SCREENING OF LEAFY VEGETABLES UNDER MAHOGANY TREE (Swielenia mahagon:) BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Central farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh to screening of some leafy vegetables under mahogany tree based agroforestry system. In this study the 25 years old previously established mahogany tree were used as tree components. As leafy vegetable Kalmi, Red Amaranth, Indian Spinach and Stem Amaranth were used. The experiment consists of two factors: Factor A: Orientation of planting (2) - 0: East facing, 02: West facing; Factor B: Distance of planting (5 levels)- Do: Planting leafy vegetables under Ml sunlight, Dj: Planting leafy vegetables 3.5 m apart from mahogany trees, 1)2: Planting leafy vegetables 4.0 m apart from mahogany trees, 1)3: Planting leafy vegetables 4.5 m apart from mahogany trees and 1)4: Planting leafy vegetables 5.0 m apart from mahogany trees. The experiment was conducted with Randomized Complete Block (RCI3D) with three replications The result revealed that, due to orientation of planting, in case of Kalmi, Red Amaranth, Indian Spinach and Stem Amaranth, the tallest plant,the highest yield and light intensity was recorded from 0, where light intensity and soil moisture were maximum. Soil temperature was minimum. On the other hand yield of four leafy vegetables were the lowest at west facing (02). Light intensity and soil moisture were minimum. Soil temperature was maximum. The yield of four leafy vegetables were the best from 4.5 m apart from Mahogany trees (03). On the other hand yield of Kalmi, Red Amaranth, Indian Spinach and Stem Amaranth were the lowest from 3.5 m apart from Mahogany trees (13 1). Light intensity was the highest at treatment combination of 02D0 and the lowest light intensity was observed at treatment combination oIO 2D2. The yield per hectare (41.22, 44.82. 55.53 and 44.25 ton, respectively) of four leafy vegetables were superior at east facing 4.5 m apart from Mahogany trees (0 1133 ) where, soil moisture was the highest. On an average the lowest yield per hectare (25.13, 26.56, 37.01 and 23.22 ton, respectively) of four leafy vegetables were observed at west facing 3.5 m apart from where the lowest soil moisture was observed and the soil temperature was comparatively higher.