Growth and Yield Performance of Bitter Gourd along with Mango Tree as Silviagricultural System

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Germplasm Centre, Department of Horticulture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University during November 2016 to April 2017 with the aim of evaluating the growth and yield performance of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) in association with mango (Mangifera indica) tree at different distances from tree base. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on morphological characteristics namely vine length, no. of primary branches per plant, no. of leaves per primary branches and yield contributing characteristics namely no. of fruits per plant, weight of fruits per plant, fresh and dry weight of fruit. The experiment consisted of four treatments viz. T0 (open field as control), T1 (50 cm distance from tree base), T2 (100 cm distance from tree base) and T3 (150 cm distance from tree base). Result showed that the morphological and yield contributing characteristics of bitter gourd were increased gradually in treatments where distance was more from mango tree base. The highest values of all morphological parameters of bitter gourd were observed under T0. Among all the different distances from mango tree base, highest values of different growth parameters was recorded in treatment T3 followed by T2 and lowest values were recorded in T1. The highest yield of bitter gourd (3.9 tha-1) was recorded in control condition. Yield of bitter gourd was found decreasing trend in different distances from tree base where minimum (7.7%), moderately (20.51%) and maximum (43.59%) yield reduction were found in T3, T2 and T1, respectively compare to T0. Therefore, the growth and yield of bitter gourd were influencing by the mango tree and the study concluded that bitter gourd can successfully be grown in association with mango tree as a silviagricultural system in Bangladesh perspective.