Sunday, April 14, 2013
EFFECT OF SLOPE GRADIENT AND HEDGE SPECIES ON SOIL LOSS AND CROP YIELD IN CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS
ABSTRACT
The study involving maize was
conducted at the Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Centre (SCWMC),
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), Bandarban during May 2012 to December
2012 to investigate the effect of Effect
of different hedge species and slope gradient on controlling soil erosion,
runoff, nutrient mining and yield and yield attributes at moderate slope in CHT.
The treatments were: T1: Indigofera
hedge, T2: Pineapple hedge and T3: Control (without hedge).
Slope gradients were gentle (12%) and moderate (26%). Hedges as well as slope
gradient has created impact on soil loss in Bitter Gourd growing plots. Plant height, fruit length, fruit diameter,
seeds per fruit, 100 seed weight and yield of Bitter Gourd responded to the
application of different hedges and slope gradient.
OBJECTIVES
a To compare soil loss, runoff and nutrient
mining in cultivating Bitter Gourd under
different hedge species and slope
gradient.
b. To evaluate the economical aspects of
cultivation under different hedge species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment Indigofera and Pineapple. Hedge species were planted in 2009
following contour lines maintaining 5 m alley distance but the data of the
experimentation were recorded during 2012. Measurement of soil loss and run-off
was carried out by established and locally fabricated multi-slot divisors.
Natural condition of the slopes was not disturbed or no any soil work was done
to make artificial slope. Pits were dug 1.80 m c/c in rows maintaining contour. Total number of
pits in each plot were 24. Fertilizers were applied as per recommendation of
soil test value. 3 to 4 nos of seed were sown in each pit. After germination,
two seedling were allowed for yield. Cultural
operation were done as usual in all the plots. Soil loss and run-off from each
100sqm (5m x 20m) experimental plots were measured after each shower throughout
the rainy season. Daily and eventually monthly soil loss and run-off were
estimated from each treatment by processing aliquot of sample every day. Every
morning (if rains previous day) amount of run-off water is measured in the
multi-slot and aliquot of about 2 Litre is sampled from each tank. Suspended
sediment in the sampled aliquot is measured by simple filtering and oven
drying. Corresponding rainfall is recorded from the automatic and ordinary rain
gauge of SCWMC. Climatic data like rainfall, temperature, humidity, evaporation
etc. were recorded daily. Bitter Gourd was selected as a test crop. Different
agronomic practices were done when it was necessary.
Experiment was carried out under non
replicated condition. Two different slopes were selected to carry out the
experiment. Three experimental plots of 100 sqm. (5 m x 20 m) on gently (12%)
and moderately undulating (26%) slope were selected in the SCWMC, Bandarban.
Two different species were used as hedge species like;
Results
and Findings
Gentle slope
Soil loss under different hedge
species in gentle slope at Bitter Gourd growing plot during 2012-13sessions is
presented in table 1. Soil loss under Bitter
Gourd at the alley of different hedge species throughout the rainy season was
calculated. It was recorded that highest soil loss was recorded in control plot
(21.45 t/ha) where no hedge species were used, followed by indigofera
hedge species used plot (13.16 t/ha) and pineapple hedge species used plot
(8.53 t/ha).
Table 1: Soil loss
under the cultivation of different hedge species in 2012
Particulars
|
June
|
July
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
De
|
Total
|
|||||
Indigofera
|
2.63
|
3.92
|
3.22
|
2.93
|
0.46
|
-
|
-
|
13.16
|
|||||
Pineapple
|
0.96
|
2.65
|
2.54
|
1.98
|
0.40
|
-
|
-
|
8.53
|
|||||
Control
|
3.29
|
6.02
|
5.95
|
5.13
|
1.06
|
-
|
-
|
21.45
|
Runoff under maize at the alley
of different hedge species throughout the rainy season were calculated (Table 2).
It was recorded that highest runoff was recorded in control plot where no hedge
species were used, followed by indigofera
hedge species used plot and pineapple hedge species used plot.
Table 2: Run off
under the cultivation of different hedge species in 2012
Particulars
|
Month wise runoff (%) 2012
|
|||||||||||
Jan
|
Feb
|
March
|
April
|
May
|
June
|
July
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
De
|
|
Indigofera
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
16
|
39
|
31
|
27
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
Pineapple
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
32
|
28
|
25
|
16
|
-
|
-
|
Control
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
31
|
47
|
40
|
34
|
21
|
-
|
-
|
Moderate slope
Soil loss under different hedge species in
moderate slope at Bitter Gourd growing plot during 2012-13 sessions is
presented in table 3. Soil loss under Bitter Gourd at the alley of different
hedge species throughout the rainy season was calculated. It was recorded that
highest soil loss was recorded in control plot (23.35 t/ha) where no hedge
species were used, followed by indigofera hedge species used plot (14.22 t/ha)
and pineapple hedge species used plot (9.14 t/ha).
Table 3: Soil loss
under the cultivation of different hedge species in 2012
Particulars
|
June
|
July
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
De
|
Total
|
|||||
Indigofera
|
1.72
|
5.34
|
4.90
|
1.69
|
0.57
|
-
|
-
|
14.22
|
|||||
Pineapple
|
1.25
|
3.03
|
2.85
|
1.32
|
0.69
|
-
|
-
|
9.14
|
|||||
Control
|
3.23
|
8.75
|
7.49
|
2.91
|
0.97
|
-
|
-
|
23.35
|
Runoff of okra at the alley of
different hedge species throughout the rainy season were calculated (Table 4).
It was recorded that highest runoff was recorded in control plot where no hedge
species were used, followed by indigofera
hedge species used plot and pineapple hedge species used plot.
Table 4: Run off
under the cultivation of different hedge species in 2012
Particulars
|
Month wise runoff (%) 2012
|
|||||||||||
Jan
|
Feb
|
March
|
April
|
May
|
June
|
July
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
De
|
|
Indigofera
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
15
|
13
|
11
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
Pineapple
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
10
|
7
|
6
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
Control
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20
|
33
|
28
|
19
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
Effect of Slope
Gradient and hedge species on the Performance of Bitter Gourd at Chittagong Hill Tracts
Fruit per pit, Fruit length, Fruit diameter, and yield Bitter Gourd was recorded (Table 5). It was found that all the yield and yield attributing character was influenced by slope gradient and hedge species. The highest number of Fruit per pit, Fruit length, and Fruit diameter, and yield was recorded in gentle slope as well as under pine apple hedge species and it was higher than other slope and hedge species. Difference of yield and yield attributing characters of Bitter Gourd was due to slope gradient and hedge species. The higher the slope gradient the higher the soil loss and the thickness of top soil may decrease as a result top soil contain lesser plant nutrients for that reason the performance of crop may deteriorated. Bitter Gourd
Table 5. Yield
and yield attributing characters of Bitter Gourd as influenced by different
slope
gradient and hedge species
Treatments
|
Fruit per pit
|
Fruit length, (cm)
|
Fruit diameter (cm)
|
Av.Weight/
Fruit (gm)
|
Yield /Pit (Kg)
|
Yield (t/ha)
|
Indigofera (G)
|
36.49
|
19.07
|
14.16
|
119.89
|
4.375
|
10.50
|
Pineapple
(G)
|
38.89
|
20.12
|
14.30
|
131.13
|
5.100
|
12.24
|
Control
(G)
|
30.15
|
17.26
|
13.81
|
112.20
|
3.383
|
8.12
|
Indigofera (M)
|
30.98
|
17.87
|
12.35
|
116.09
|
3.596
|
8.63
|
Pineapple
(M)
|
35.07
|
19.05
|
12.64
|
125.45
|
4.40
|
10.55
|
Control
(M)
|
29.30
|
15.81
|
12.06
|
105.32
|
3.086
|
7.41
|
CONCLUSION
Ø Use of
different hedge has created positive effect on the morphological and
reproductive characteristics as well as at the yield of Bitter Gourd.
Ø Between two
hedges pineapple hedge reduced relatively higher soil loss due to its soil
binding capacity of roots both in the gentle and moderate slope.
Ø Between two hedges pineapple hedge reduced
relatively higher runoff both in the gentle and moderate slope.
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