AGRO-ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF ONION UNDER KALO KOROI, GHORA NEEM AND IPIL-IPIL BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Agroforestry and Environment Research Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, during November 2013 to April 2014 to evaluate the agro-economic performance of onion under kalo koroi, gora neem and ipil-ipil based agroforestry systems. The experiment was conducted in newly established orchard of multipurpose tree species namely Albizia lebbeck (Kalo koroi), Melia azedarach (Ghora neem) and Leucaena leucocephala) (Ipil-ipil). The tree saplings were planted at the spacing (3 mx3 m) and the orchard was 8 years old. A popular local onion variety Taherpuri was used for the study. The experiment was laid out following the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. The results of the research revealed that effect of trees was significant in respect of plant height at 30,45,60 and 75 days after transplanting (DAT), number of leaf/plant at 30,45 and 75 DAT except 60 DAT, leaf fresh and dry weight, root fresh, bulb diameter, bulb fresh and dry weight and bulb yield (t/ha). In initial stage 30 DAT the tallest plant (24.27 cm) was recorded in Ipil-Ipil + onion based agroforestry system (AFS). Consequently, the shortest plant was observed (20.07 cm) in sole cropping of onion (To). In final stage at 75 DAT the tallest plant height 51.01 cm was found under Ipil-Ipil + onion based AFS followed by Ghora neem + onion based AFS (49.83 cm). On the other hand the shortest plant height 44.83 cm was recorded in sole cropping of onion. At 30 DAT, the maximum number of leaves palnt’ 4.80 was recorded under ipil-ipil + onion based agroforestry production system. Apparently, the minimum number of leaves plant’ (3.77 at 30 DAT) was observed in open field i.e. onion sole cropping production. The highest bulb diameter (4.40 cm) was vi measured in sole cropping of onion production and the lowest bulb diameter (3.85 cm) was measured under ipil-ipil based agroforestry production system which was similar to that of T (3.87 cm) and T, (3.92 cm), respectively. The highest fresh weight of bulb plant”! (27.04 g) was found in open field i.e. sole cropping of onion followed by (25.33 g) kalo koroi + onion based agroforestry production system, respectively. The highest benefit-cost ratio of 3.58 was recorded from kalo koroi + onion based agroforestry production system followed by ipil-ipil + onion based agroforestry production system and ghora neem + onion based agroforestry production system. The lowest benefit-cost ratio of 2.56 was observed in i.e. in sole cropping of onion. Finally, onion can be cultivated profitably in kalo koroi based agroforestry production systems.