Eucalyptus agroforestry system in Chittagong: socio-economic potentiality amid controversies

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/01/2014
Views (315) Download (14)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Eucalyptus agroforestry system in Chittagong: socio-economic potentiality amid controversies

Abdullah Al Mamun, Saifullah Muhammad, Md. Akhter Hossain, Mohammed Kamal Hosssain, Md. Alamgir Kabir
Int. J. Agron. Agri. Res.4( 1), 32-39, January 2014.
Certificate: IJAAR 2014 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

The study aimed to uncover the socio-economic potentialities of Eucalyptus of existing prominent agroforestry systems in the rural landscape of Sitakunda and Mirsharai upazila of Chittagong district. Data were collected from 90 agroforestry practitioners irrespective of age, sex and occupation following a semi-structured questionnaire and 30 experimental plots were taken from three different agroforestry systems viz. homegardens, boundary of the crop field and on fallow lands, where farmers used to cultivate Eucalyptus as a component of agroforestry. To determine trends toward planting Eucalyptus, homegardens were categorized into three age group viz. ˂15 year, 15-30 year, ˃30 year. Considering age group of the homegardens, significant difference is prevailed among three types of homegarden. Average MAI of Eucalyptus in homegarden, crop field boundary and fallow land were 10.681m3h-1yr-1, 48.618m3h-1yr-1 and 45.181m3h-1yr-1 at an average age of 8.9 year, 6 year and 6.3 year respectively. Farmers are aware with the present controversies of Eucalyptus which is disclosing through mass media. All agroforestry practitioners believed that Eucalyptus is responsible for reducing agricultural crop production and it is applicable for other trees also. However, they are still planting Eucalyptus ignoring the controversies as it does not require intensive technical input and management.

VIEWS 19

Ahmed FU, Aktar S. 1995. Problems and prospects of Eucalyptus. In: Amin SMR, Ali MO, Fattah MIM, eds. Eucalyptus in Bangladesh. BARC-Winrock international, Dhaka, 42-53.

Ahmed R, Redowan M, Uddin MS, Hossain MK. 2007. Eucalyptus as agroforestry component in the homestead and agricultural field of Sitakundaa, Bangladesh. International Journal Sustain. Agril. Tech, 3(3), 46-51.

Ascasibar J. 1997. La situacio´ n 38orestall de cara al siglo XXI. Revista Internacional de Estudios Vascos, 42, 309–323.

Banglapedia. 2008. National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Asiatic Society. CD-ROM

Begum S. 1995. Leaf spot and twig blight on Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehrth. caused by Colletrichurn gleosporioides (Penz.) Sacc. in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Forest Science, 24(1), 30-35.

Blanford HR. 1958. Highlights of one hundred years of forestry in Burma. Empire Forestry Review, 37(1), 33-42.

Davidson J, Das S. 1985. Eucalypts in Bangladesh-A review. Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 246.

Evans J. 1992. Plantation Forestry in the Tropics. Clarendon Press, Oxford, USA, 403.

Hailey L. 1957. An African Survey. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

IFS (International Foundation for Science). 1989. Trees for development in sub-Saharan Africa. In: Proceedings of a seminar held in Nairobi, Kenya, Stockholm

Kumar D. 1984. Place of Eucalyptus in Indian agro-forestry systems. Eucalyptus in India, past, present and future. Proc. Nat. Sem. Eucalyptus, KFRI, Peechi.

Kumar V. 1991. Eucalyptus in the forestry scene of India. In: Symposium on Intensive Forestry: The Role of Eucalyptus. International Union of Forestry Research Organizations, Durban, South Africa, 1105– 1116.

Latif MA, Islam SM, Islam SMZ. 1999. Volume tables for Sossoo, Koroi, Mahagoni, Eucalyptus and Bokain planted on croplands in the western part of Bangladesh. BFRI, Chittagong-4000, Bangladesh.

Latif MA, Islam SMZ. 2004. Timber and fuel wood volume tables for Accacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, Eucaluptus camaldulansis and Dalbargia sissoo in plantations of Bangladesh. Forestry sector project, Forest Department, Dhaka and BFRI, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 34.

Lundgren BO. 1982. The use of agroforestry to improve the productivity of converted tropical land. Paper prepared for the Office of Technology Assessment of the United States Congress. ICRAF Miscellaneous Papers. ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya.

Lundgren BO, Raintree JB. 1982. Sustained agroforestry. In: Nestel B, ed. Agricultural Research for Development: Potentials and Challenges in Asia. ISNAR, The Hague, The Netherlands, 37-49.

Nair PKR. 1993. Agroforestry systems and practices. In: An Introduction to Agroforestry. Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 21-35.

Poore MED, Fries C. 1985. The Ecological Effects of Eucalyptus. FAO Forestry Paper- 59, 88.

Prakash R. 1989. Eucalyptus cultivation in Madhya Pradesh. Bull. No. 24: SFRI, Jabalpur.

Raghavan MS. 1960. Genesis and history of the Kumri system of cultivation. In: Proceedings of the Ninth Silviculture Conference, Dehra Dun, 1956. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.

Schönau APG. 1991. Role of eucalypt plantations in timber supply and forest conservation in sub-Saharan Africa. Southern African Forestry Journal, 156, 56– 60.

Tang CQ, Hou X, Gao K, Xia T, Duan C, Fu D. 2007. Man-made versus natural forests in mid-Yunnan, Southwestern China: plant diversity and initial data on water and soil conservation. Mt Res Dev, 27, 242–249