PERFORMANCE OF CANE AND EGGPLANT IN MULTISTORIED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at the Agroforestry Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during February 2006 to March 2007 to examine the performance of four cane species and one eggplant variety (Kajla) under different multipurpose trees as the middle and the lower storey crops in multistoried agroforestry system. The treatments were three tree species viz. Mehogony, Deshi neem and Eucalyptus, which were used as the upper storey. There was also a control (Open field) treatment. Four cane species namely Bhudum beth, Udum beth, Jali beth and Golla beth were used as the middle storey non-woody perennial and eggplant was used as the lower storey crop. Two separated experiments were conducted for the study. One experiment was laid out in the single factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications for eggplant, another one was two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications for cane species. The aim of the experiments was to study the growth performances and selection of potential cane species and also to assess the morphological behaviors and fruit yield of eggplant in the said multistoried agroforestry systems. Considering cane species, jali beth was the best performer compared to other cane species. Considering the tree effects, Mehogony was the best one followed by Deshi neem and significantly the poorest performance was found in the open field for the growth of cane species. ii In case of interaction effects, both the cane species and tree species, combination of Jali beth and Mehogony was the best performer compared to other combinations. Growth performances of all cane species, Jali beth was found to have vigourous growth irrespective of tree species. As far as yield (Kg/ha) of eggplant is considered, the Open field ensured the maximum yield compared to other combinations followed by Mehogony with Golla beth but the lowest performance was recorded. from the Eucalyptus with Jail beth combination.