Abstract 
 

Bamboo shoot as food has not been explored in arrears other than North Eastern parts of India. Young succulent and fermented bamboo shoots are looked as palatable delicacies and are consumed either as vegetables or in curries or as pickles. Tribal dominated people of Jharkhand has high consumption rate of young bamboo shoots for edible purpose, which are mostly harvested from nearby forests unsustainably. To reduce the pressure on natural ecosystem, large scale plantation of bamboo and commercialization of product is very much required. Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) Becker an edible exotic bamboo was introduced in Jharkhand hardly six years ago through tissue culture raising plantlets.  

On the other hand, Jharkhand has played a leading role in vegetable production in our country. In the recent past, Jharkhand has registered higher productivity of some of the vegetables than the national average despite poor irrigation facilities and inadequate infrastructures. The feasibility of cultivation of vegetables under the edible bamboo was discussed on the basis of their production. Plantation of D. asper plantlets raised through tissue culture was intercropped with potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), pea (Pisum sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officinalis). Vegetable crops showed variable performance under bamboo as compared to control. Among these crops, cultivation of pea and ginger showed promising results. 

Key Words: Agroforestry, bamboo, intercropping, vegetable, Dendrocalamus asper, Lycopersicon esculentum, Pisum sativum, Solanum tuberosum, Zingiber officinalis 
 

Introduction 

Land-use options that increase livelihood security are necessary. Agroforestry as a traditional   land-use adoption may potentially support livelihood improvement through simultaneous production of food, fodder and firewood. Agroforestry systems in India include trees in farms, community forestry and a variety of local forest management and ethnoforestry practices. Overall, India is estimated to have between 14,224 million (Ravindranath and Hall, 1995) and 24,602 million (Prasad et al., 2000) trees outside forests supplying around 50% of fuel wood as well as timber consumption of the country. 

Although currently India is self-sufficient in terms of food production, due to ever increasing population rate, the country will need to enhance both food production as well as tree biomass. The situation of Jharkhand is more pathetic than the other states of the country. Only half of the total land in the state is cultivable. Only 12 % land in state has irrigation facilities against national average of 40%. Though the forest cover of the state is quite high (29%) in comparison to national average (21%), two-third of the demand of wood of the state is supplied from other state. Maintaining and enhancing the soil fertility of farmlands to grow food grains as well as tree biomass can help meet the demand in future. Although numerous issues are involved with livelihood improvement, agroforestry systems are one option with multifunctional value. 

Points in favour of Agroforestry 

• Maintain / enhance soil fertility
• Improve water use efficiency
• Improve ecological parameters
• Uplift the socio-economic status of farmers

 

In the arid region of Haryana, the effect of tree species on the productivity of barely was found to be positive. Biological yield was higher under trees than that in the open area as because soils under trees were rich in organic carbon content, moisture availability and nutrient status (Kumar et al., 1998). Agroforestry systems have the potential for improving water use efficiency by reducing run off, soil evaporation and drainage. A combination of crops and trees uses the soil water more efficiently than the sole cropped trees or crops, as the crop and tree could better utilize topsoil water and deepsoil water, respectively. 

Behari et al. (2000) reported that bamboo based agroforestry models improve ecological parameters of a highly degraded basaltic tract of Jabalpur. Bamboo is considered to be the most suitable species for practicing agroforestry on degraded lands. Bamboos generate plenty of oxygen, low light intensity and protect against ultraviolet rays and are an atmospheric and soil purifier. Bamboos conserve water and greatly reduce soil erosion (Ramirez, 1996). Bamboo plantations lessen evaporation, allow better water penetration into the soil and increase the drainage capacity of the soil (Anon., 1994). 

Agroforestry has not only uplifted the socio-economic status of farmers, but also contributed towards the overall development of the region. Guava-based agroforestry system may be the most useful livelihood improvement strategy in the rainfed agriculture of Meghalaya as this system gave 2.96 fold higher net returns in comparison to farmlands without trees and reported to have generated net monetary benefit of Rs. 20,610/ha (Bhatt and Mishra, 2003). 

Points in against of Agroforestry 

• Allelopathic effects
• Reduction of crop yield under tree

 

Eyini et al. (1989) reported that the aqueous leaf extract of bamboo inhibited the growth of groundnut seedlings and decreased the leaf area, plant height, total chlorophyll and protein content. Six phenolic acids namely, chlorogenic, ferulic, coumaric, protocatechuic, vanillic and caffeic have been identified in the extract of fallen leaves of bamboo and these may be responsible for its allelopathic effect. The comparative allelopathic studies in bamboo and conifer revealed that radicle growth of lettuce, rice and ryegrass was inhibited by the leachate and aqueous extract of bamboo leaves but not by those of conifer leaves (Chou and Yang, 1982).  

In Haryana, Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia nilotica based agroforestry systems reduced the yield of wheat (Puri et al., 1995). Reduction of  crop yield in agroforestry system may be observed due to several reasons, but it may also be compensated in the long run by microclimate modification (Kohli and Saini, 2003) and residual nitrogen after removal of old trees as a result of enhanced N fixation under the Acacia (2003).  

Suitable agroforestry option for Jharkhand 

In Jharkhand, trees in agroecosystems are particularly valued as host to insects that yield marketable products such as tasar silk (Singh et al., 1994), lac products (Jaiswal et al., 2002) and honey (Dwivedi, 2001). There are numerous non-timber forest products collected from forest for subsistence and cash income. Due to destructive exploitation strategies and unsustainable harvesting of these products, the existence of these species is under threat. Domestication of such species aimed at commercialization and value addition can reduce the pressure on natural ecosystems. In the present paper, it has been depicted that the domestication of bamboo specifically edible bamboo grown in agroforestry system may offer significant opportunity for livelihood improvement through nutritional and economic security of the poor people of Jharkhand. 

Tribal dominated people of Jharkhand has high consumption rate of young bamboo shoots for edible purpose, which are mostly harvested from nearby forests unsustainably. Around 15 years back an edible and exotic bamboo, Dendrocalamus asper was introduced in India by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun whereas, it was first introduced in Jharkhand hardly six years ago through tissue culture raising plantlets by the Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi (Sinha, 2003; Sinha and Nath, 2007).  Opportunities for bamboo shoots industry exist within eastern India were elaborated by Sinha (2007). 

A field study was conducted at Ranchi district of Jharkhand where bamboo plantation was carried out using tissue culture raised palntlets. Five years old plantation of D. asper enspaced at 5 x 5m was intercropped with potato, tomato and pea during rabi season of 2007 and with ginger during kharif season of 2008. Monoculture of bamboo and vegetables were also carried out to compare the yield data. The crops were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. In rabi season vegetables were grown with plot sizes of 4 x 4m whereas, plot size of ginger was 15 x 3.5m. All the crops were raised with recommended package of practices both in agroforestry and monoculture.  

In general, yield of all crops except pea decreased when cultivated within bamboo plantation as compare to monoculture (Fig. 1). It is due to increased competition for growth resources like sunlight, moisture and nutrients in bamboo plots than without bamboo plots. Whether the reduction of yield due to an allelopathic effect of D. asper, it is not known. This type of study may be conducted in future. The yield of pea was increased under bamboo plantation in comparison to monoculture. Research is needed to further refine the key points of agreement. 

Though the production of some of the vegetables under D. asper was reduced, only after economic analysis the suitable agroforestry system may be identified at least for initial growth stages of bamboo. Among four vegetables studied, performance of pea and ginger are satisfactory. It was also observed that the growth of bamboo intercropped with vegetables was better than the monoculture of bamboo. On an average 3 more culms per clump were emerged in bamboo clumps under vegetable cultivation than monoculture of bamboo. More number of shoot emergences will give the extra benefit to the farmers. Shanmughavel and Peddappaiah (2000) recommended intercropping of soybean and turmeric in initial stages of B. bambos plantations and Vishwanath et al. (2007) assessed that bamboo intercropped with ginger was financially more viable than monoculture of bamboo or ginger. 
 

 

Fig. 1 Relative yield (% of monoculture) of vegetables under Dendrocalamus asper plantation 
 
 

REFERENCES 

Anon. 1994. Bamboo for construction: A way to check deforestation. International network for Bamboo and Rattan, Newsletter.

Behari B., Aggrawal, R. Singh, A.K. and Banerjee, S.K. 2000. Vegetation development in a degraded area under bamboo based agro-forestry system. Indian Forester, 126 (7): 710-720.

Bhatt, B.P. and Mishra, L.K. 2003. Production potential and cost - benefit analysis of agrohorticulture agroforestry systems in north east India. J. Sustain. Agric., 22: 99 – 108.

Chou, C.H. and Yang, C.M. 1982. Allelopathic research of sub-tropical vegetation in Taiwan II. Comparative exclusion of understorey by Phyllostachys edulis and Cryptomeria japonica. J. chem.. Ecol., 8: 1489 – 1507.  

Dwivedi, M.k. 2001. Apiculture in Bihar and Jharkhand: a study of cost and margins. Agric. Market., 44: 12 – 14.

Eyini, M., Jayakumar, H., Panniselvam, S. 1989. Allelopathic effect of bamboo leaf extract on the seedlings of groundnut. Trop. Ecol. 30: 138 – 141.

Jaiswal, A.K., Sharma, K.K., Kumar, K.K. and Bhattacharya, A. 2002. Households survey for assessing utilization of conventional lac host trees for lac cultivation. New Agric., 13: 13 – 17.

Kohli, A. and Saini, B.C. 2003. Microclimate modification and response of wheat planted under trees in a fan design in northern India. Agrofor. Syst., 58: 109 – 117.

Kumar, A., Hooda, M.S. and Bahadur, R. 1998. Impact of multipurpose trees on productivity of barley in arid ecosystem. Ann. Arid Zone, 37: 153 – 157.

Pandey, C.B. and Sharma, D.K. 2003. Residual effect of nitrogen on rice productivity following tree removal of Acacia nilotica in a traditional in a traditional agroforestry system in central India. Agric. Ecosyst.Environ., 96: 133 – 139.

Prasad, R., Pandey, D.N. and Kotwal, P.C. 2000. Trees outside forest in India. A national assessment, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.

Puri, S., Bangarwa, K.S. and Singh, S. 1995. Influence of multipurpose trees on agricultural crops in arid regions of Haryana, India. I. Arid Environ., 30: 441 – 451.

Ramirez, A.R. 1996. The role of bamboo on the social, cultural and economic life of the Philippines. Bamboo, People and Environment: Proc. VIth International workshop & the IVth International Bamboo Congress, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, 19-20 June, 1985.

Ravindranath, N.H. and Hall, D.O. 1995. Biomass, energy and Environment: A developing country perspective from India. Oxford University Press, New York, p.376.

Shanmughavel, P. and Peddappaiah, R.S. 2000. Bamboo for agroforestry in India. The Malaysian Forester 63(4): 147-158.

Singh, M.P., Dayal, N. and Singh, B.S. 1994. Importance of genetic conservation of tasar host plants in agroforestry programme in Chhotanagpur region of Bihar. J. Palynol., 30: 157 – 163.

Sinha, A. 2003. A modified protocol for in-vitro propagation of Dendrocalamus asper. In: proc. of National symposium on Conservation, management and Utilization of Bamboo and Rattan Resources. 25-27 February, 2003. College of Forestry, Sirsi, Karnataka.

Sinha, A. 2007. Bamboo food industries in eastern India – opportunities and extension strategies. In: proc. of Regional workshop on Forestry Extension Strategy Review. 23 March, 2007. I.F.P., Ranchi.

Sinha, A. and Nath, S. 2007. Prospects of tissue culture raised an exotic bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) in eastern India. In: proc. of National conference on Increasing Forest Productivity: Genetic & Breeding Options. 21-23 February, 2007. TFRI, Jabalpur.

Viswanath, S., Dhanya, B. and Rathore, T.S. 2007. Domestication of Dendrocalamus brandisii in upland paddy fields in Coorg, Karnataka. J. Bamboo and Rattan 6(3&4): 215-222.