What are multistoried agroforestry systems? Multistoried agroforestry systems are characterized by high species diversity and usually 2-5 vertical canopy strata, thus indicating the intimacy of plant associations.
Why do farmers practice multistoried agroforestry systems? Some farmers prefer not to devote their resources entirely to a single, long-term tree crop such an orchard or timber stand. Instead, they diversify their planting, utilizing the area between the tree crops to cultivate under story crops. Some benefits of multistoried agroforestry systems may include: A. maximizing use of agricultural land and light with multiple crops and hence more biological production; B. diversified agriculture products, such as, vegetables, fruits, spices, fodder, forage, fuelwood, medicinal plants and timber can be obtained from different layers of the same piece of land at a time; more constant source of income and less capital investment; C. protection from heavy loss in a given time period caused by failure in one component, due to success with other components; D. effective utilization of laborers; including participation of different family members at different times, and E. mutual biological benefits gained from interactions among different vertical strata.
Scope of multistoried agroforestry systems in Bangladesh There is golden opportunity for multistoried agroforestry in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh at present there are about 20 million homesteads, where multistoried systems could be applied. Fruit specially mango and litchi orchard in northwest part of Bangladesh could be brought under this system which will provide continuous cash flow. Jackfruit orchard in the Madhupur, Gazipur areas of Bangladesh and in the forest plantation of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet where banana, pineapple, cassava, aroids could be grown. Some promising multistoried agroforestry models for Bangladesh condition The experimental multistoried agroforestry system at the Horticulture farm of the Bangladesh Agricultural University produced a good indication of multistoried agroforestry systems in three layered canopy configuration. Recently the department has demonstrated the beneficial effects of three multistoried agroforestry models like coconut based, mango based and sissoo based multistoried agroforestry system, in terms of return per unit area.
Coconut based multistoried agroforestry system It is a three layered garden consisted of coconut at the top layer, guava and lemon at the middle layer; and the vegetables, spices and the medicinal plants are at the ground layer. Coconut + guava based multistoried agroforestry system and coconut + lemon based multistoried agroforestry system allowed, respectively 42 to 46% and 53 to 58% sunlight for the growth of vegetables, spices and medicinal plants (Bari, 2009). The upper layer occupied by coconut was thirty years old and the spacing of plantation was 8m x 8m. As the middle or second layer plant, guava and lemon both were five years old and were in full bearing condition. Spacing between guava and / or lemon and between rows was 3m x 3m. This system is economically viable.
Mango based multistoried agroforestry system It is also a three layered garden consisted of mango at the top layer, guava at the middle layer; and the vegetable, spices and the medicinal plants were at the ground layer. Mango+guava based multistoried agroforestry system allowed 19 to 23% sunlight for the growth of vegetables, spices and medicinal plants (Bari, 2009). The upper layer occupied by mango tree was thirty two years old and the spacing of plantation was 8m x 8m. As the middle or second layer plant, guava was five years old and was in full bearing condition. Spacing of guava plantation was 3m x 3m. These three storied system have also given positive economic return per unit area.
Some planning issues For practicing multistoried agroforestry systems require careful planning. The needs of the species to be planted should be well understood, as well as the effect of each species on the other species in the system. Careful planning helps to avoid problems, minimize risks, and maximize returns from crop combinations.
Some planning issues For practicing multistoried agroforestry systems require careful planning. The needs of the species to be planted should be well understood, as well as the effect of each species on the other species in the system. Careful planning helps to avoid problems, minimize risks, and maximize returns from crop combinations.