Potentiality of Litchi-Fodder Based Agroforestry System in Bangladesh

M. R. Zaman¹, M. S. Bari^1, , Md. Kajal¹ and H. M. Firoz¹

¹Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Cite this paper:
M. R. Zaman, M. S. Bari, Md. Kajal and H. M. Firoz. Potentiality of Litchi-Fodder Based Agroforestry System in Bangladesh. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2016; 4(2):76-81. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-4-2-2

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agroforestry and Environment Research Field, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during 2013 to investigate the potentiality of three napier fodder varieties under Litchi orchard. The experiment was consisted of 2 factors RCBD with 3 replications. Among the two factors, factor A was two production systems; S₁= Litchi + fodder and S₂ = Fodder (sole crop); another factor B was three napier varieties: V₁= BARI Napier -1 (Bazra), V₂= BARI Napier - 2 (Arusha) and V₃= BARI Napier -3 (Hybrid). The experimental results revealed that there were significant variation among the varieties in terms of leaf growth and yield. The maximum number of leaf plant ^-1 was recorded in variety Bazra (V₁) whereas the minimum number was recorded in hybrid variety (V₃). Significantly the highest (13.75, 14.53 and14.84 tha^-1 at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd harvest, respectively) yield was also recorded in variety Bazra whereas the lowest (5.89, 6.36 and 9.11 tha^-1 at 1^st, 2^{nd v} and 3^rd harvest, respectively) yield was in hybrid variety . Again, in case of production systems, there were also significant differences between the two production systems were found. The maximum number of leaf plant ^-1 was recorded under Litchi based agroforestry system (T₁) whereas the minimum was recorded in open condition (T₂). Similarly, significantly the highest (12.00, 12.35 and 13.31 tha^-1 at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd harvest, respectively) yield of napier was recorded under Litchi based agroforestry system where as the lowest (9.73, 10.47 and 11.66 tha^-1 at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd harvest, respectively) yield was recorded in open condition i.e. napier in sole cropping. Furthermore, the interaction effect of napier variety and production systems were also gave significant deviation result in terms of growth and yield. The maximum number of leaf plant ^-1 was recorded under Litchi based agroforestry systems with Bazra variety whereas the minimum was recorded in open condition with hybrid variety. The highest yield (14.42, 16.14 and 16.15 tha^-1 at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd harvest, respectively) of napier was found under Litchi based agroforestry systems with Bazra variety. Significantly the lowest (5.33, 5.79 and 8.48 tha^-1 at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd harvest, respectively) yield was found in open condition i.e. sole cropping with hybrid variety. In case of the quality perspective, the highest nutritive value (DM, ASH, CP, CF, EE, and NFE) was found in Bazra (V₁) and the lowest value was found in hybrid variety (V₃). Therefore, the suitability of napier production under Litchi based AGF system may be ranked as Bazra > Arusha > Hybrid variety. Finally, the economic analysis showed that maximum BCR (5.20) was found in the Litchi based agroforestry systems over sole cropping (BCR=4.38). From the findings of the taken investigation, it may be concluded that the cultivation of Bazra napier variety in the floor of Litchi orchard ensures higher revenue to the farmers compared to its sole cropping.

Keywords:
potentiality litchi fodder and agroforestry

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Emebiri, L.C. and Nwufo, M. I. Performance of the West African vegetable crop Telfairia occidentalis as a function of distance from a row of mango trees. Agroforestry Systems, 27(2): 183-186. 1994.
[2]	Gill, A.S., Roy, R.D. and Bajpai, C.K. Growth of Leucaena leucocephala in a mango based ,intercropped agroforestry system .Leucaena Research Reports, 13 (2): 22-23. 1992.
[3]	AOAC, Official Methods of Analysis. (16th ed.) Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington D.C., 2004.
[4]	Gomez, K.A., and Gomez, A.A., Statistical Procedure for Agricultural Research. Int. Rice Res. Inst. John Wiley and Sons. New York, Chickerster, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore. 1984, P. 139-240.
[5]	Sen, K.C., Roy, S.N. and Ranjhan, S.K. , Nutritive value of Indian cattle feeds and the feeding of the animals (6th edition). Indian council of Agril. Res., New Delhi. 1978.
[6]	Jesmin, F. Nutritional evaluation of seven non-ligumes and seven leguminous fodders. MS thesis. Department of Animal Nutrition , Bang. Agri .Univ., Mymensingh, 2004.
[7]	Verma, S.S. and Singh, V., Quality of forage Oat in relation to nitrogen fertilization. Forage Res. 13:77.1987.
[8]	Nair, P. K. R., Agroforestry species. In: Crop Sheets Manual. ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya, 1983.
[9]	Jayachandran, B.K. and Nair, G.S. Performance of mango-ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) under different levels of shade. J. Spices and Aromatic Crops, 7(2): 145-146. . 1998.
[10]	Kumar, B.M. and Kumar, S.S. Coconut-timber tree production systems in Kerala : influence of spices and planting geometry on early growth of tress and coconut productivity. Indian J. Agroforestry, 4 (1):9-16. 2002.
[11]	Malak, Effect different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on biomass yield, chemical composition and nutritive value of German grass at two stages of maturity. MS thesis. Department of Animal Nutrition , Bang. Agri. Univ., Mymensingh, 2005.
[12]	Mohiuddin, M., Response of stage of maturity, different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on yield, Nutritive value and mineral content of oat. MS thesis. Department of Animal Nutrition, Bang. Agri. Univ., Mymensingh, 2002.