AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES WITH RED AMARANTH DURING THE EARLY ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD OF MORINGA PLANTATION

Abstract

A study was undertaken to find out the response of red amaranth in association with drumstick (Moringa oleifera) sapling. The experiment was conducted at agroforestry experimental field, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, during February to March 2017. Four treatments namely, T 0 = Open field referred to as control, T 1 = 12 cm distance from the tree base, T 2 = 24 cm distance from the tree base and T 3 = 36 cm distance from the tree base were used in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Yield contributing characteristics of red amaranth and growth perimeters of drumstick as influenced by the management practice were also determined. At the time of harvest, the highest plant height among the treatments was observed in T 3 , which was 9% less than that of control condition and 22% less stem girth was observed in T 1 compared to control. The highest no. of leaves were observed in T 2 treatment, which was 15% less than that of control condition. In case of yield contributing characteristics of red amaranth, 20% less shoot length and 18% less root length were observed in treatment T 2 and T 1 respectively than that of control condition. Apart from control, the highest fresh weight, dry weight and yield were performed under T 1 treatment. Therefore, at treatment T 1 , 16% less fresh weight, 13% less dry weight and 16% less yield were observed compared to that of control condition. But the moisture content of red amaranth (94.27%) was the highest in T 2 treatment and dry matter content of red amaranth (6.38%) was the highest in T 1 treatment. In case of drumstick, at the harvest of red amaranth the highest no of buds were found in T 3 treatment and lowest no. of buds were found in T 2 treatment, but the highest bud length was found in T 1 treatment. Therefore, it was observed that best yield performance of red amaranth at treatment T 1 in association with Moringa sapling. So, farmer can easily cultivate Moringa tree in association with red amaranth maintaining 12 cm distance from tree base without much loss.