Evaluation of different agri-horti-silvicultural models for rainfed uplands in West Bengal

A field study was initiated during 2004 at Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya to standardize the agri-horti-silvicultural model for rainfed uplands under red & laterite zone of West Bengal. The experiment involves silvicultural species (Acacia auriculiformis), fruit crops [sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and guava (Psidium guajava) and arable crops [cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), blackgram (Vigna mungo) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria). Arable crops were grown successfully under two silvihorticultural systems (A. auriculiformis + sweet orange and A. auriculiformis + guava) during kharif seasons of 2006 and 2007. Experimental results revealed that tree height, bole height, diameter at breast height (dbh) and volume yield of A. auriculiformis were increased with the increasing age of the tree. On an average, yield (mean of two years) of cowpea, groundnut, blackgram and bottle gourd were 1.74 & 1.65 t/ha, 0.79 & 0.78 t/ha, 0.63 & 0.61 t/ha and 11.92 & 11.54 t/ha when intercropped under A. auriculiformis + sweet orange and A. auriculiformis + guava-based agroforestry system respectively. All the four arable crops gave maximum net return under A. auriculiformis + sweet orange-based agroforestry system as compared to A. auriculiformis + guava-based agroforestry system. So far as different agroforestry systems are concerned, A. auriculiformis + sweet orange + bottle gourd model gave maximum total outturn (Rs. 71,028 /ha/year) closely followed by A. auriculiformis + guava + bottle gourd model (Rs. 69,286 /ha/year). This particular agri-horti-silvicultural system will be multifarious utility to the farmers of dry regions of West Bengal because it not only provides fuel wood, timber, fruits and crop produce but also helps to enrich the soil health.