VARIETAL PERFORMANCE OF BOTTLE GOURD UNDER DIFFERENT SHADE OF MPTs AS AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Agroforestry and Environment Research Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, during October 2018 to January 2019 to evaluate the growth and yield performance of different bottle gourd varieties including to measure the economic performance under different shade of MPTs in agroforestry system along with sole cropping i.e. open field condition. The experiment was conducted in different tree woodlots with laid out in two factors Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were factor A: Four production systems viz. T1 (Bottle gourd under ghora neem), T2 (bottle gourd under mango) T3 (bottle gourd under kalo koroi) and T4 (sole cropping of bottle gourd production system no shade), on the other hand factor B: three bottle gourd varieties viz. V1 (Laltir hybrid variety, BARI Lau), V2 (Metal hybrid variety, Hi-Green) and V3 (Najim hybrid variety, Lau Hajari). So, the treatment combinations were T1V1, T1V2, T1V3, T2V1, T2V2, T2V3, T3V1, T3V2, T3V3, T4V1, T4V2 and T4V3. The unit plot size was 2.5m × 2.5m (6.25 m2 ). For bottle gourd varieties in case of bottle gourd grown under different tree-based agroforestry system, the results showed that the highest plant height (260.00 cm at 45 DAS) was observed in bottle gourd under ghora neem (75% of shade) based agroforestry system and the lowest plant height (181.90 cm) was observed in sole cropping of bottle gourd production system. Significantly the tallest fruit length (44.50 cm) was recorded in sole cropping of bottle gourd production system and the shortest fruit length (37.78 cm) was observed in bottle gourd grown under ghora neem (75% of shade) based agroforestry system. Similar trend was found in fruit diameter. The maximum single fruit weight (2.36 kg) was calculated in bottle gourd under kalo koroi (25% of shade) based agroforestry system and the minimum single fruit weight (2.08 kg) was observed in bottle gourd under mango (50% of shade) based agroforestry system. Significantly the highest fruit yield (36.11 tha-1) was weighted in sole cropping of bottle gourd production system followed by (31.89 tha-1) in bottle gourd under kalo koroi (25% of shade) based agroforestry system whereas the lowest fruit yield (26.09 tha-1) was measured in bottle gourd under mongo (50% of shade) based agroforestry system. From the bottle gourd varietal performance, the results focused that the Laltir hybrid variety was performing the best in number of fruits plant-1, fruit length & breadth, single fruit weight and fruit yield. The highest fruit yield (36.75 tha-1) was recorded in Laltir hybrid variety and the lowest fruit yield (22.75 tha-1) was noted in Najim hybrid variety. From the interaction effect of production system under different MPTs and variety on fruit yield the results indicated that the highest fruit yield (41.83 tha-1) was recorded in open (no shade) + Laltir hybrid variety) treatment combination, while the lowest fruit yield plant-1 (17.67 kg) was noted in ghora neem (75% shade) + Najim hybrid variety) treatment combination, respectively. The highest benefit-cost ratio of (9.01) was recorded from kalo koroi (25% of shade) based agroforestry system followed by 8.980 sole cropping of bottle gourd production system and the lowest benefit-cost ratio of (7.06) was observed in bottle gourd under ghora neem (75% of shade) based agroforestry system. Hence, it may be concluded that kalo koroi + bottle gourd based agroforestry production system will be beneficial to the farmer. Finally, the findings of the research revealed that the kalo koroi 25% of shade and bottle gourd Laltir hybrid variety for an agroforestry system is the best combination of production and in this system of production is returned 9.01 taka in investment of 1 taka in a hectare of land for 1 year. This finding may help to progress the bottle gourd production in the vacant space of multipurpose partial shaded trees specially under kalo koroi.