Bamboo-based agroforestry system effects on soil fertility: Ginger performance in the bamboo subcanopy in the Himalayas (India)

An on-farm bamboo intercropping study was conducted near Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. It uses a split-plot design with two bamboo species (Dendrocalamus asper and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii) and an open field condition as main plots, under which ginger (Zingiber officinale) was grown at five nutrient levels supplied through chemical fertilizers and organic sources (subplots). In the intercropping with bamboo species, ginger yield increased by 10.5-15.6% in comparison to the open field condition. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) based on N equivalent ratio showed the best (P <= .05) yield response of ginger (rhizome length, 7.65 cm; yield, 4,028 kg ha(-1)). Photoactive radiation was reduced by 60% under the bamboo canopy. Simultaneously, higher soil moisture (%) content was noticed for D. asper. Various soil physico-chemical properties (top 0-15 cm) were significantly higher in the FYM treatment under D. asper than under D. hamiltonii or sole ginger cropping. Maximum returns (3,595.67 US$ ha(-1) yr(-1)) were realized when the ginger crop was raised under the canopy of D. asper and supplied with FYM on N equivalent ratio + plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Overall, the results establish that ginger production in the northwest Himalayan region of India is a viable use of land resources for improved economic returns.