Dated 21 st August, PI of the Project : Dr. D.R. Bhardwaj (Scientist Agroforestry) RHRS, Jachh, Kangra. RHRS, Bajaura, Kullu

Transcription

1 1. Project title : Development of Bamboo based Agroforestry Models for Himachal Pradesh 2. Sanction No. and Date : No /2006-Hort-NBM, Dated 21 st August, Total grant sanctioned : lacs 4. Amount released : lacs 5. Period : to PI of the Project : Dr. D.R. Bhardwaj (Scientist Agroforestry) 7. Locations : Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry at Main Campus, Nauni-Solan (H.P.) RHRS, Jachh, Kangra RHRS, Bajaura, Kullu RHRS, Dhaulakuan, Sirmour

2 1. INTRODUCTION India, China and Myanmar have 19.8 million hectares of bamboo reserves-80% percent of the world's bamboo forests. Out of this, India's share is 45 %, with nearly 125 different species of the plant, but only 4 % of its global market. The government would like to see its bamboo industry, concentrated in the northeast of the country, take 27 % of the world market by By that time, the world market is expected to be Rs. 950 billion dollars. Bamboo occurs almost ubiquitously in the country, except in Kashmir and cover about 12.5 percent of the forest area occupying over 9.57 million ha. Areas particularly rich in bamboo are the north-east region, Western ghat and Andaman. Bamboo resources in recent years, however, have shown perceptible decline. While the reasons being over-exploitation by the industries, other factors such as forest fires, grazing, shifting cultivation, invasion by weeds and gregarious flowering have also contributed substantially for the reduction of bamboo production and area in the country. As a consequence of which the paper industries which earlier used to depend upon bamboo for 100 per cent raw material were compelled to manage with about 50 per cent only and the balance met with by softwoods. And now the situation has come to a level where the pulp and paper industries have completely substituted bamboo with other raw material. Over and above, the country had to import substantial amount of foreign exchange to maintain the production level and -quality standard. Small scale and cottage industries were also affected due to the short supply. Under the above scenario the only viable option is to meet out the above mentioned targets, narrow the gap between demand and supply and to become self-reliant is to produce bamboo outside the existing forest area. Development of bamboo based agroforestry model, in this context, holds great promise in augmenting supply of bamboo products in our country without any adverse effect on agricultural land or environment. Keeping in view the role, bamboo can play in rural and national development a large amount of money and efforts are being put to raise the bamboo plantation. Despite the overwhelming importance of bamboo enough research work has not been carried out in relation to development of bamboo based agroforestry models under Himachal Pradesh. Economic

3 planning, scientific management as well as meaningful development programme for bamboo can be undertaken only after undergoing sufficient research work has not been done in relation to development of bamboo based agroforestry models under Himachal Pradesh. Keeping this in view the present investigation entitled "Studies on development of bamboo based agroforestry models for Himachal Pradesh" were carried to meet out below mentioned objective: 2. OBJECTIVES: To compare the survival, growth and developmental behaviour of different bamboo species grown under bamboo based agri-silviculture system; To study the interaction between different bamboo species and field/ medicinal plants; To find out the best bamboo species and field/ medicinal plants combination for different agroclimatic conditions. To conduct the economic analysis of bamboo based agroforestry systems. To fulfill the abovementioned objectives of the present studies agroforestry experiments were laid out at four different parts of Himachal Pradesh representing different agro-climatic conditions. I. Sub-montane & low hills sub tropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh II. Mid hills sub humid conditions of Himachal Pradesh III. Mid hills temperate conditions of Himachal Pradesh 3. Executive summary of Salient Achievement 3.1 Performance of bamboo species under different climatic conditions

4 The growth and developmental behavior of bamboo species as analysed after four years of establishment is as below: Under sub-montane & low hill sub tropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh (Regional horticulture research Station, Dhulakuan, Sirmour, H.P.), D. hamiltonii displayed higher values in respect of average height growth (6.70 m), average diameter growth (6.80 cm), average crown spread (3.80 cm 2 ), average culm weight (1.97 per culm), average clump weight (29.53 kg clump -1 ) and above ground biomass accumulation (6.56 tha-1). Whereas, the number of tillers per clump (24.8) were found to be highest in D.asper. Except for average number of tillers production, the trend in respect of other traits was D.hamiltonii followed by B. vulgaris and D. asper, respectively. In an another trials situated under under submontane & low hill sub-tropical, Kangra, H.P. conditions of Himachal Pradesh at Regional horticulture research Station Jachh D. asper displayed higher values in respect of the production of average number of tillers (63.8), average clump weight (38.59 kgclump -1 ) and above ground biomass accumulation (8.5 tha -1 ). Whereas, average height (5.38m), average crown spread (4.01), average culm dry weight (1.97 kg culm -1 ) were higher in D. hamiltonii than D. asper as well as D. strictus. The diameter growth (4.05 cm) was found to be maximum in D. strictus. All the species displayed cent percent survival response. Under midhill sub humid conditions D. asper established clear cut superiority over the D. hamiltonii and D balcooa in respect of most of the character under consideration viz., average height growth (6.6 m), average diameter (3.6 cm), average number of tillers (33.8), clump weight (85.78 kgha -1 ) and above biomass production (19.06 tha -1 ). However, average crown spread was quite higher in D. hamiltonii and B balcooa. The survival response was cent per cent in all the species. Under warm temperate climatic conditions of Regional horticulture research station, Bajaura, Kullu (H.P.) D hamiltonii exerted superiority in respect of most of traits viz., height (m), diameter (cm), average crown spread, culm dry weight and development of the clump biomass than Phyllostachys pubesense. However, the number of tiller formation per clump was about 4 times higher in Phyllostachys pubesense than D. hamiltonii. The accumulation of the biomass (2.68 t ha -1 ) was also higher in D. hamiltonii than P. pubesense. 3.2 PERFORMANCE OF FIELD CROPS, MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS UNDER DIFFERENT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

5 I. SUB-MONTANE & LOW HILL SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH (HORTICULTURE RESEARCH STATION DHULAKUAN-SITE-I) Maximum herbage yield (210 qha -1 ) of tulsi crop was recorded; when it was grown in association with D. asper followed by D. hamiltonii, Bambusa vulgaris. Average yield of tulsi was found to be higher when it was grown in association with bamboo species than under monocropping. Similar trends were also recorded in respect of net profit being highest under D asper, followed by D hamiltonii, Bambusa vulgaris and open plot, respectively. Maximum rhizome yield (138.2 qha -1 ) of turmeric was recorded when it was grown in association with D. asper, closely followed by D. hamiltonii, B. vulgais and open plot, respectively. Similar trends was seen in respect of net return recorded on per year basis i.e. D. asper> D. hamiltonii> B. vulgaris > open plot. The yield of ginger was found to be maximum (320 qha -1 ) when it was intercropped with D. asper followed by D. hamiltonii and B. vulgaris and open plot, respectively. Ginger crops intercropping with bamboo species displayed better yield performance than as monoculture. Soybean displayed better yield performance when grown in association with bamboo species viz., D. asper, D. hamiltonii. However with Bambusa vulgaris yield depressed in comparison to yield performance. The returns (Rs. 30, 650 qha -1) from soybean were also maximum when they were grown in association with D. asper. The growth of aloevera as well as yield and average returns declined when aloevera was intercropped with different bamboo species under investigation. II. SUB-MONTANE & LOW HILL SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH (REGIONAL HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION JACCH SITE II) The herbage yield of tulsi was maximum (137 qha -1 ) when it was intercropped with D. asper followed by open plot, D. hamiltonii and B. vulgaris, respectively. The rhizome yield of turmeric was maximum in the association with D. asper. The returns from the turmeric crop followed the trend D. asper> open plot> B. vulgaris. The ginger crop at Regional Horticulture Research Station Jacch, Kangra, H.P. performed best when it was intercropped with D. hamiltonii followed by D. strictus, D. asper and open plot, respectively. The net profit from the ginger was maximum when it was intercropped with the D. hamiltonii followed by D. strictus, D. asper and open plot, respectively. Maximum soybean yield (11.37 qha -1 ) was recorded in association with the D. asper followed by D. strictus, D. hamiltonii and open plot. Net returns under different combination also recorded similar trends.

6 The fresh yield of aloevera depressed when grown as an intercrop with different bamboo species. The yield of aloevera showed maximum depression when grown in association with the D. strictus followed by D. hamiltonii and D. asper, respectively. Similarly, net returns on per hectare basis were maximum (Rs. 1,75, 765 ha -1 ) when grown as sole crop. The yield of wheat and Pea declined drastically when grown as intercrop in comparison to sole cropping. The net returns on per hectare basis also declined appreciably. III. MID HILL SUB HUMID CONDITIONS (ZONE-II) (DEPARTMENT OF SILVICULTURE AND AGROFORESTRY) The herbage yield of tulsi was little affected when grown in association with D. asper and B. balcooa in comparison to monoculture. However, it declined appreciably under D. hamiltonii. The net returns on per hectare basis were maximum when tulsi was grown in association with D. asper followed by open plot, D. strictus and D. hamiltonii, respectively in the descending order. The rhizome yield of turmeric was maximum when it was intercropped with the D. asper. The yield with D. hamiltonii remained similar to that of open plot. The economic analysis of the crop revealed that return was maximum when turmeric was intercropped with D. asper. There was appreciable variation in the rhizome yield of ginger with different bamboo species being maximum (127 qha -1 ) with D. asper followed by open plot and B. balcooa and D. hamiltonii, respectively. Maximum returns (Rs. 3,90, 400 ha -1 ) were achieved when D. asper was intercropped with ginger. Maximum grain yield was obtained when it was grown with the D. asper followed by D. hamiltonii. Net profit to the tune of Rs. 30, 650/- were obtained when Soybean was grown as intercrop with D. asper, which was quite higher than returns (Rs 19,400ha -1 ) from monoculture of soybean. The fresh yield of the aloevera was seen to be lower when it was grown in association with the bamboo species. The decline in yield was maximum when it was grown with the B. vulgaris. Maximum returns (Rs. 1,98, 620 ha -1 ) were obtained when grown as monoculture. IV. MID HILL TEMPERATE CONDITIONS (ZONE III), RHRS BAJAURA (SITE IV) The yield of the tulsi depressed when grown under the bamboo species viz., D. hamiltonii and Phyllostachys pubesense. The net returns were also maximum when tulsi was cultivated as a monoculture.

7 The rhizome yield of turmeric enhanced when grown in association with the D. hamiltonii and Phyllostachys pubesense. The net returns were maximum when turmeric was grown in association with P. pubesense followed by D. hamiltonii and open plot, respectively. The rhizome yield of ginger enhanced when grown as intercrop with D. hamiltonii and Phyllostachys pubesense. The percent enhancement in the ginger yield was more with D. hamiltonii. The net returns were maximum (Rs. 54, 400 ha -1 ) under D. hamiltonii followed by P pubesense and open plot, respectively. The grain as well as net returns declined when the soybean was grown as intercrop with D. hamiltonii and P. pubesense under the mid hill temperate conditions of the Himachal Pradesh. The fresh yield of aloevera leaves declined when grown in association with the bamboo species. The decline in the yield was more pronounced when cultivated in association with the P. pubesense. The grain yield of wheat as well as pea was lower when they were cultivated in association with the bamboo species. Similarly, net profit also declined when these crop were cultivated in bamboo association. In between two crops, the pea gave better returns alone or in association with bamboo species than wheat. The cultivation of wheat under the temperate Himalayan ecosystem was not found to be economically remunerative at all. 4. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BAMBOO BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM Sub-montane & low hill sub tropical zone of Himachal Pradesh, the tulsi-wheat combination, irrespective of the bamboo displayed maximum return followed by the aloe vera. Maximum total net return (Rs. 3,05,540- Rs. 4,86,419 yr -1 ) were displayed by tulsiwheat cropping system under the D. asper. These returns were quite higher from agricultural crop than bamboo species. Under midhill sub humid conditions ginger crop when grown under the D. asper displayed maximum net returns (Rs. (Rs. 4,04, 693 ha -1 yr -1 ). Under the mid hill temperate conditions turmeric crop displayed higher return under both D. hamiltonii as well as P. pubesense. Although, maximum returns (Rs.2,71,157 ha -1 yr -1 ) were obtained when turmeric was raised under the Phyllostachys pubesense.

8 5. CONCLUSIONS (1) D. asper displayed better growth and developmental behavior under sub montane & low hills subtropical as well as mid hill subhumid conditions of Himachal Pradesh. Under warm temperate conditions of Himachal Pradesh, Phyllostachys pubesense- an important edible bamboo species showed its potential for introduction in temperate ecosystem. (2) The field crops like ginger, turmeric and tulsi showed better compatibility with bamboo species. Whereas, the yield of aloevera, wheat and pea depressed. (3) Under sub-montane & low hill conditions tulsi-wheat crop when grown in association with D. asper displayed best combination. However, under the midhill subhumid conditions ginger displayed better performance with D. asper. Whereas, under mid hill temperate conditions, turmeric showed better compatibility with bamboo species than other field crops. (4) Under sub-montane & low hill subtropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh tulsi-wheat cropping system under the D. asper displayed maximum returns. Whereas, under the midhill subhumid conditions ginger crop intercropped under D. asper displayed better financial returns (Rs. 4,04,693 yr -1 ). However, under the mid hill temperate climatic conditions turmeric intercropping under the P. pubesense displayed maximum return (Rs. 2,71, 157 ha - 1 yr -1 ). 5. BAMBOO PHOTOS OF PROJECT REPORT

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21