Crop Yield and Reduction of Soil Loss with Selected Hedge Species under Different Hill Slopes in Chittagong Hill Tract

This research was concluded at Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh to identify the effects of different hedge species and assess alley width in controlling soil erosion and crop yield. Hedgerow or alley cropping cultivation is very helpful in reducing soil erosion in the hilly area. In order to perform cataloguing the hedges and their alley, four hedge species such as Indigofera, Bogamedula, Pineapple and Napier were used. Three different slopes viz., gentle slope, moderate slope and steeps slope, two different crops like yard long bean and okra were used in this experiment. The experiment lay out was in Split Plot Design with three replications. Soil erosion was measured through spike lay out method. Wider alley width gives a better performance of yield. Grass species (Napier) responses better than tree/shrub species (Bogamedula and Indegofera) on crops yield. Performance of pineapple among all other hedge species on crop yield and soil loss reducing capacity was recorded the best on all slope gradients and alley width. More yields were gained from the managed plots by hedge, though the number of total plant was comparatively less in those plots than the controlled one. Slope gradients have got the most important role on crops yield and soil erosion factor. The highest yields and the lowest soil loss were recorded in gentle slope in comparison with moderate and steep slope respectively. Crops yield were significantly reduced with the increase of slope gradients.