Bundelkhand region of central India is characterized by erratic rainfall with high frequency of drought. The region has undulating topography, poor groundwater resources and shallow soils with low soil fertility, resulting in frequent crop failures. A study was undertaken to assess the potential of bamboo-based agroforestry system to enhance productivity and economic returns at the research farm of ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), India, which lies in the Bundelkhand region of central India. The 7-year study (2007–2015) recorded 2906 number of bamboo culms ha−1 at 10 m × 10 m spacing compared to 2409 culms under 12 m × 10 m spacing. Averaged over 3 years (5th, 6th and 7th year), bamboo culm yield from agroforestry (Dendrocalamus strictus + Sesamum indicum–Cicer arietinum)/(bamboo + sesame–chickpea) was higher by 3.20 and 4.96% over sole bamboo in 12 m × 10 m and 10 m × 10 m, respectively. The intercrop productivity started declining from 3rd year onwards, and the extent of reduction in productivity was to the tune of 26.1, 23.7, 24.2, 17.4 and 17.4% during the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th year, respectively. From 5th year onwards, the harvested bamboo culms contributed to the improvement in the system productivity and it was 29 and 236% higher than the sole crops and sole bamboo, respectively, during the 7th year. Financial analysis showed that bamboo-based agroforestry system (bamboo + sesame–chickpea) planted at 12 m × 10m spacing was having high land equivalent ratio (1.95–2.14) and was more profitable than arable cropping and sole bamboo. Therefore, the Dendrocalamus strictus-based agroforestry system can be a potential alternative to arable cropping in semi-arid tropics of central India to enhance productivity and economic returns.

中文翻译：

---

以竹为基础的农林业系统（Dendrocalamus strictus + 芝麻-鹰嘴豆）提高印度中部半干旱热带地区的生产力

印度中部邦德尔坎德地区的特点是降雨不规律，干旱频率高。该地区地势起伏，地下水资源贫乏，土壤浅层，土壤肥力低，经常导致歉收。在位于印度中部邦德尔坎德邦的印度占西（北方邦）ICAR-中央农林业研究所的研究农场开展了一项研究，以评估基于竹子的农林业系统在提高生产力和经济回报方面的潜力。为期 7 年的研究（2007-2015）记录了 10 m × 10 m 间距下的 2906 个竹秆 ha−1，而 12 m × 10 m 间距下的竹秆数量为 2409 个。平均超过 3 年（第 5、第 6 和第 7 年），12 m × 10 m 和 10 m × 10 m 的农林业竹秆产量（Dendrocalamus strictus + Sesamum indicum-Cicer arietinum）/（竹 + 芝麻-鹰嘴豆）分别比单竹高 3.20% 和 4.96%。间作生产力从第3年开始下降，第3年、第4年、第5年、第6年和第7年生产力下降幅度分别为26.1%、23.7%、24.2%、17.4%和17.4%。从第 5 年开始，收获的竹秆有助于提高系统生产力，第 7 年分别比单作和单竹高 29% 和 236%。财务分析表明，以 12 m × 10 m 间距种植的竹基农林业系统（竹 + 芝麻 - 鹰嘴豆）具有较高的土地当量比（1.95-2. 14）并且比耕种和单竹更有利可图。因此，基于 Dendrocalamus strictus 的农林业系统可以成为印度中部半干旱热带地区耕作的潜在替代方案，以提高生产力和经济回报。