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

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Web End = Agroforest Syst (2016) 90:237250 DOI 10.1007/s10457-015-9849-z

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

B. H. Kittur . K. Sudhakara .B. Mohan Kumar . T. K. Kunhamu . P. Sureshkumar

Received: 23 October 2014 / Accepted: 3 October 2015 / Published online: 8 October 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

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

32P were determined in mixed (turmeric ? bamboo) and sole turmeric situations. To characterize root activity, 32P 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 inuence 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...