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Performance of Aroid Under Jackfruit-based Agroforestry System in Terrace Ecosystem of Bangladesh

ZA Riyadh
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706

MA Rahman
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706

MG Miah
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706

SR Saha
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706

MA Hoque
Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

S Saha
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706

MM Rahman
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The terrace ecosystem is considered as hotspot of jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) in Bangladesh having potential for understory cropping. However, most of the jackfruit orchards are often found utilized or underutilized. A field experiment was conducted under the jackfruit orchard to study the performance of aroids (Colocasia esculenta L.) from April to October, 2017 in Belabo upazila of Narsingdi district. Four distances (1, 2, 3 and 4 m) from the base of jackfruit tree were considered for aroid planting to evaluate its performance as agroforestry crop in comparison to sole aroid. Land use and economic performances of agroforestry and sole systems were also evaluated. The results indicated that the production of jackfruit increased by 62.73%, while the yield of aroid reduced by 33.48% in agroforestry systems as compared to the yields of sole (non-agroforestry) systems. In agroforestry system, the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was severely reduced by 85-77% on aroid crop that caused yield reduction. It was also observed that soil temperature was lower in agroforestry system as compared to sole cropping of aroid, while soil moisture showed inverse trend in sole jackfruit. Economic analysis in terms of benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 2.60 in agroforestry, while the BCR of sole aroid was only 1.83. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was 2.31 in agroforestry system. The present results indicate that aroid cultivation in jackfruit-based agroforestry system under terrace ecosystem can ensure overall higher production and improve economic return.

Keywords: Benefit cost ratio, Land equivalent ratio, Active radiation, Sole crop, Aroid, Jackfruit, Agroforestry

Location: Belabo upazila of Narsingdi district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-04-2017

End Date: 00-10-2017

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Aroids

Objectives:

To evaluate the performance and economic return of aroid and micro-environmental changes in jackfruit- based agroforestry system in the terrace ecosystem of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted in the existing jackfruit orchards at Belabo upazila of Narsingdi district during April 2017 to October 2017. Geographically, the study site is located at 24°05´ North latitude and 90°50´ East longitude at an elevation of 9m above the sea level and characterized by a sub-tropical climate with mild-summer and winter, heavy rainfall during the months from April to September and scanty rainfall during the rest of the year. The soil of the experimental area is clay-loam in texture belonging to Madhupur Tract (AEZ-28) and classified as shallow red-brown under Inceptisol soil category according to USDA Soil Taxonomy (Brammer, 1971; Shaheed, 1984). The land topography is characterized by upland and closely associated narrow-valleys, popularly alluded to as Chala and Baid, respectively. The soil of the study area is red-brown in color and strongly acidic in nature with low-organic matter content and poor fertility levels. The field experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Each jackfruit tree was considered as unit plot for a single replication. Plot size of each replication were not similar due to various age, canopy size and shape of jackfruit trees. There were five treatments for aroid viz. 1-meter distance from tree base (1m), 2-meter distance from tree base (2m), 3-meter distance from tree base (3m), 4-meter distance from tree base (4m) and open field (non-agroforestry/control). There were two treatments for jackfruit tree, open field (non- agroforestry) and agroforestry. Heterogeneous jackfruit trees with the age between 26 and 30 years were selected for this study. The seed tubers of aroid (local var. Gaitta) were planted on 3rd April 2017 at a depth of 6-8 cm by maintaining the spacing at 50 cm × 30 cm. Rainfed aroid plots were fertilized with cowdung, Urea, TSP and MoP at the rates of 5000, 150, 100 and 120 kg ha-1, respectively (FRG, 2012). The full doses of cowdung, TSP and MoP were applied at the time of final land preparation. Urea was applied in two equal splits at 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP) of aroid. Weeding was done twice at 30 and 45 DAP. Earthing up of aroid was done by taking up the soil from the space between the rows of aroid field at 60 and 90 DAP. Aroid was harvested on 4th October when the leaves become pale yellow after 180 DAP. Data on plant height and leaves per plant were measured when it reached peak at 130 DAP; whereas, number of sucker per hill, cormel number per hill, corm weight per plant, total cormel weight per hill and yield were recorded from the average of ten plants at harvesting. The yield performance of jackfruit tree in both the agroforestry and non-agroforestry systems were measured. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) above aroid in agroforestry and open field were measured by sunfluxceptometer in terms of µmolm-2s-1. Soil moisture percentage was recorded by DSMM500 soil moisture meter and the soil temperature (ºC) was measured by Temp 4/5/6 Thermistor Thermometer. All microclimatic data were taken at noon. Benefit cost ratio (BCR) and land equivalent ratio (LER) were calculated according to the procedure Mead and Willey (1980). The recorded data were statistically analyzed to find out the significance of the results by the “Analysis of Variance” (ANOVA) technique using computer package “Statistix 10”. The mean differences of treatments were compared by Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P < 0.05. Finally, relevant tables and figures were prepared according to the objectives of the study.

Source of Information: Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2019) 23(2) : 79-87

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/aba.v23i2.50056

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Considering the present findings, it may be concluded that aroid cultivation under jackfruit orchard may be effective in improving system productivity and profitability. Jackfruit yield was increased dramatically by 62.73%, whereas the aroid yield was reduced by 33.48% in agroforestry systems. Though the yield of aroid was reduced in agroforestry due to heavy shade provided by jackfruit tree, it can be successfully cultivated in jackfruit orchards to generate substantial additional income and ensure better microclimate. Hence, cultivation of aroid under jackfruit-based agroforestry system might be encouraged.

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