Mangifera indica (Mango) and Dysoxylum binectariferum (Lamboo) based agroforestry system: An Ideal Model for Alternative Land Use System for Food Security and Socioeconomic benefits with Assessment of Carbon Sequestration

Abstract

Abstract Agroforestry is a sustainable land use system that combines tree and crops for productive and protective purposes. Integration of trees in agroforestry system results in positive or negative tree-crop interactions, hence, selection of suitable tree – crop combinations is important. To find out the suitable tree-crop combination, a field experiment was conducted at Regional Research Station (Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya), Jhargram, West Bengal, India. The different crops were cultivated and evaluated during 2017- 18 in alley space of mango (Mangifera indica) and Lamboo (Dysoxylum binectariferum) plantation raised during 2010. Mango plants were planted at 10x10m spacing and Lamboo plants were introduced between two mango plants with in the row i.e., each at 5m distance from mango plant. The crops viz pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), black gram (Vigna mungo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and maize (Zea mays) were cultivated during monsoon-autumn and mustard (Yellow Sarson i.e., Brassica campestris) in winter season. The data revealed that Lamboo and Mango trees in agroforestry system recorded significantly higher growth and yield in comparison to pure plantations. The growth attributes of Lamboo and Mango were recorded to be highest in treatment (T1). The productivity of Lamboo and Mango was also recorded to be highest in the treatment accompanied with Mango and Pigeon Pea. After completion of two cycles of cropping, the results revealed that increase in percentage of organic carbon, N, P and K was found to higher in T1 (Lamboo + Mango + Pigeon pea) i.e., Organic Carbon -29.73%, N-39.21%, P-38.20% and K-19.66%). The maximum gross income was recorded in T3 (Lamboo + Mango + Bottle gourd – Mustard) i.e., ₹7,64,995 per hectare. Hence, this tree-crop combination can be adopted for highest return in Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal.