Production of Summer Vegetables Using Conservation Agriculture Techniques: Experiences from Northern Bangladesh

Abstract

Poor soil quality and decreasing crop yields brought on by ongoing monocropping in the fields of small-scale farmers in Bangladesh have demanded a search for sustainable production methods that are more resource efficient and environmentally friendly. Conservation agriculture is such a beneficial approach that effectively addresses crop productivity and soil quality enhancements using locally available resources. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the impacts of conservation agricultural practices on the growth and yield of summer vegetables cultivated in the northern region of Bangladesh. The study was carried out at farmers field situated in the Chilmari upazila of Kurigram district using the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications during July to September 2020. The trial vegetables, i.e., Red amaranth, Kangkong and Indian spinach had showed the better yield of 4.95 t/ha, 14.5 t/ha and 19.5 t/ha in compared with traditionally cultivated vegetable cultivated methods in the farmers field, according the conservation agriculture method had enhanced vegetable yield. As part of conservation agriculture practices, soil organic matter content, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels, as well as pH for better crop production, were all positively increase with the implications of conservation techniques like, adding organic manure, minimal tillage, permanent crop residues and crop rotation. Therefore, the study came to the conclusion that traditional agriculture would need to adopt conservation agriculture methods in order to produce more food while using fewer resources and doing so in a more efficient manner while having the least possible negative effects on the environment.