over their initial values. Among the alleys consisted of four tree species, all the three vegetables performed better in G. sepium, which was followed by I. tysmanii, L. leucocephala and C. seamia alleys. This increased performance has been mostly due to the contribution of alley cropping system.

Keywords: Alley cropping system, Growth, Soil properties change, MPTS

Location: The research farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-11-2002

End Date: 00-04-2003

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To examine the soil properties changes as well as growth performance of four MPTS in alley cropping system.

Methodology:

Experimental Site: The experiment was carried out at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) research farm, Gazipur during the period from November 2002 to April 2003. It was the sixth season trial of a long-term alley cropping experiment. The experimental site was located at 2400/ N latitude and 90025/ E longitude with a mean elevation of 8.4 meter from the sea level. Experimental Soil: The soil of the experimental site was originally Shallow Red Brown Terrace under Salna Series in Madhupur tract (AEZ: 28), but the texture has been improved to a loam by depositing recent alluvial soil. Initially soil samples were analyzed to know the soil status of the experiment site in respect of organic carbon, total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and S. Initial status of the soil was compared with the soil status of the present study. Tree Establishment: The seedlings of G. sepium, L. leucocephala and C. siamea were transplanted in June 1998 and Indigofera tysmanii were transplanted in July 2001. Adequate management practices were done to establish the seedlings. Healthy seedlings replaced dead and poorly grown seedlings. Tree to tree distance was 50 cm for all the tree species in each line. Distance in between two alleys was 3 meter. Pruning of Tree/Shrub Species: Tree species were pruned frequently as when needed and the pruned materials were added to the respective plots. For this study, all the MPTS were pruned above one-meter height from the ground during the first week of November 2002 and all the pruned materials were incorporated into the soil of irrespective alleys. Pruning materials were weighed for calculating the amount of total biomass added to the soil. Management Practices: Soil parameters: Soils of experimental plots from different tree alleys were collected immediately after the harvest of the crops from N₀ + PM, N₅₀ + PM, N₁₀₀ + PM treatments and control plots as well, and compared with the initial soil status. In each case, soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm depth. Collected soil samples were mixed to make composite soil samples. The composite soil samples were then air-dried, pulverized, sieved and used for chemical analyses. Chemical analyses were done for pH, organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and S. The soil samples were analyzed. Statistical Analysis: All the data relating to growth yield and yield contributing characters were analysed following the standard statistical procedure of IRRISTAT computer software. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to compare means of treatments.

Source of Information: Int. J. Sustain. Crop Prod. 5(2):21-27, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The results also revealed that, G. sepium, I. tysmanii and L. leucocephala performed better in building up of soil fertility than that of C. siamea. The better performance of G. sepium, I. tysmanii and L. leucocephala in building up of soil fertility could be attributed due to higher nutrient content and faster decomposition rate of the pruned materials.

Knowledge Management: Journal