| dc.description.abstract | An exploratory survey was conducted to investigate the present status, tree crop
combination, species diversity and socio-economic impact of cropland and orchard based
agroforestry in three upazilas i.e. Dinajpur sadar upazila, Birgong upazila and Parbotipur
upazila of Dinajpur district during September to November, 2017. For the survey
standard questionnaire was used. The independent variables of the study were age,
education, occupation, family size, homestead area, cropland area, orchard area, total
annual income, annual income from cropland, annual income from orchard and the
dependent variables of the study were knowledge on trees, knowledge on agroforestry,
participation in field day, communication exposure, composition of cropland and
orchard, tree categories like fruit, fodder, timber etc. in cropland and orchard, tree crop
combination, vegetation in the floor orchard, number of species during last 5 years,
management practices in cropland and orchard, opinion about the impacts of cropland
and orchard based agroforestry on livelihood and ecology and problems faced by
respondents. The result of the study revealed that, Eucalyptus was the most common
species among the different species planted by the respondents in their cropland followed
by mango and mahogony. The Relative density (RD), abundance (A) and relative
abundance (RA) were highest in Eucalyptus (64.52, 111.60, 24.97) while lowest in
jackfruit (0.11, 2.66, 0.59). Similarly, important Value Index (IVI) was highest in
Eucalyptus (125.76%) followed by mango (57.92%) and lowest in jujube (0.56%).
Moreover, the result of the study also revealed that tree crop combination was the main
issue for the cropland agroforestry system. From the study it was found that, most of the
respondents cultivated rice with eucalyptus trees (50.8%) followed by potato with
eucalyptus trees (15.0%). Again, in case of orchard based agroforestry, the result of the
study revealed that, mango was the most common species among the different species
planted by the respondents in their orchard followed by litchi and mahogony. The
Relative density (RD), abundance (A) and relative abundance (RA) were highest in
mango (50.38, 115.62, 13.70) while lowest in Indian olive (0.01, 1, 0.11). Similarly,
Important Value Index (IVI) was highest in mango (90.03) followed by litchi (65.5%)
and lowest in banyan tree (0.43%). From the study, it was also found that red amaranth
were cultivated by the maximum (15.8%) respondents followed by bottle gourd (10.0%)
at the floor of orchard. On the other hand cauliflower, countrybean and wheat were
cultivated by the minimum respondents in their orchard (0.80%). Furthermore, maximum
respondent stated that both cropland and orchard based agroforestry system improves
their socio-economic condition by ensuring income and daily basic needs of their
families. But maximum respondents faced problem of damaging trees and crops by
freely grazing animals in cropland agroforestry system. Again, in case of orchard base
agroforestry system insect infestation was the major problem faced by the farmers.
However, the respondents advised that emphasis should be given by the authority in the
availability of good quality seeds/seedlings for plantation and need proper training and
management in the cropland and orchard based agroforestry. | en_US |
