Bamboo Based Agroforestry for Sustainable Utilization in Land under Shifting Cultivation of Assam

Arundhat Baruah; Indrani P. Borah

doi:10.36808/if/2019/v145i1/122409

Bamboo Based Agroforestry for Sustainable Utilization in Land under Shifting Cultivation of Assam

Authors

Arundhat Baruah Shifting Cultivation Division, Rain Forest Research Institute Jorhat, Assam
Indrani P. Borah Shifting Cultivation Division, Rain Forest Research Institute Jorhat, Assam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2019/v145i1/122409

Keywords:

Jhum, Intercropping, Agroforestry, Bambusa balcooa, Agricultural crop.

Abstract

A field study was conducted intercropping agricultural crop with Bambusa balcooa for four consecutive years in Rongbonghat, Karbi Anglong district, Assam. Culm cutting of B. balcooa was planted in three different spacing trial (3x3m, 4x4m and 5x5m) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) and colocasia (Colocasia mannii Hook. f.) as per local demand of the people. Growth parameter of bamboo in solo plantation as well as intercropped with agricultural crops recorded remarkably more in 5x5m spacing during 4th year of experimentation. Highest numbers of newly emerged bamboo shoot and maize cob were recorded in 5x5m spacing. Yield of maize (22.89 qt/h) and colocasia (3.54 qt/h) was recorded less in the initial of year cultivation at 3x3m spacing, gradually increased in yield was observed subsequent year (maize-33.8 qt/h and colocasia-5.27 qt/h) up to third year cultivation at 5x5 spacing. Productivity of crops gradually declined after third year of cultivation due to profuse growth of bamboo and dense canopy cover which may causes the competition of nutrients and light between two growing crops.

Increments of soil nutrients also play key role for the production of crop yield and growth parameter of bamboo. At the initial stage, least value of pH, organic carbon and NPK was noticed in soil under intercropped plot, while it increases in successive year due to decomposition of maize straw, bamboo leaf and other crop biomass. Addition of root and shoot biomass also lowered acidity from initial level and enhance the soil fertility. Biomass retained the moisture content and creates a favorable environment for development of plant growth up to third year of cultivation and gradually declined due to prolific growth of bamboo. The present research work has been carried out to develop a bamboo based agroforestry to enhance the sustainable productivity of jhum land.

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