Abstract
A study for the selection of biologically feasible and
economically profitable cropping systems for plant and ratoon
banana crops was conducted from November, 1990 to January, 1993 at
the
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Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jamalpur?
The results indicated that
variable intercrops had differential effect on the growth and yield
of banara. The competitive intercrops like mustard and potato
extended crop cycle in plant crop through its competition and
growth suppression. It became complementary on the following ratoon
thrcugh its long period of attachment on the mother plant. This
effect was obtained only when no intercrop was grown. The
complementary effect of mungbean on banana became subsided by its
adverse effect when mungbean was incorporated with the soil. The
competition effects of the intercrops on the main crop and main
crop on the intercrops were considered to be inhibitory when
individual crop was dealt with. But the overall system was regarded
beneficial when total yield and economics were considered.
The nutrient depletion and weed intensity suppression effect
of different intercrops have been studied and discussed on
patterns and systems basis. The root distribution in respect of
been depth and horizontal distance has alsussed. The competition
effect of intercrops forced the root system oi banana to be more
profuse and deeply situated into th soil, which ultimately
reduced yield difference among sole and intercropped banana by efficient use of growth resources. Out of the three intercrops at
first set, garlic was the best, because of its less competition
effect compared with potato and mustard.
The effect of previous two factors on plant crop were carried
over into the following ratoon through its attachment with mother
plant. The effect of previous factors have been discussed
separately as well as jointly according to the stage of the main
crop. Economically, garlic was the best intercrop, but
A
agronomically, potato was the best intercrop in piant crop. Mustard
in plant crop and sweetgourd in ratoon were not suitable due to
their adverse effects on main crop resulting poor economic return.
Economic evaluation by relative net return index (RNRI) and
agro-economic evaluation by relative banana equivalent yield
index (RBEYI) indicated that in all the systems where mustard
grown as first set of intercrop were found to be inferior to sole
banana growing system. The system 27 (plant banana + mustard +
ratoon banana + sweet gourd), further . Combined evaluation
indicated that the system 16 (plant banana + potato + mungbean +
ratoon banana + onion) occupied 1st position showing 12, 21, 24,
(plant banana + ratoon banana) resputs of
and 60% margin over sole banana growing system1 inagronomic,
economic, agro-economic and calorie equivalent indices,
respectively. On the same aspects, system 9 (plant banana + potato
+ (-) + ratoon banana + (-) ) occupied 2nd position showing 9, 15,
18, and 60 % margin respectively over system 1. Whereas, the system
24 (plant banana + garlic + mungbean + ratoon banana + onion) occupied 3rd position showing 9, 33, 32, and 20% margin
respectively in the above mentioned aspect over system 1.