Comparative Growth and Yield Performance of Rhizomatous Crops under Bambusa vulgaris-Based Agroforestry in Semi-Arid Bundelkhand, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ija.2026.28.02.09Keywords:
Bamboo agroforestry, Bundelkhand, shade-tolerant, crops, turmeric, ginger, ColocasiaAbstract
Agroforestry offers sustainable solutions for enhancing agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions facing erratic rainfall and soil degradation. This study evaluated the growth and yield performance of three shade-tolerant rhizomatous crops - turmeric (Curcuma longa L. var. BSR 1), ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc. var. Bansi Local), and colocasia (Colocasia esculenta L. var. Barua Sagar Local) under a Bambusa vulgaris based agroforestry system in Bundelkhand, India. The experiment was conducted at the Forestry Research Farm, RLBCAU, Jhansi, between 2024-2026 using a Randomized Block Design with six treatments and five replications. The bamboo was approximately five years old (planted in September 2019) at the time of the experiment. Results demonstrated that bamboo-based agroforestry significantly enhanced crop performance compared to sole cropping. Turmeric recorded the highest yield of 8.85 t ha⁻¹ under agroforestry versus 7.38 t ha⁻¹ in sole cropping (19.9% increase). Similarly, colocasia yielded 8.02 t ha⁻¹ compared to 6.79 t ha⁻¹ (18.1% increase), and ginger produced 7.01 t ha⁻¹ versus 6.25 t ha⁻¹ (12.2% increase). Plant height and leaf production were consistently superior in agroforestry treatments, attributed to favorable microclimate modification, reduced heat stress, and improved moisture retention under bamboo canopy. These findings demonstrate that Bambusa vulgaris-based agroforestry systems represent a viable, sustainable land-use strategy for semi-arid Bundelkhand, with turmeric emerging as the most productive intercrop
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