Bamboo based agroforestry systems in Kerala, India: performance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in the subcanopy of differentially spaced seven year-old bamboo stand

Abstract

Bamboo-based agroforestry is a promising option for sustainable land management in India. Optimal management of bamboo-based mixed species production systems, however, requires an understanding of bamboo spacing, root activity and distribution of bamboo roots, and the soil nutrient capital of the site. We examined the performance of turmeric as an understorey crop in 7-year old bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees) stands of varying spacing treatments (4 9 4, 6 9 6, 8 9 8, 10 9 10 and 12 9 12 m) at Kerala Agricultural University Campus, Thrissur, Kerala, India. In order to better understand turmeric and bamboo growth parameters, soil physico-chemical properties, understorey light availability and turmeric root activity by soil injection of 32 P were determined in mixed (turmeric ? bamboo) and sole turmeric situations. To characterize root activity, 32 P was applied at 10 cm depth to the turmeric plants in raised beds established between the two central rows of bamboo in all experimental plots. Growth attributes of bamboo were recorded and the soil was analyzed for physico-chemical properties before intercropping. Results revealed that spacing treatments exerted profound influence on bamboo growth. For instance, clump height decreased by 19 % in the widest (12 9 12 m) bamboo spacing compared to that of the closest (4 9 4 m) spacing. However, widely spaced bamboo exhibited better clump diameter, crown coverage and turmeric rhizome yield, whereas, closest (4 9 4 m) spacing of bamboo plot recorded least rhizome yield of 8 Mg/ha; this was 58 % less compared to widest spacing of 12 9 12 m (19.32 Mg/ha). Soil N, P and K at widest spacing was 56, 45 and 33 % less compared to that of the closest spacing. NPK uptake by turmeric also increased in the wider spacing treatments. Factors contributing to reduction in growth of turmeric in the denser bamboo stands may be the high LAI (6.77 in 4 9 4 m spacing) as compared to widest spacing (0.44 in 12 9 12 m spacing) of bamboo, low understorey PAR (107 lmol/ sec/m 2 ) and high root competition. Due to competition by bamboo, 89 % decline in 32 P absorption by turmeric at closest spacing of bamboo was observed compared to the bamboo-less plot. On a final note, turmeric, although a shade tolerant Zingiberaceae crop, may perform better if light transmittance is between 66 and 86 % and for optimal performance of the understorey turmeric in mixed species systems, wider bamboo spacings beyond 8 9 8 m are recommended.

Apricot-based agroforestry system in Southern Xinjiang Province of China: influence on yield and quality of intercropping wheat

“…Gao et al (2013) observed the PAR at 0.5 m and 1.5 m distance to the tree row was reduced by 17.9% and 10.4% in apple-soybean intercropping treatment, respectively, and reduced by 17.8% and 5.4% in apple-peanut intercropping treatment. Similar results were reported for gliricidia/maize (Makumba et al 2007), walnut/maize (Jose et al 2000), and bamboo/turmeric (Kittur et al 2016) studies in temperate agroforestry systems. Our results showed that the detected PAR and TPAR values of intercropped wheat were significantly lower than monoculture wheat.…”

“…Lack of light is a major constraint that has affected stability of the structure and function of agricultural ecosystems. Kittur et al (2016) found that low understory photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is the dominant factor reducing growth of turmeric in dense, compared to widely spaced, bamboo stands. In apple-based intercropping systems, the total aboveground biomass and yield of peanut and soybean had highly linear correlations with PAR (Gao et al 2013).…”

“…Light plays an important role in dry matter accumulation, nutrient absorption, and yield of crops. Kittur et al (2016) reported that the uptake of N, P, and K by understory turmeric decreased as bamboo spacing decreased. Cui et al (2013) found that shading affects dry matter accumulation and significantly decreased the total N, P, and K contents of summer maize.…”

Wasteland Utilization for <i>B. balcooa</i> Cultivation: Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts through Bamboo-based Product Development

“…Piouceau et al (2014) and Yourmila and Bhardwaj (2017) reported that higher competition for nutrients and water among the bamboo plants results into decrease in the survival rate of bamboo plants at higher densities (Piouceau et al, 2014;Yourmila and Bhardwaj, 2017). Increase in number of clumps in higher plantation density results into lack of growth space making competition for light, space and nutrients which reduces growth of new rhizome and culms (Kigomo and Kamiri, 1985) consequential less biomass productivity, confirms an inverse association as higher the plantation densities inferior the biomass yield (Kittur et al, 2016). Soil and agro-climatic conditions were meagre in the present bamboo captive plantation and farmers' field trials.…”

Leaf-Associated Shifts in Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Response to Chicken Rearing Under Moso Bamboo Forests in Subtropical China

“…Agroforestry systems are land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials are deliberately used on the same land management units as agricultural crops and/or animals [9]. Because bamboo forests are characterized by their short rotation and strong regeneration ability, they can typically be used to establish agroforestry systems as a potential strategy for providing food and nutritional security and for contributing to the economic development of developing countries in the tropics [10]. The use of an agroforestry pattern consisting of moso bamboo and chicken farming has been reported in China [11,12].…”