Interim Results of Intercropping of Miscellaneous Tree Species with Main Crop of Taungya Plantations to Increase the Productivity

Abstract

In order to guard against some of the harmful effects of monoculture in plantation practice, an experiment was laid out to introduce miscellaneous species of multipurpose value-particularly species known to improve the soil humus and which are useful as fuel and fodder-in the interspaces of Sal taungya lines when cultivators have left the area. It has been found that it is possible to raise economically species like Albi a Procera, Bauhinia variegata, Cassia fistula and Ougeinia oojeinensis without any adverse effect on the main crop. An additional yield of approximately 1 tonne/ha/year was obtained on a 4 year rotation of miscellaneous species. Other beneficial effects of miscellaneous species are also discussed.