Green Global
Foundation   Journal
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ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF ONION UNDER Albizia lebbeck, Melia azedarach and Leucaena leucocephala BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS (Pages : 1 - 8)

A field experiment was carried out at the Agroforestry and Environment Research Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, during November 2013 to April 2014 to evaluate the agro-economic performance of onion under kalokoroi, goraneem and ipil-ipil based agroforestry systems. The experiment was conducted in newly established orchard of multipurpose tree species namely Albizia lebbeck (Kalokoroi), Melia azedarach (Ghoraneem) and Leucaena leucocephala (Ipil-ipil) the tree saplings were planted at the spacing (3m×3m) and the orchard was 8 years old. The experiment included a popular onion variety Taherpuri was used for the study. The experiment was laid out following the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. Total number of experimental plots was 12. The unit plot size was 2.5m × 2.5m = 6.25m2. The treatments of the experiment were T0¬= Open field + onion, T1= Albizia lebbeck + onion, T2= Melia azedarach + onion and T3= Leucaena leucocephala + onion. The results of the research revealed that effect of trees were significant in respect of plant height at 30,45,60 and 75 DAT, number of leaf/plant at 30,45 and 75 DAT except 60 DAT, bulb diameter, bulb fresh and dry weight and bulb yield (t/ha). In initial stage 30 DAT the tallest plant (24.27 cm) was recorded in Leucaena leucocephala + onion based AFS. Consequently, the shortest plant was observed (20.07 cm) in sole cropping of onion (T0). In final stage at 75 DAT the tallest plant height 51.01 cm was found under Leucaena leucocephala + onion based AFS followed by Melia azedarach + onion based AFS (49.83 cm). On the other hand the shortest plant height 44.83 cm was recorded in sole cropping of onion. At 30 DAT, the maximum number of leaves palnt-1(4.80) was recorded under Leucaena leucocephala + onion based agroforestry production system. Apparently, the minimum number of leaves plant-1 (3.77 at 30 DAT) was observed in onion sole cropping production. The Download