Effect of Direction and Distance of Moringa oleifera on Growth and Yield of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the moringa-based experimental farm of the Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur from November 2020 to September 2021. The aim of the study was to assess how well cabbage performed and adapted to various orientations and distances from the moringa tree. The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Four different directions along with one control plot were used as factor A and different distances from tree base was treated as factor B. The data of some ecophysiological parameters like maximum light intensity and soil temperature were noticed in south direction and the widest distance from tree base. The highest soil moisture was found at north direction. Most of the growth parameters showed better performance in open field compared to shade condition. In the case of interaction effect, the south direction and the widest distance (180 cm) from moringa tree base showed the highest number of outer leaves, head length, width, head diameter, head length, and head weight compared to other directions and distances. Concurrently, the maximum total yield and marketable yield were recorded from 180 cm in south direction whereas the lowest yield was found at the closest distance (80 cm) and east direction. The marketable yield of south, west, north, and east directions were reduced by 8.43, 14.87, 23.86 and 31.52% as compared to open field. At 130 cm and 80 cm distance the yield was reduced by 16.42 and 32.26% as compared to 180 cm distance from tree base. The current findings suggested that cabbage may be grown in partial shade in moringa-based agroforestry production systems without enduring significant yield losses.