WEED SUPPRESSION FOR INCREASING PROFITABILITY IN JUTE CULTIVATION BY INCORPORATING LEAFY VEGETABLES (GREEN AMANRANTH AND JUTE)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy fields of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the period from April to August 2013 to study the weed suppression in Jute field by growing leafy vegetables (either green amaranth or incorporating higher jute plants) and thereby increasing the profitability of jute cultivation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The treatments comprised either sole jute cultivation or in combination of fiber jute with jute for leafy vegetable or with amanranth (T1 = Control, jute only, spacing 30 cm; T2 = Jute row spacing 30 cm + one line jute (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent jute lines; T3 = Jute row spacing 30 cm + jute broadcast (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent jute lines; T4 = Paired row jute 15 cm apart + 4 rows amaranth (as leafy vegetable) 15 cm apart between two adjacent paired rows of jute; T5 = Paired row jute 15 cm apart + broadcast jute (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent paired rows of jute; T6 = Jute 30 cm apart + one amaranth line (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent jute row; T7 = Jute 30cm apart + broadcast amaranth (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent jute row; T8 = Mixed jute for fiber (6 kg ha-1 ) and amaranth (4 kg ha-1) sown for leafy vegetable; T9 = Mixed jute for fiber (6 kg ha-1 ) and amaranth (2 kg ha-1) as leafy vegetable; T10 = Paired row jute for fiber 15 cm apart + broadcast amaranth (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent paired rows of jute; T11= Paired row jute for fiber for fiber 15 cm apart + 3 rows amaranth (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent paired rows of jute T12= Paired row jute for fiber 15cm apart + 4 rows jute (as leafy vegetable) between two adjacent paired rows of jute; T13= Mixed jute for fiber (6 kg ha-1) and amaranth (8 kg ha-1) for leafy vegetable). Results showed that the greater amount of jute sak was obtained from T1, T4, T6 and T10 (over 26 g m-2). The longest jute plant was observed in T6 (2.67 m). In the 1st weeding the greatest weed infestation was seen in T11 but in the second weeding, that was found in T13. Significantly higher jute fiber yields were obtained in T1, and T6 (over 3.7 t ha-1). Significantly greater harvest indices were obtained from T3, T6, T9 and T12. (around 40%). The highest costs in respect of weeding (9000 Tk.ha-1) and total costs was obtained with T1 (76421 Tk.ha-1). T1 and T6 showed identical value of jute fiber (over 148000 Tk.ha-1) with the greatest cost in T1. T1 and T6 also showed higher total returns (over 154000 Tk.ha-1). However, the highest net income was obtained with T6 (94997Tk.ha-1) along with the highest Benefit cost ratio (1.61).