ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PULSE CROPS UNDER MANGO ORCHARD IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF BANGLADESH

The field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Rahmatpur, Barishal during the Rabi and Late Rabi season of 2020-21 to select the most appropriate pulse crop(s) for growing under mango orchard, to increase the cropping intensity to maximize the productivity as well as farmers income of southern region of Bangladesh. The treatments of the experiment consists of T1= Mango + Grasspea (Var. BARI Kheshari-3), T2= Mango + Blackgram (Var. BARI Mash-3), T3= Mango + Mung bean (Var. BARI Mung-6), T4= Mango + Cowpea (Var. BARI Felon-1), T5= Mango + Field pea (Var. BARI Motor-3). On November 26, 2021, all pulses except mung bean seeds were sowed using the line sowing method in a mango grove. On January 28, 2021, mung bean seeds were planted. Mung bean seeds were sown on 28 January, 2021. Experimental results revealed that different pulse crops had significant effect on growing under mango orchard. The highest yield of BARI Motor-3 was obtained in T5 treatment (1843.7 kg/ha). The lowest yield of BARI Mash-3 was obtained from T2 (360.1 kg/ha). The economic analysis results showed that the highest (Tk. 73748/ha) in treatment T5 (BARI Motor-3). The lowest gross return (Tk. 14404/ha) was found in treatment T2 (BARI Mash-3). Similarly, the gross margin was found to be the highest (Tk. 43848/ha) treatment T5 (BARI Motor-3). Treatment T2 (BARI Mash-3) produced negative gross margin (Tk. -5596/ha). The value of benefit cost ratio (BCR) revealed that the highest (2.46) in treatment T5 (BARI Motor-3). The BCR value in treatment T2 (BARI Mash-3) had the lowest (0.72). Treatment T5, also known as BARI Motor-3 could be cultivated as most appropriate component crops under mango orchard in southern region of Bangladesh.