PERFORMANCE OF OKRA IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIFFERENT MULTIPURPOSE TREE BASED 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 April to July 2013 to evaluate the performance of okra cv. Anamika under Arjun, Horitoki, Kalo koroi, and Ipil-ipil based agroforestry systems along with sole cropping i.e. open field condition. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Plant height increased gradually with the advancement of time up to the maximum vegetative growth stage (60 DAS) and then the plant height slowly decreased in all treatments. At the 30, 60 and 90 DAS the plant height was found height in Okra + Kalo koroi based agroforestry production system as well as Okra + Ipil-ipil based agroforestry production system and the lowest plant height were recorded in Okra in sole cropping production system. But in case of number of leaves plant” and also leaf length and leaf breadth were found highest in Okra production in sole cropping production system. On the other hand the lowest number of leaves plant” and also leaf length and leaf breadth were observed in Okra + Arjun based agroforestry production system as well as Okrat+ Horitoki based agroforestry production system. Significantly the highest number of fruit plant’ 8.09, fruit length 13.37cm and fruit girth 7.01 cm were found in Okra sole cropping production system. On the other hand, the lowest number of fruit plant” 5.73, fruit length 10.05cm and fruit girth 5.71 cm were found in Okra +Horitoki based agroforestry system (AFS). Finally the highest fruit weight plant”! (153.61 g) and fruit yield 10.15 tha’' were found in Okra in sole cropping production system and lowest fruit weight plant’ 119.87 g and fruit yield 7.33 tha! were recorded in Okra +Horitoki based agroforestry production system. The results of this experiment clearly indicated that the choice of species of tree and okra for multipurpose tree based agroforestry production system is very significant.