Performance of three multipurpose trees and associated crops in Mizoram, North-East India.

摘要

Performance of three multipurpose trees viz. Alnus nepalensis, Gmelina arborea and Melia azedarach [Azadirachta indica] association with crops viz. ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and maize (Zea mays) growing in agroforestry systems in Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India, was evaluated during 2005-2006. The trees were planted at uniform spacing (2.5x2.5 m) and the experiment involved 12 treatments with ginger, turmeric and maize as intercrops and trees as sole crop. Performance of trees varied significantly (P<0.05) between species. M. azedarach attained maximum height (380.33 cm) and diameter (9.74 cm) when grown with maize, while least growth was observed for A. nepalensis (height 86.13 cm, diameter 3.86 cm) in ginger plot. All the three tree species showed maximum crown diameter when associated with maize. Ginger grown under A. nepalensis had maximum rhizome yield (6.22 tonnes/ha), followed by M. azedarach (6.20 tonnes/ha) and G. arborea (6.19 tonnes/ha). Similar was also the case with turmeric. Total crop productivity differed significantly (P<0.05) between the treatments and was in the order maize > turmeric > ginger. Economic returns (both the gross and net returns) were maximum under ginger grown along neem and minimum under sole tree crops. The crop grown under A. nepalensis provided maximum net return compared to other two tree species.