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Yield and Growth Performance of Bitter Gourd with Karanja Trees Under Alley Cropping System in River Island of Mymensingh

Mahmud Abdullah Al Noman*
Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Robert Kalfilt Rossam
Social Forestry Management Division (Social Forestry Unit), PROSHIKA, Rangpur Sadar-5402, Bangladesh

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

Tafikul Hossian Miraj
Rural Agriculture and Environment Development Division (Microcredit Unit), Kishoreganj Sadar-2301, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The field experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield and growth performance of bitter gourd in combination with karanja tree species under alley cropping system. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications having four treatments viz., T0 (open field condition referred to 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 growth and yield of bitter gourd were significantly influenced by the associated trees at different distances from the karanja tree base. It was found that all the growth parameters of bitter gourd viz. vine length, total leaves per plant, number of primary branches per plant, number of leaves per primary branches, number of female flower per plant, number of male flower per plant, number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight, fresh and dry weight of fruits (t ha^-1 ) etc. were better in the open filed condition compare to in association with karanja tree species. Among the distances from the tree base growth of bitter gourd gradually decreased with decreasing distances towards the tree base. Similar trend of variation was also found in case of yield of bitter gourd in combination with this tree species. The highest fresh yield of bitter gourd was obtained in open field condition which was 1.85 t ha^-1 . Among the different distances viz. <50 cm, 50-100 cm and >100 cm distance from the tree base, yield of bitter gourd was decreased towards the tree base. Fresh yield of bitter gourd in these distances (<50 cm, 50-100 cm and >100 cm) from tree base in combination with karanja species were 0.79, 1.38 and 1.64 t ha^-1 , respectively. It was found that on an average 1.06 t ha^-1 , 0.47 t ha^-1 and 0.21 t ha^-1 yield of bitter gourd were gradually decreased in <50 cm, 50-100 cm and >100 cm distances from tree base compare to open field condition, respectively. Both height and girth increment of the tree was a bit better in combination with bitter gourd. Finally, it may be concluded that bitter gourd can successfully be grown in combination with karanja tree in island based farming system of Bangladesh during the establishment period of timber trees.

Keywords: Alley cropping, Bitter gourd, Agroforestry practices, Karanja, Island agroforestry

Location: Island Kalibari belongs to the Mymensingh Sadar Upazila

Start Date: 00-11-2016

End Date: 00-03-2017

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Bitter gourd

Objectives:

This study was undertaken to identify a sustainable farming system for the island areas of Bangladesh for investigating the growth and yield performance of bitter gourd in association with karanja tree in the island Kalibari in the bank of Old Brahmaputra River.

Methodology:

Experimental site and season The experiment was carried out at Island Kalibari belongs to the Mymensingh sadar upazila during the period from November 2016 to March 2017. The geographical position of Island Kalibari located between 24°45'-24°45'40" North and 90°24'4"- 90°24'44" East Latitude.

Planting material Three year's old previously established karanja (Pongamia pinnata) trees were used as test tree components and bitter gourd (Momordica islandantia) were used as vegetables plant. Tree establishment and management Necessary management activities like watering, cleaning, weeding, fertilizing, branch cutting, bamboo stick setting were done in time for proper growth and development of all plants saplings. Before starting this study the tree was partially pruned disease infected and insect infested leaves and twigs were also removed. Need more information regarding tree planting, height, average canopy size, plot size and tree planting orientation etc. Experimental design, layout and treatment combination The experimental design was layout in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Four treatments were used as T0 = Open field referred to as control, T1 = <50 cm, T2 = 50-100 cm, T3 = >100 cm distance from the tree . Tree was planted on fallows and crops are cultivated in alley following above-mentioned distances. The four treatments (distances) in each block were randomly assigned to the three plots. Crop establishment Bitter gourd seeds were directly sown in the experimental plot on 5 th November 2016. After emergence, bitter gourd was thinned out at three times while first thinning was done at 15 days after sowing; second and third thinning out was done at 5 days interval from first thinning. Bitter gourd are ploughed in the field to fine tilth and dig pits of 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm size at 2 × 1.5 m spacing. Common fertilizers were applied at the rate of 10 kg of FYM per pit (20 t ha^-1), 100 g of NPK 6:12:12 per pit as basal and 10 g of N per pit after 30 days of sowing and irrigation was done at two days interval. Crop harvesting The fruits were harvested at tender stage and before 100% maturity when they are still green. However, bitter gourd was harvest after 120 days after sowing. Harvesting is done by hand picking. After harvest size and weight of each fruit was measured. Sampling and Data collection Data of different morphological islandacteristics were collected at three different stages like vegetative, flowering and harvesting. For data collection three plants were randomly selected from each pit. The parameters studied were- vine length (cm), total leaves/plant, number of primary branches/plant, leaves/primary branches, female flower/plant, male flower/plant, fruits/plant, weight/fruit (g), fresh and dry weight of fruits (t ha^-1). For karanja tree, sixteen tree samples were selected randomly from all treatments of the plots for data collection. Sample trees were selected at before and after of vegetables cultivation. Tree height (cm) and tree girth (cm) were recorded. Statistical analysis The recorded data were compiled and analyzed by RCBD design to find out the statistical significance of experimental results. The means for all recorded data were calculated and analyzed statistically by using ‘SAS University Edition’ software package to find out the statistical significance of the experimental results for all the islandacters were performed. The mean differences were evaluated by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) (Gomez and Gomez, 1984) at 5% level of significance and also by Least Significance Difference (LSD) test.

Source of Information: International Journal of Applied Research 4, 13-19 Online release 14 March 2018

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Achievement/Findings:

The result of this study indicates that the growth and yield of bitter gourd gradually decreased with decreasing distances towards the tree base. The growth of any vegetables is directly related to moisture and nutrients availability in soil. In agroforestry system, a competition occurred for uptaking moisture and nutrients between tree and crop at the beneath of tree canopy. For this reason, may be growth and yield of bitter gourd remarkably reduced near the tree base. Among the different distances from the tree base, yield of bitter gourd is decreased towards the tree base (<50 cm) but the production of bitter gourd is statistically similar with far distance from tree base (>100 cm). Finally, it may be concluded that the cultivation of bitter gourd is profitable if maintaining proper distances (>100 cm) from the tree base in combination with different trees in island-based farming system of Bangladesh.

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