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Weed Management of Kenaf (hibiscus Cannabinus) Through Intercropping Leafy Vegetables and Cultural Practices

I.J. Nur
Breeding Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

B. Kundu
Jute Farming Systems Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

M.A.H. Chowdhury
Department of Agricultural Extension, Dhaka, Bangladesh

M.M. Mukul
Breeding Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

J. Ferdush
Fibre Quality Improvement Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh

M.A. Khan
Jute Farming Systems Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field experiment was conducted at Jute Research Experimental Station, Manikganj, Bangladesh during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons to study the feasibility of intercropping leafy vegetables at an early stage of the fibre crop: kenaf along with conventional weeding methods for better weed suppression and higher productivity. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was followed consisting of eight treatments with three replications. Three leafy vegetables: red amaranth, jute shak and kangkong were used as an intercrop with kenaf following 1 hand weeding and 1 hand hoeing alternately. Sole kenaf (weeded twice) was also grown as a control. The total weed vegetation was comprised of grasses 49%, broadleaved 33% and sedge only 18%. Performance of kangkong as intercrop was found better in terms of weed suppression. Hand weeding was found more efficient as a cultural weeding method in reducing weed density. Although intercropping resulted in a significant yield reduction of kenaf but increased net return and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) by increasing kenaf equivalent yield (KEY). The land equivalent ratio (LER) was found higher in all intercropping treatments than sole kenaf which indicated more efficient utilization of land under intercropping. Red amaranth intercropping+1 hand weeding resulted in the maximum gross return (TK.1,36,200 ha^-1) while the highest gross margin (Tk. 59,390 ha^-1) and BCR (1.78) was obtained from jute shak intercropping+1 hoeing. Considering the production cost, monetary return, and productivity, Kenaf intercropped with Jute shak+1 hoeing was found better than other intercropping treatments.

Keywords: Fibre crop, Intercropping, Leafy vegetables, Productivity, Weed suppression

Location: Jute Research Experimental Station, Manikganj, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2017

End Date: 00-00-2018

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: kenaf, Weed management, Vegetables

Objectives:

The present study aims at finding the combined result of intercropping and cultural weeding practice on weed management of Kenaf and thereby increasing crop productivity.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted in JAES, Jagir, Manikganj station (23°53’01.2” N 90°02’13.5” E) of Bangladesh from April to August for two consecutive years 2017 (1^st April to 2^nd Aug) and 2018 (4^th April to 5^th Aug). The soil was silt loam to silty clay loam in texture which belongs to the Young Brahmaputra and Jamuna floodplain soils (AEZ 8). The type of land was medium-high and the soil was slightly acidic (pH 5.9-6.4). Soil fertility was moderate and organic matter content was low. Temperature and Relative humidity in both years range between 37°C to 28°C and 74-78% respectively. The crop was grown rainfed. Total rainfall was 2376 mm in 2017 and 2332 mm in 2018. A randomized complete block design was followed with three replications with unit plot size 4m×3m. Space between plot to plot and between replications was 60 cm and around the field was 1.0m. Seeds of kenaf variety were sown in rows of 30cm apart after broadcasting the seeds of leafy vegetables (red amaranth, kangkong and jute leafy vegetable) according to the treatments. Other intercultural practices were followed as per recommendation. Among the leafy vegetables, red amaranth was harvested 20 DAS, both jute shak and kangkong were harvested 30 DAS. After harvesting vegetables (30DAS) all the treatment plots were weeded by two cultural weeding practices: hoeing and hand weeding as per treatments. The number of weeds/m² was taken along with the weed species composition 30 days (1 month) after weeding. Kenaf (maincrop) was harvested 120 DAS. At maturity, 10 randomly selected plants were uprooted from the inner rows of each plot for recording data on yield and yield contributing characters. Data of two years were analyzed statistically using MSTAT-C for stable recommendation and mean comparison was done by DMRT (Duncan's Multiple Range Test) tests at a 5% level of significance. The relative yield was obtained by dividing the intercrop yield of a crop with the respective sole crop yield of that crop using the following formula of Dewit and Vander (1965). A Benefit-cost analysis was also carried out to determine the most economically acceptable treatment practice. The prevailing wage rates paid for labor were used to estimate the labour costs. Economic data from the cost of inputs and farm operations used for each treatment were used to estimate the total cost of production (TCP). The gross income (GI) was a product of the total yield (Kenaf yield and KEY) and prevailing price of fibre and stick which was TK.32 per kg and TK.4 per kg respectively. The GI minus TCP is the net income.

Source of Information: SAARC J. Agric., 19(1): 165-176 (2021)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v19i1.54787

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

All the intercropping treatments performed better than sole cropping not only in weed management but also in productivity, land utilization, and financial benefit. Hence it is clear from the experiment that intercropping kenaf with short-duration leafy vegetables ensures initial weed suppression and guarantees profitable kenaf productivity. Intercropping kenaf with jute as leafy vegetable followed by 1 hoeing can be recommended for practicing at field level. This research can be further studied by intercropping with other short-duration vegetables with or without including any cultural weeding practices for examining the level of weed suppression and profitability.

Knowledge Management: Journal