Performance assessment Of Indian Spinach (Basella alba) as an Under Storey Crop in Aonla-Lemon Based Multistoried Agroforestry System Manuscript Draft

Abstract

Abstract Multistoried agroforestry in Bangladesh is decisive to deal with the challenge of shrinking arable land and repeated climatic hazards together with a handsome economic benefit to the farmers of the country. This research aimed to investigate the performance of Indian spinach in an aonla-based multistoried agroforestry which was contrasted alongside the production of open field condition of five different Indian spinach varieties that were also inspected for best-performing varieties. The results reveal that with the differences in Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) various growth and yield-related attributes get affected as a result yield decreased in T1 (Aonla+Lemon+Indian Spinach) followed by T2 (Aonla+Indian Spinach) than T3 (Open field) which could be attributed to competition for above and below ground resources. But in fact, the total output of T1 was highest followed by T2 than T3 because diversified products in the Agroforestry system added to the total output and ratified the superiority of the agroforestry system over the sole crop. Whereas in case of different varieties BARI puishak 2 proved its supremacy over other four varieties. Among the treatment combinations, BARI puishak 2 in combination with T1 agroforestry system (T1V2) proved best performing in respect of the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.68 and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) value of 3.56. In a nutshell, the study concluded that agroforestry practices with Indian spinach could be an excellent alternative to ensure higher financial benefit, protect and preserve the environment and promote food and nutritional security to the impoverished farmers of Bangladesh.