DIVERSITY OF MULTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES IN HOMESTEAD AND CROP LAND AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE FARMERS OF MUKTAGACHA UPAZILA IN MYMENSINGH DISTRICT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess diversity of multipurpose tree species in homestead and crop land and its economic importance on the livelihood of the farmers of Muktagacha upazila in Mymensingh district. The study area covered four villages of two unions at Muktagacha upazila in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. Assessment was done by approach of purposive random sampling. Information concentrated from an accumulation of 67 households ranging from marginal, small, medium and large categories. A total of 3142 trees representing 24 families were identified. Fuel wood (25.96%), fruit (23.08%) and timber (23.08%) species were the important plant use categories. Determination of the relative abundance of the divergent species revealed that Mangifera indica constitutes 14.61% of homestead agroforestry followed by Artocarpus heterophyllus, which occupies 13.21%. Shannon Wiener index (H) was used to evaluate the tree diversity and evaluation showed that tree species diversity of the area was 0.057 and species evenness index (E) was 0.035. According to the plants categorization, Shannon Wiener index (H) varied from 0.028 to 0.265. Tree species diversity in homestead was significant and positively influenced by farm size, homestead size, crop land size, annual income and livelihood condition. Similarly, tree species diversity in crop land was significant and negatively influenced by farm size, homestead size, annual income and livelihood condition while crop land size was significant and positively correlated with crop land tree species diversity. Results of this study can contribute to modify agroforestry programs for implementing future tree planting activities for different target populations in various economic and environmental circumstances.