PERFORMANCE OF CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER UNDER TWO MULTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agroforestry Farm, Department of Agroforestry, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, during 24" November 2007 to 24" February 2008 to evaluate the performance of cabbage and cauliflower under two multipurpose trees .1.e.black siris (Albezia lebbeck) and mango (Mangifera indica) .There was also a control plot (open field). Local variety of cabbage and cauliflower were used as test crops. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. The data were collected at 20, 40, and 60 DAT (day after transplanting) for growth parameter. The significant effect of different tree association was found in the following growth characteristics i.e number of outer leaf, leaf breath, leaf weight, plant height, root length curd size of cauliflower and head size of cabbage At 80 DAP (at harvesting time) growth and yield contributing characteristics were measured. It was recorded that in partial shade condition the higher yield of cabbage would produced (28.33t/ha) and cauliflower (38.33t/ha) were recorded in mango field than black siris. Both the crops showed significantly the lowest yield potential under black series and the values were 18.50t/ha and 28.50 t/ha for cabbage and cauliflower respectively. The study revealed that both cabbage and cauliflower can be produced under 4 years old mango tree without significant yield loss as compared to open field but the yield of cauliflower (38.33 t/ha) were greater than that of cabbage. The black siris created approximately 55-60 % shade was not found suitable for cabbage and cauliflower production. Hence it can be advocated that production of cauliflower with early aged (up to 4 years) mango tree created around 45-50% shade could be profitable agroforestry practice.