Performance of different intercrop with sugarcane in paired row system

ABSTRACT

The focus of this present study was to know the suitable intercrop for sequential intercropping with sugarcane in paired row planting system at Jamalpur and Pathakata, Nokla, Sherpur, area of Bangladesh. This study was conducted in cropping season 2014-2015 under six treatment combinations viz: T1: Paired row cane (PRC) sole, T2: PRC + potato – mungbean, T3: PRC + Peapod – mungbean, T4: PRC + bushbean – mungbean, T5: PRC + soybean – mungbean and T6: PRC + spinach – mungbean were tested where sugarcane variety was BSRI Akh 41. Most of the observed parameters showed significant differences except brix (%) in both the locations but paired row cane + potato – mungbean combination gave the highest cane yield (115.00 tha-1 and 116.50 tha-1), total adjusted cane yield (169.84 tha-1 and 178.5 tha-1), net return increase over PRC sole (140.61 % and 196.35 %) and BCR (3.12 and 3.28) in both the locations. The overall results under this study indicated that intercropping have a positive impact on cane yield and other yield contributing components and found profitable compared to sole sugarcane cultivation. Considering the total cost and economic return, different factors associated with production system and farmers’ liking, growing potato as first and mungbean as second intercrop with sugarcane in paired row planting system might be a profitable package.

Key words: Performance, intercropping, paired row system, benefit cost ratio

Introduction Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a vegetative propagated perennial crop. It is a cash crop, main source of white sugar and also source of jaggary (gur) in Bangladesh. It is a commercially important crop that accounts for approximately 65% of the global sugar production (Deho et al., 2002). Besides sugar production, it also produces numerous valuable by-products like alcohol, used in pharmaceutical products; ethanol, used as a fuel; bagasse; used for paper and chip board manufacturing; and used as a rich source of organic matter as well as nutrients for sustainable crop production (Majid, 2007). It is cultivated in many of the world countries with Brazil as a major producer followed by India, China, Thailand, Pakistan and Mexico (FAOSTAT, 2013). It is a long duration crop takes about 12-14 months from planting to harvesting which decreases economic return to the farmers compared to other crops from the same duration. To get higher economic return from sugarcane field, appropriate intercropping practices with short duration crops might be the alternative way to increase total yield, interim and higher monetary return. Intercropping is the practice of cultivating two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land per year (Guleria and Kumar, 2016) and have many advantages over sole cropping such as enhancement of efficient use of environmental factors (e.g., light, nutrient and soil moisture) and labors, reduces the adverse effect of various biotic and abiotic stress, provides the diversity of food, generates more income, offers insurance against crop failure, higher return and total productivity per unit area (Farhad et al., 2014). The growth rate of sugarcane during its initial stages (first 90-120 days) is rather slow, with the leaf canopy providing sufficient uncovered area for growing of other crops (Shahana et al., 2019). In paired rows system of sugarcane planting, two rows of cane are planted at 60 cm apart in a trench leaving 120-140 cm vacant space between two paired rows of cane (Alam et al., 2008). It has been reported that farmers grow a large

PDF DOWNLOAD

Jute based farming system: achievement, challenges and prospects in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

Research on farming systems is being carried out in the farmers’ fields and homestead with their management for developing or testing, validating and disseminating technologies to the farmers. On-farm research and technology transfer activities are performed through demonstration (jute village/block/plot), training, field visit, exhibition/fair, mass media, focus group discussion, leaflets, folders, booklets distribution and other technology transfer tools. The Jute Farming Systems Division (JFSD) conducts jute-oriented cropping system and research activities also include in some projects involving crops, livestock, fisheries and agro-forestry. Improved cropping patterns, winter vegetables with jute seed, jute seed in agro-forestry, year-round vegetables in the homestead, livestock rearing, vaccination, de-worming, and fish culture technologies in the farmers’ environment, each generated very positive and encouraging responses with high net income.

Key words: Farming system, jute, technology, cropping pattern, achievement, challenges

Introduction Farming is an integrated production system comprising crops, livestock, fisheries and agro-forestry in Bangladesh. To meet household needs, farmers produce diversified goods (Gilbert et al., 2001). On-farm research, on the other hand, is an indispensable method for developing and validating agricultural technology. It can be described in its simplest terms as research carried out at farmers’ field with their management (Hossain and Haque, 2012). While formal agricultural research in Bangladesh began in 1880. At the turn of the century, the provincial government began systematic research on jute (Jabbar and Abedin, 1989). In 1951, at Manik Mia Avenue, Dhaka, the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) was established and at that time nine regional and sub-stations were then established in various regions of Bangladesh. On-farm research was introduced in Bangladesh in 1957 focusing to encourage farmers for using fertilizers. Studies on cropping patterns and component technologies under the Agronomy Division at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) began with on-farm systems research in 1974 (Jabbar and Abedin, 1989). In 1979, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) launched a National Coordinated Cropping Systems Research Project (CSRP) with the participation of BJRI and other institutes (Gilbert et al., 2001). BJRI conducted Farming Systems Research (FSR) activities under the National Coordinated Farming Systems Research Programme in four agro-ecological sites, such as Kalampur, Dhaka; Kanaipur, Faridpur; Vaskarkhilla, Kishoreganj and Paglapir, Rangpur (Rahman et al., 1990). Since 1996, under the coordination of BARC, the National Coordinated Farming Systems Research and Development Programme (FSRD) was being implemented at one FSRD site within the BJRI (Gilbert et al., 2001). Until the establishment of the On-farm Research Division in 1991 and then the Jute Farming System Division (JFSD) in 1997, on-farm research activities were performed under the Agronomy Division in BJRI. JFSD performs research activities in farmers’ environments and bears the responsibilities to transfer and disseminate the agricultural technologies to the farmers. In view of validation, fine tuning and also popularization of the technologies, village/block/plot demonstration, field days, training, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), seminar and workshops are carried out for technology dissemination at farm level. On farm or adaptive research are strengthened and encouraged in the context of varying socio-economic settings of the Jute and Allied Fibre (JAF) production through the involvement of government organization, non-government organization or private sector. Feedback is received by linking end users, researchers and extension personnel. In addition, it helps to determine the suitability of technology and the constraints of farm-level implementation of technologies. Although the farming system consists of crops, livestock

PDF DOWNLOAD

Growth and yield of mustard (Brassica sp.) as influenced by irrigation and fertilizer

ABSTRACT
To observe the growth and yield attributes of mustard under different irrigation frequency and fertilizer levels, a field experiment was conducted with mustard (Brassica sp.) var. “BARI Sarishal-15”. The experiment was carried out at the research field of the Department of Crop Science and Technology, Rajshahi
University, Rajshahi during the period from October, 2019 to February, 2020. The experiment consisted of three irrigation frequency i.e. no irrigation, 2 times irrigation and 3 times irrigation as well as three levels of fertilizers viz. 80-20-30 kg/ha NPK (Farmers practice), 90-30-40-25-1.0 kg/ha NPKSB (MYG) and 100-40-50-35-1.5 kg/ha NPKSB (HYG). The results revealed that different treatments significantly affected the growth and yield attributes of mustard. The combination of two times irrigation and highest level of fertilizer (HYG) produced the maximum plant height, no. leaves per plant, no. of branches per plant, pod length, no. of pods per plant, no. of seeds per pod, 1000 seeds weight, seed yield, straw yield and minimum days required to 50% flowering and maturity. On the other hand, all the studied parameters except days to 50% flowering and maturity found to be the lowest in no irrigation along with fertilization as farmers practice. Hence, the
study concluded that two times irrigation and 100-40-50-35-1.5 kg/ha NPKSB can be used for getting thetargeted yield as well as desired return from mustard cultivation in “High Ganges River Floodplain zones” of Bangladesh.

Key words: Irrigation, fertilizer, growth, yield, mustard

Introduction

Mustard (Brassica spp. L.) belongs to the family Brassicaceae (formally Cruciferae) is a cool season, thermo sensitive as well as photosensitive crop (Ghosh and Chatterjee, 1988). It is one of the most important oil crops of the world after soybean and groundnut. In Bangladesh context, mustard is popular edible oil in rural area and is considered important for improving the taste of a number of food items. Mustard is rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, C and proteins. 100 g mustard seed contains 508 kcal energy, 28.09 g carbohydrates, 26.08 g proteins, 36.24 g total fat, 12.2 g dietary fiber,
31 I.U. vitamin A, 7.1 mg vitamin C, 266 mg calcium, 9.21 mg iron, 370 mg magnesium and 738 mg potassium (USDA (2014). It is widely used as a cooking ingredient, condiment and for its medicinal value. It also serves as an important raw material for industrial use such as in soap, paints, varnishes, hair oils,
lubricants, textile auxiliaries, pharmaceuticals, etc. Moreover, mustard oil cake is utilized as cattle feed and small quantities are also used as manure. It covers about 80% of the total oilseed acreage and about 71% of the total production in Bangladesh (BBS, 2009). Last ten years have witnessed gradual decline in an area of
104 thousand hectare and production 68 thousand tons of mustard and rapeseed (Anonymous, 2006). Though the production of edible oil is being decreased, whereas, the demand is increasing day by day for increased population. Cultivation of low yielder local varieties, water and proper fertilizer management are
the major causes for poor yield of mustard in the country (Alam and Rahman, 2006). So, there is a great scope of increasing yield of mustard by selecting high yielding varieties and improving management practices. Mustard is mainly grown during the winter season (October-March). The growth yield attributes
and yield of mustard increased significantly with the increase in number irrigation. Adequate supply of moisture in soil helps in proper utilization of plant nutrients, ensuring proper growth and yield of mustard. The frequency of irrigation and the amount of water required depend on cultivar, soil type, season, amount of rainfall and diseases; therefore, it is difficult to give definite recommendation. Over irrigation, as well as under irrigation may lower yields. Indeed, irrigation had significant effect on all the yield and yield

PDF DOWNLOAD

The fin and shell fish abundance and diversity impacting by prevailing water quality in the hilly stream, Balukhali chara at Chittagong University campus

ABSTRACT

Stream water and its faunal diversity are the integral part of the environmental stability and river ecosystem. To know the abundance and diversity of fin and shell fishes in relation to its water quality, a hilly stream namely Balukhali Chara in the Chittagong University Campus was investigated during December 2016 to May 2017. A total of 1904 individuals of fin and shell fishes were collected from two selected stations (S1 and S2), among which 16 species were fin fishes under four orders, nine families and fourteen genera and two species of shell fishes (crab) under one order, and two families were identified and three genera of shell fish (shrimp) under one order, two families were unidentified. As per conservation status, among the fin fishes, two species were vulnerable (VU) (Puntius ticto and Amblyceps laticeps), one was endangered (EN) (Mastacembelus armatus), ten were least concern (LC) (Dermogenys pussilus, Puntius terio, Puntius guganio, Esomus danricus, Rasbora danicornius, Lepidocephalus gutnea, Apocheilus panchax, Channa punctatus, C. orientalis and Trichopsis vittata), two species were not threatened (NT) (Danio rerio and Badis badis) and one species (Devario asamensis) recorded in this study but was not recorded and assessed (NA) in Bangladesh (IUCN 2015) and among the shell fishes, two species of crab were LC (Satoriana spinigera and Lobothelphusa woodmasoni), and two genera and three species of shrimps (Caridina sp., Macrobrachium sp. 1 and Machrobrachium sp. 2) were not identified up to species level. The abundance of Decapoda and Cypriniformes were highest followed by Perciformes, Cyprinodontiformes, and Beloniformes in both the stations.  Species diversity, species richness, species evenness and community dominance are discussed. Ranges of water quality parameters in the two stations were: air temperature15.75-32.5oC, water temperature 15.75-31.5oC, water depth 8.5–21.5cm, current velocity 0.225-0.52 ms-1, conductivity 131.50-235µS/cm, TDS 0.065-0.125 PPT, pH 6.75-7.75 and DO 5.7-8.05 mg/l.  Significant relationships of fish abundance were found with water depth (P<0.1) in S1 and with air and water temperature (P<0.1), water depth (P<0.05), conductivity and TDS (P<0.02) in S2. 

Key words: Fin and shell fish, abundance, diversity, water quality, hilly stream

Introduction Bangladesh is a land of rivers, which originate from the hill streams of India and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh most of the hills and hilly streams are situated in the Northeast and Southeastern part of the country which occupied about 12 percent of the total topography (Ahmed et al. 2013). These hilly streams can be used as one of the potential sources for increasing the abundance of fishes and also ensuring the biodiversity richness. Streams are necessary components of a successful ecosystem, which not only provide beauty to a community, but they also maintain water flow,  improve water quality, and  support diverse vegetation communities, fish and other aquatic wildlife habitats. Hilly stream ecosystem and biodiversity is very important due to the source of origin of different colorful fin and shellfish which live in diversified habitats consisting of clay, sand, rock, gravel, stone and boulders. Habitat characteristics are correlated with presence and absence of fishes (Gorman and Karr 1978). Again, water qualities of a river influence the fish diversity (Kow et al. 2016). The interactions of both the physical and chemical properties of water play a significant role in the composition, distribution and abundance of aquatic organisms (Mustapha and Omotosho 2005). The diverse environment support species-rich fish communities that contribute to the overall high biodiversity of river and stream ecosystems (Schiemer and Waidbacher 1992).

PDF DOWNLOAD
Industrial waste management in construction site- an ecofriend gateway for developing Bangladesh

Industrial waste management in construction site- an ecofriend gateway for developing Bangladesh

Bangladesh J. Environ. Sci., Vol. 36, 1-5, 2019 @ BAED ISSN 1561-9206

INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION SITE – AN ECOFRIEND GATEWAY FOR DEVELOPING BANGLADESH

M. T. Islam

CEIP-1, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Khulna

ABSTRACT

GoB has undertaken the up-gradation the Coastal Embankment Improvement with loan assistance of the World Bank (WB) and grant assistance of the Climate Investment Fund’s Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR).

The present effort includes maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing structures along with rising of embankment height to high tides and storm surges as caused due to global warming and sea level rise mainly. The construction activities imposed different tasks for establishing temporary storage facilities for industrial waste.

In the construction site, about six and half hundred of industrial waste management are generated in each of the months. During the study period, the highest amounts of wastes were recorded in May 2019. Industrial waste management are collected by workers in daily/weekly basis and temporarily stored at the well-developed storage area established at construction sites, which are treated, disposed or recycled by the contractor or sold to waste vendors.

A flow chart of the procedure is provided in this article. It includes collection, segregation, record keeping, storage, selling, re-used etc. for build-up sound environment in the construction site. All those activities are being assured to fulfill the requirements of Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) 1997 of DoE and the WB safeguard policy.

Key Words: Industrial wastes, waste management, management, construction site, gateway, Bangladesh.

Introduction
Since independence in 1971, Bangladesh has made significant strides in its economic sector performance. Although the economy has grown tremendously in the six decades, Bangladesh still suffers from foreign trade in the South Asian region. Despite major obstacles to growth such as inefficiency of state-owned companies, the rapidly expanding labour force that cannot be absorbed into agriculture, inadequate power supply and slow application of economic reforms, has made some progress in promoting climate change and l beralization for foreign investors (BPD, 2012). The particularly severe floods of the 9th decades increased the flow of international aid. So far, the global financial crisis has not had a major impact on the economy (New Report, 2013). Export and remittance inflows have shown dramatic growth which has helped the economy to grow at a steady rate (Bdnews24, 2018). Bangladesh has been on the list of UNLeast  Developed Countries (LDC) since 1975. Bangladesh met the requirements to be recognized as a developing country in March 2018 (Bdnews24, 2018). It straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and has a cultural heritage that is proudly intertwined with the broader civilization history of the Indian subcontinent. It is a pluralistic nation of considerable religious and ethnic diversity. Bangladesh is theworld’s eighth-most populous country and is also one of the most densely populated. Waste management is very useful for all countries.

PDF DOWNLOAD