Papers

CHAPTER-4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1. Plantation Technique:

4.1.1. Nursery:

The nursery of this garden is near to the main road for transportation & other facilities. Most of the nurseries are in north-south direction, some primary seed nurseries are in slightly east-west direction. The nursery land is flat and having proper drainage system and continuous water supply.

Table 1: Nursery status

Types of Nursery	Area (ha)	No. of Planting materials per bed	Total no. of Planting materials	Survival rate of Planting materials
Seed Nursery (seedlings)	1.5	3000	100000	75-80%
Vegetative Nursery (V.P.)	1.5	3000	200000	85-90%

Both V.P. nursery and seed nursery are in the same plot.

In V.P. nursery the most of cuttings are collected from the existing plantation and some from the seed barie which is less time consuming & economically efficient. The survivlity rate is higher than the seed nursery but they contain less genetic variations. The bed size is 10 m. X 1.5 m. and contains different age old seedlings. The cuttings are transferred into poly bag after growing new shoots and proper shade and watering is done carefully.

In Seed Nursery, most of seeds are supplied by the BTRI. Soil is loose sandy. The bed size is 5 m X 1.5 m. and contains approximately 1-2 kg. seeds. After sawing, germination

4.1.2. Seed-barie:

Table- 2: Type of seed barie

Total Area (ha)	Type of seed barie	Using Clones
2.5	Bi-clonal	BT1,TV1
	Polyclonal	5-7 generative clones TV25,TV28 BT2,BT3

These clones are high yielding and extensively used. There is no non-clonal seed barie in this garden. These are established away from the plantation.

4.2. Status of Tea Plantation:

Table-3: Tea plantation status

Age class of plantation (years)	Area (ha)
<5	36.06
5-10	67.08
10-40	225.87
40-60	103.28
> 60	94.30
Total	526.58

The total area of plantation of different age classes is 526.19 ha. In this garden, 10-40 and 40-60 years plantation covers large area and major production is obtained from that area. The number of plants in tillah is more than the flat area, it depends on tillahs aspects. The spacing distance 120 cm. x 60 cm. is followed.

4.3. Green Manuring and Cover crops:

Table-4: Green manuring species and spacing

Species	Spacing (cm.)
Tephrosia candida (Bogamedeloa)	92-122
Cajanus cajan (Arhar)
Crotalaria anagyroides
Others

These green manuring crops maintained for 3 years after sowing and planted at a distance of 240 cm between contour lines for soil rehabilitation

As a cover crops Mimosa invisa has been planted for soil conservation. These are also used as mulch materials.

4.4. Winds break species:

Table-5: Wind break species

Species	Spacing
	Tree to tree(m)	Row to row (m)
Accacia spp.	3	3
Albizzia spp.
Others

These species have been planted as shelter belt for tea plantation

4.5. Management of Tea

4.5.1. Cultural operation:

4.5.1.1. Mulching:

All cover crops and some grasses used as mulch materials. For soil rehabilitation and conservation, the process of mulching with lopped cover crops/ green manuring crops at 10-15cm.thickness is continued for a number of years; the usual practice of mulching with jungle materials is not enough for proper soil rehabilitation and conservation.

4.5.1.2. Weeding:

Weeding is done manually. Generally Sickling, Cheeling, Hoeing and Hand weeding method is being practiced by them. Sometimes, weed is removed chemically when they are severed.

4.5.2. Young Tea Management:

Usually two methods have been practiced for bringing up young tea named decentering and pegging.

Decentering: Another term is initial pruning which starts at 12 months old to stop upward growth and encourage side-ways spread for developing plucking surface at a height of 15-23 cm.

Pegging: Generally they use hooked peg or ring peg for developing auxiliary buds. It is done at a height of 60-75 cm. to form permanent frame.

4.5.3. Mature Tea Management:

There are three vital operations are done for mature tea management.

Pruning: To stimulate the dormant buds usually 4 years pruning cycle (LP: DSK: MSK: LSK) is followed.

Tipping: It is done for establishing a plucking table in a suitable height. These operations take place in five conditions:

· On light pruned tea

· On deep pruned tea

· On medium skiff tea

· On light skiff tea

· On over skiff tea

Table-6: Pruning schedules for mature tea.

Pruning operation	Height(cm)
L.P.(Light pruning)	60-75
D.S.K.(Deep Skiff)	75-85
M.S.K. (Medium Skiff)	85-95
L.S.K. (Light Skiff)	85-95
L.O.S.(Level of Skiff)	85-95
M.P.(Medium pruning)	95-98

Plucking: Plucking as taking all growths on the plucking table leaving the janam, buds and one leaf and a bud shoots. It is done at 7 days interval and extends up to 10 days at the end of October. All banjii shoots must be removed.

4.5.4. Fertilizing or Manuring:

Manuring for Young Tea: NPK is required in the early stage of plantation for developing their frame and root system. The ratio of NPK is 1:1:1. Amount of fertilizer is increased gradually within five consecutive years is 9, 18, 36, 54 and 72kg respectively.

Table-7: Fertilizer application of 1^st year plantation

Fertilizer	Amount (kg) /pit
Cattle manure	2
T.S.P	0.03
Muriate of potash	0.015

Manuring for Mature Tea: As the considerable quantity of NPK is lost every year from the soil in the form of plucked shoots, pruning, leaching and evaporation, it is necessary to ensure good growth of tea and maintain soil fertility; these are to be replenished to the soil in the form of inorganic fertilizers organic manures. It is done by foliar spray with Urea 4.5 kg. in 450 liters of water per ha is beneficial to encourage growth in the field is restricted to 3 to 4 times in a year.

4.5.5. Major pest, diseases and pathogens:

Table-8: Status of pest and diseases

Name	Type of injury	Status
Red spider mite	Leaf sucker	Major
Scarlet mite	Ditto	,,
Purple mite	,,	Minor
Pink mite	,,	,,
Helopelitis	,,	,,
Red rust	Stem	Major
Blister blight	Leaf/shoot	Major

Red rust, Red spider mite, scarlet mite etc are the major pest in this garden which leads to low production in every year. Different remedial measures have been taken to minimize the immense attack.

4.6. Yield:

The average yield per ha is about 1400 kg per year. From this garden about 0.82 million-kg of tea will be produced in 2009. About 17000-18000 kg made tea is processed in a day.It is lower in the early of production which starts from March and rises May-Sept. and decreases in Oct-Nov.

Table-9: Yield of previous 5 years

Year	Amount (million-kg)
2004	0.672350
2005	0.682500
2006	0.776500
2007	0.800122
2008	0.812000

Source: Office data

Figure-1:Graphical Representation of Previous 5 years Yield

From this graph, we can see that about 20000 kg more tea is adding in every subsequent year.

4.7. Cost Estimation (Approx): Cost has been estimated approximately. The cost of 1 ha plantation from cutting to plantation establishment including cultural operation is about 28000 Tk. The harvesting cost from collection of green leaves to factory is about 8500 Tk.

Table-10: Cost incurred from nursery to harvesting

Description of Cost	Tk/ha (Approx)
Nursery cost (From cutting-plantable size)	14850
Transportation cost (From nursery-plantation area)	8100
Plantation cost (Including pesticide, insecticide, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, etc.)	5400
Harvesting cost (From garden-factory)	8400
Total cost (From nursery-factory)	36750

4.8.1. Tea ecosystem at Malnicherra tea estate:

Ecosystem is the mother of twin biosphere and biotic community that function harmoniously in a system is called ecosystem.

Tea ecosystem is an agro ecosystem comprising tea plant, shade trees, ancillary crops and different associated crops planted there or naturally occurred along with various other biotic elements. The biotic communities are critically balanced with the tea biosphere which includes climate and soil.

A well-balanced ecosystem established among the different economic crops, forest species shade trees, ancillary crops, moisture, soil, nutrients, pathogens, weeds, wild fauna, pests etc along with tea plants has been shown in the figure 1. It is also rich with faunal diversity like monkeys and some pet animals of the dwellers. For this balanced ecosystem overall microclimate for tea production and other economic crops have improved. Hence over all output from this tea estate has been increased.

Litter fall from the shade trees increased the organic matter in the soil and thus nutrients condition is increased in tea garden. Termites and other some insects and pests are controlled by planting Melia azaderach as shade tree. On the other hand tea plants increase the soil moisture of the soil surface. Some predators’ wild fauna are dependent on insects and insects are dependent on different weeds. Wild fauna like monkeys are dependent on the fruit trees.

4.8.2. Multiple land use system in the tea estate:

Malnicherra is the pioneer tea estate of Bangladesh. It is managed by the private sector. It has separate planning for different associated crops and different type of land. The tea estate is divided in separate segment according to soil fertility, slope, and aspect. According to soil fertility and slope, the lands have been selected for tea crops or other associated crops. In the low lands are used for paddy cultivation and for fisheries. In the steep slope lands are used for rubber cultivation and bamboo. In the moderate slope and valley of the hill used for tea crops. Jackfruit also cultivate in the moderate to steep slope. Its land is extremely used with associated crops along with tea. 88.09% land is brought in used with different economic crops along with tea.

Table 11. Different land use of the tea estate:

Land covered	Area (ha)
Tea (Camellia sinensis)	526.58
Rubber (Hevea braziliensis)	291.80
Bamboo (Bambusa spp)	36.60
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)	33.04
Forest species	23.88
Paddy (Oryza sativa)	17.50
Ponds/Fisheries	2.50
Orange (Citrus aurantium)	1
Lemon (Citrus spp. )	0.5
Acacia spp.	1
Roads and streets	20
Factories and office	1
Dwellings	10
Grave yard and mosque	0.5
Canals	6.08
Vacant	28.10
Total	1008.52

As associated crops rubber is the main cash crops for the tea estate. It occupied 291.80 ha land. Other important crops are Jackfruit, bamboo, fisheries, paddy and these occupied 33.04 ha, 36.60 ha, 2.50 ha, 17.50 ha, successively. 28.10 ha were vacant. (table 11).

Figure 3. Different land use by associated crops and other use along with tea:

This tea estate uses its land with different associated crops along with tea. But maximum land which suitable for tea crops are planted with tea. It is seen that most of the area of the tea estate is used with different economic crops. 52.24% (526.58 ha) area covered with tea species. 40.74% (416.26 ha) land used with different economic crops which lands are more suitable than tea production 3.1% (28.1 ha) area is used for roads, factories, dwellings, graveyard and mosque. Only 2.81% (37.58) land is not used with any crops.

4.8.3. Land use with different associated crops other than tea:

Different associated crops have been planted in this tea estate to proper use of land.

Percentages of land covering by different economic crops other than tea are as follows:

Figure 4. Percentage of land covered by different economic crops other than tea.

Figure 4 shows that maximum land among the crops other then tea covered by rubber which contains 71.8% land. Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) and Bambusa spp (bamboo) covered about same area which contains 8% and 8.8% land successively. Forest species covered 5.85% land. Low land covered 5% which used for Oryza sativa (paddy) cultivation (4%) and for fisheries (1%). Rest of the area (0.55%) covered by other some species.

4.8.4. Revenue arrived from different crops of this tea estate:

Total land of this tea estate is covered by different land use with economic drops along with tea. It earns a huge amount of money by selling diversified product from the tea estate.

Figure 5. Incomes per year come out from different land use of this tea estate in 2006.

Figure 5 shows that 67.91% annual income of this estate come from Camellia sinensis (tea) but 32.08% income come from other economic crops. These crops are planted in those areas where tea production is not possible or tea growth is very low. It also shown that over all microclimate improve by these crops which increase the growth of tea growth. Among the economic crops other then tea significant amount of income come from Hevea braziliensis (rubber) (52.91%), shade trees (26.46%), Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) (13.23%) and forest resources (9.92%). From the low land of this tea estate a significant amount of income come out by cultivating Oryza sativa (paddy) (3.97%) and from fisheries (0.66%). Other some minor crops also produce in this tea estate like orange, lemon, mangoes, olive etc. From these crops come 0.66% income among the economic crops other then trees.

4.9. Shade trees

4.9.1 General description:

Tea is a shade loving plant. From a practical point of view about (50-60) % diffused sunlight is found suitable for its growth and development. Thus the provision of appropriate use of leguminous shade trees is the vital for the establishment of the tea garden. At present, fast growing tree species Acacia auriculiformis introduced as hedge row and also as shade tree. Medicinal plants introduction as a shade tree is the new concept in the tea estate. As temporary shade tree, Indigofera teysmanii, Tephrosia candida and Crotalaria anagyroides etc used on young plantation. The temporary shade trees are replaced by semi permanent or permanent shade trees.

Table 12. Percentage of shade trees used in the tea garden:

Permanent shade trees	No of trees/ha	Percentage of shade trees	No of trees per hectare	Revenue/yr (million)
Albizia odoratissimus	227	50.50	450	05.00
Albizia procera	79	17.60
Albizia mollucana	40	08.90
Albizia lebbeck	16	03.55
Acacia auriculiformis	56	12.45
Cassia siamea	14	03.00
Melia azaderach	18	04.00

The study revealed that the percentage of Albizia odoratissimus was highest (43.90%) followed by Albizia procera (17.60%), Acacia auriculiformis, (12.45%) Albizia mollucana, (8.90%) Melia azaderach, (4%), Cassia siamea (3.55%) (table 12).

From these species Albizia mollucana, and Acacia auriculiformis used as semi permanent shade trees for rapid growth, erosion check and sufficient shade for tea plants at the early stage. These species provide huge amount of annual return from the selling trees as timber. Melia azaderach recently used to protect termite attack.

There are 450 trees per hectare. By selling timber from the shade trees about 10 million taka earned per year.

Table 13. Planting distance:

Type		South eastern slope of hill. (Meter).	West slope of hill. (Meter).	Flat /northern slope of hill. (Meter).
Permanent	Primary stage	4.00×5.00	5.50×6. 50	6.00×8.00
	Secondary stage	9.00×10.00	11.00×12. 50	12.00×16.00
Semi permanent		7.50×8. 50	7.50×8. 50	7.50×8. 50
Temporary		2.25×3. 50	2.25×3. 50	3.35×3. 50

Average spacing of permanent shade trees in the primary stage (5.16×6.5)m and in the secondary stage (10.66×12.83).m Average spacing of semi permanent shade trees is (7.50×8. 50).m In case of temporary shade trees average distance is (2.25×3. 50).m (table 13)

In the south eastern side of the hill sufficient sunlight reached and thus spacing of the shade trees is less. In case of northern side of the hill minimum sunlight is reached for this reason spacing is higher than other side to get sufficient sunlight to the tea plants.

Before planting tea crops temporary shade trees and green manuring crops are planted to provide shade of young seedlings and increase the soil fertility. When tea plants become mature these planted temporary shade trees are harvested and sell in auction. A significant amount of return comes from these temporary shade trees.

Initial time of planting permanent and semi permanent shade trees is planted with minimum spacing because that time competition for nutrient among tree species and also with tea plants. When these trees become minimum merchantable height and diameter and increased for nutrient with tea plant then these are thinned. From these thinning huge amounts revenue is earned by the tea estate.

4.9.2. Pattern of planting shade trees:

Shade trees planting system are important to optimum growth of tea plants. It is also important for proper utilization of tea estate land property. Scientific planting pattern increase the output from the tea plants as well as shade trees. This tea estate introduces modern technology recently of planting shade trees to get much income from the shade trees.

Figure 6. Shade trees planting pattern:

*T.S.T. - Temporary Shade trees *S.P.S.T- Semi Permanent Shade Trees * P.S.T- Permanent Shade

4.9.3. Harvesting of shade trees:

At first temporary shade trees are collected when tea plants become 2-3 years old. Then temporary shade trees are collected. Temporary and permanent shade trees are harvested successively after 4-5 years. Large shade trees are harvested in several steps to reduce the hamper of the tea plants under the trees. At first the twigs are felled and removed then stems are cut. After felling operation remaining parts are uprooted. After harvesting old mature trees, new seedlings are planted in those plants. At first the mature trees are detected and then inventory is made by respective person. In the same time injured and defective trees also detected for sale. Then these trees are sold in auction.

4.10. Hevea braziliensis (RUBBER):

4.10.1. General feature:

Now a day, rubber is the common feature in the tea estate as associated crops. Most of the tea garden of sylhet region introduces rubber in the hilly area of tea estate where tea production is less. Large tract of hilly land of this tea estate is cultivated with rubber. Total rubber production area is 291.80 ha (table 1). From the selling of the rubber, total annual income 20 million taka (figure 4). Beside this from the thinning huge amount money would be earned by the tea estate.

4.10.2. Planting site of rubber:

In the lower portion of the hill is more suitable for tea growth. For this reason rubber cultivates at top and middle portion of the hill and some extent in the lower slope of the hills. It is cultivated as monoculture.

Figure 7. Planting site of Hevea braziliensis:

Figure 7 shows that 49% (145 ha) rubber is planted on the middle of the hill because maximum hill moderate slope and this type of land is more than top of the hill. Other 38% (110 ha) rubber planted top of the hill but only 13% (36.8 ha) rubber is planted on the lower portion of the hill because this type of land suitable for tea crops.

4.10.3. Spacing of Rubber Plantation:

The planting distance between trees varies according to site quality and the natural crown development. In the study area it was found that spacing varies within a short range, (9×9) ft between trees to tree but would be thinned. Spacing would be increased at mature stage to provide the more sunlight. Sunlight is the prime require producing sufficient amount of latex. It also requires increasing the bole size and enhancing the latex production.

Table 14. Spacing of rubber in the different site conditions:

Site of planting rubber	Spacing		Average no. of trees per hectors
	South eastern site of hill.	North western site of hill
Lower portion of the hill.	(9.00×9.00)ft	(10.00×10.00)ft	1000
Middle of the hill	(10.00×10.00)ft	(11.00×11.00)ft
Top of the hill	(11.00×11.00)ft	(12.00×12.00)ft

Table 14 shows that spacing is less in the lower slope of hill than middle and spacing in the middle of hill less than top of the hill. Beside this south eastern side of the hill spacing is less than north western side of the hill. Spacing of rubber in this garden is less than requires for rubber plants. And thus the number of trees per hectors is so high. For this reason height of the bole is large compare to girth. But production is good for more trees in the garden. Most of the rubber garden of this tea estate is just mature to rubber production.

Figure 8 -Rubber and tea agro forestry system at Malnicherra tea estate.

4.3.4.Tapping

4.10.4.Tapping:

The rubber tappers have to get up very early in the morning around 5:00a.m. The rubber tappers need to proceed to the office to take their attendance and they will arrange by the officer to their various areas for tapping. The latex is obtained from the tree by tapping. That is cutting away a thin shaving of the bark about 2mm thick with a special knife. The tapper needs great skill with his knife as the tree is easily damaged if the bark is cut too deep. After that, the tapper collects the latex and sends it to the factory. On the average, a tapper can tap about 400 trees per day.

4.10.5. Processing of natural rubber:

The conventional method of processing sheet rubber (RSS) involves the removal of water from the latex coagulant to give a commodity which is marketable, convenient to handle.

There are basically 3 main steps in making sheet rubber from latex:

1. The first step is coagulation which is aided by the addition of formic or acetic acids.

2. The second step, milling is dons by passing slabs of coagulum through successive pairs of appropriately adjusted rollers. The first two or three rollers are smooth and the final one is grooved so as to imprint on each sheet of the ribs to increase the surface area for drying and ensure the dried sheets do not stick together.

3. The wet sheets are dried in the final stage of the process.
Latex collection is using carried out using transportation and collection tanks. To keep the latex stable, ammonia, sodium sulphite and less frequently, formaldelhyde are used. At the factory, the latex is flushed into the bulking tanks so that a more uniform and stable latex can be achieved. The latex is discharged into the coagulating tanks designed to hold about 1,000 liters producing continuous bands of coagulum by the use of aluminium plates or separators. The coagulum is rolled thought a sheeting battery and the emerging sheets are then hung into trolleys to allow water to drip. These are later pushed along rails into drying chambers. After being dried, the sheets are inspected individually and blemished cut with scissors. The smoked sheets are then graded and packed into bales of about 113 kilos.

4.11. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus):

4.11.1. General description:

The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is the fruit tree of the family Moraceae. It is one of the most important economic crops in this tea estate. The jackfruit tree flourishes in rich, deep soil of medium texture normally in the some extent high land. It cannot tolerate "wet feet". If the roots touch water, the tree will not bear fruit or may die. So hilly parts of this tea estate are suitable for planting jackfruit.

4.11.2. Description of the tree:

The tree is handsome and stately, average height 30 to 70 ft (9-21 m) tall, with evergreen, alternate, glossy, somewhat leathery leaves to 9 in (22.5 cm) long, oval on mature wood, sometimes oblong or deeply lobed on young shoots. All parts contain sticky, white latex

4.11.3. Fruits:

Largest of all tree-borne fruits, the jackfruit may be 8 in to 3 ft (20-90 cm) long and 6 to 20 in (15-50 cm) wide, and the weight ranges from 10 to 60 or even as much as 110 lbs (4.5-20 or 50 kg). The "rind' or exterior of the compound or aggregate fruit is green or yellow when ripe and composed of numerous hard, cone-like points attached to a thick and rubbery, pale yellow or whitish wall. The interior consists of large "bulbs" (fully developed perianths) of yellow, banana-flavored flesh, massed among narrow ribbons of thin, tough undeveloped perianths and a central, pithy core. Each bulb encloses a smooth, oval, light-brown "seed" (endocarp) covered by a thin white membrane (exocarp). The seed is 3/4 to 1 1/2 in (2-4 cm) long and 1/2 to 3/4 in (1.25-2 cm) thick and is white and crisp within. There may be 100 or up to 500 seeds in a single fruit. When fully ripe, the unopened jackfruit emits a strong disagreeable odor, resembling that of decayed onions, while the pulp of the opened fruit smells of pineapple and banana.

4.11.4. Planting site of jackfruits:

In the lower portion of the hill is more suitable for tea growth. So Jackfruit cultivates in the top of the hill and middle portion of the hill and some extent in the lower hills lope of hill.

Figure 9. Planting site of jackfruits:

Figure 9 shows that 39.35%, 48.43% and 12.23% land covered in the top of the hill, middle of the hill and lower portion of the hill respectively. In the plain land Jackfruit is not planted because plain land under the hill suitable for tea crops

4.11.5. Spacing of Jackfruits Plantation:

The planting distance between trees varies according to site quality, with the end- use product desired, the natural crown development, and the cost of planting. In the study area it was found that spacing varies within a short range, (10×10) ft between tree to tree but would be pruned and thinned and spacing would be increased at mature stage to increase fruit production.

Table 15. Spacing of jackfruit in the different site conditions:

Site of planting Jackfruit	Spacing		Average no. of trees per hectors
	South eastern site of hill.	North western site of hill
Lower portion of the hill.	(9.00×9.00)ft	(11.00×11.00)ft	750
Middle of the hill	(10.00×10.00)ft	(12.00×12.00)ft
Top of the hill	(11.00×11.00)ft	(13.00×13.00)ft

Figure 10. Jackfruit and tea agro crops in the Malnichera tea estate

In the lower portion of the hill soil fertility is better than middle of the hill and middle of the hill better than top of the hill. For this reason spacing in the lower portion of the hill is less than upper portion of the hill. At maturity, jackfruit trees not periodically pruned become large trees. If little or no pruning is planned then jackfruit in the home landscape should be planted 15 to 20 feet (7.6-9.1 m) away from other trees and structures. Trees planted too close to other trees or structures may not grow normally or produce much fruit due to shading. (table 15).

4.11.6. Culture of Jackfruit:

Young plantings require protection from sunscald and from grazing animals. Seeds in the field may be eaten by rats. In 5 years, such a plant is said to produce large and fine fruits on the spiral underground. Seedlings may ordinarily take 4 to 14 years to come into bearing. Little attention has been given to the tree's fertilizer requirements. After harvesting, the fruiting twigs may be cut back to the trunk or branch to induce flowering the next season.

4.11.7. Yield:

Maximum trees are small to medium sized. So the fruit production per tree is not so high, it is now average 10-20 fruit per tree. But total number of trees about 25,000. So total number of fruits are produced about 3, 50,000. Selling of these fruits this tea estate earn huge amount of money. These fruits are sold in auction. Selling value is about 10 million taka per annum. Beside this from the thinning a handsome amount of can be earned. Tea laborers also consume these fruits though they have no legal rights to consume fruit. A handsome number of monkeys have in this garden. Monkeys and also some other wild animals consume the jackfruits.

4.12. Bambusa spp (BAMBOO):

4.12.1. General description:

Bamboo is important part of any tea garden. Bamboo is badly in need in different purpose of tea estate. Bamboo is need in nursery of tea estate. It also need in the newly established garden. Huge amount of bamboo also required in the house building for the tea labors. For this purpose every tea estate has to spend huge amount of money. To save this type of expenditure many of the tea garden is planting bamboo. But in Malnicherra tea estate most of the houses of tea workers are semi building. In nursery they use permanent infrastructure. For these reason they need less amount of bamboo. So they have been planted bamboo as economic crops to get high revenue from unused land (hilly land, side of the lake etc) of the tea estate. Total land of bamboo garden in this tea estate is 36.60 hectors. Natural and artificial both types of bamboo garden exist in this tea garden. 50% bamboo garden is natural and another 50% is artificial bamboo garden.

4.12.2. Species composition of bamboo:

Table 16. Different bamboo species in this estate are as follows:

Bamboo species	Occupied land(ha)	% of total bamboo garden
Muli (Bambusa tulda)	18.30	50.00
Borak (Bambusa balcooa)	3.90	10.65
Betua (Bambusa teres)	7.50	20.49
Jai (Bambusa vulgaris)	6.90	18.85

Muli is the main species in the bamboo garden. It occupied 50% land of total bamboo garden. Muli is the natural bamboo plantation. Other main species are borak, betua, and jai, and occupied 10.65%, 18.85%, 18.49% land of total bamboo plantation respectively. Muli, borak, betua are planted artificially. (Table 16)

4.12.3. Planting site of bamboos:

Bamboo can grow well on the hilly area. It cultivate as monoculture. It also grows near the water body. In the lower portion of the hill is more suitable for tea growth. So bamboo cultivates in the top and middle portion of the hill. It also cultivate in the lower slope of hill in some extent.

Figure 11. Planting site of bamboos:

Figure 11. Shows that 35.52%, 40.98%, 15.14%, 5.46% and 2.90% land have been covered on the top, middle, lower portion of the hill, and side of the water stream respectively. Bamboo protects the soil erosion and land slide from the side of lake. So recently it emphasized planting bamboo near the water stream.

4.12.4. Spacing of Bamboo Plantation:

The planting distance between trees varies according to site quality. In the study area it was found that spacing varies within a short range, (15×15) ft between clump to clump. But in natural bamboo plantation there is no specific spacing. Sucker is used as planting materials. All the planting materials are collected from the existing bamboo plantation. Spacing maintain in artificial plantation by the following ways:

Table 17. Spacing of bamboo in the different site conditions:

Site of planting bamboo	Spacing
	South eastern site of hill.	North western site of hill
Lower portion of the hill.	(15.00×15.00)ft	(16.00×16.00)ft
Middle of the hill	(16.00×16.00)ft	(17.00×17.00)ft
Top of the hill	(15.00×15.00)ft	(15.00×15.00)ft
Plain land	(15.00×15.00)ft	(15.00×15.00)ft
Side of stream	(15.00×10.00)ft	(15.00×10.00)ft

In lower portion of the hill, plain land and top of the hill maintain same spacing. Middle of the spacing slightly increased. But in the side of the stream maintain (15.00×10.00) ft. it reduce the erosion from the side of the stream.

4.12.5. Harvesting system of bamboo:

Muli is harvested by selection felling system with 2 to 3 year rotation system. For this, at first mature bamboo are selected and marked with colors and number of bamboo are estimated. Then these are sold as auction basis. But borak, betua and jai are harvested by clear felling system with 5 – 6 year rotation. It is also sold after assessing the area matured and no of culms and size of the culms. All the bamboos are sold in auction basis. Auction holders are responsible for cutting and removing the bamboo from the garden. In the selection system care must be taken by the auction holders to the remaining culms. In clear felling system some immature bamboo are remain by top cutting for further regeneration. The bamboo which need in the garden is cut all the year round when needed.

4.12.6. Bamboo used in the tea estate:

Bamboo is the important associate crops for this tea estate. Infrastructure of this tea estate like house of the dwellers, nurseries are so good. So most of the production can be sold.

From selling bamboo it was earned 0.5 million taka per year.

Figure 13: bamboo used in different purpose.

Maximum amount of the bamboo productions are sold. Most of the houses of the dwellers are buildings or semi buildings. Few of the houses are built with bamboo and mud. So for the house construction it required only 4%. Most of the nurseries of the tea estate are permanent. For this reason it needs only 5% bamboo of the total production. In the newly planted tea garden bamboos are required as fence and as small pillar near the base of the tea seedlings. For that regard 15% bamboos of the total production are needed. So most of the part (74%) can be sold and can be earned huge amount of money. (Figure 13)

4.13. FISH

4.13.1. General description:

Fish cultivation is another important scope of proper utilization of tea garden. There are four ponds in this tea estate. Total area of water course for fish cultivation is 2.50 hectors.

Figure 14. Fish cultivation in Malnicherra tea estate

4.13.2. Site of Ponds:

ponds are distributed in the tea estate. These are

made in the low land of the garden where water

is available all the year round

4.13.3. Leasing System of Ponds:

Ponds are given lease for three to four years.

Individual pond is given lease to the locals.

Ponds are given to the lease holders by auction.

4.13.4. Management system:

All the management activities are done by the lease holders. Lease holders prepare ponds and select species of fish.

4.13.5. Site of plantation: Side of the ponds are planted different tree species. Main species is Acacia auriculiformis. Ponds are also important sources of water for different wild animals mainly in winter season.

4.14. LEMON (Citrus spp)

4.14.1. General description:

Lemon is planted in the roadside, around the dwelling houses of tea laborers. Total area of lemon cultivation is 0.5 hectors.

4.14.2. Propagation method:

There were two types of propagation method .These are plantation raised by seed sowing and vegetation propagation.

4.14.3. Plantation by seed sowing:

The study revealed that the very few plantations are raised from the seed sowing. Because plants are raised from seed are sowing produced fruit lately. That’s why they are not interested to plant lemon trees from seed.

4.14.4. Ground layering:

The ground layering is preferable method for lemon plantation. Ground is done in the following way.The selected branch is bending and soil is put then on the branch. After a 15-20days the new shoot is emerged from the braches. When the shoot is suitable for out planting then the shoot is plant a new side.

4.14.5. Spacing for lemon plantation:

From the study it was found that study it found that they are used 2.5m x 2.5m spacing plant to plant .some farmer used 2m x2m spacing plant to plant.

4.14.6. Harvesting:

Harvesting was done once in a year for some species. Most of the species are harvesting all the year round .such as Jara lebu harvesting was done all the year round .the harvesting pick season is rainy season. Harvesting was started from the tree is 4-5years.

4.15. ORANGE (Citrus aurantium):

4.15.1. General description:

Most of the area of this tea estate is small hill and tilla. Orange is the most valuable species as economic crops. Hilly region of sylhet district is suitable for orange region. Soil types and macroclimate are suitable for orange cultivation. Orange cultivated in the small hill and it covers only one (1.00 ha). It is cultivated mainly for experiment. It shows good growth performance but it is not economically feasible. Tea laborers and estate authorities consume 50% of the production.

4.15.2. Planting site of Orange:

Orange is planted in the small tract of land. all the trees are planted on the hill.,

Figure 15. Planting site of Orange:

Figure 15 shows that Orange covers the land in the top, middle and lower portion of the hill 30%, 45% and 35% respectively. In the plain land Orange is not planted because plain land under the hill suitable for tea crops

4.15.3. Spacing of Orange Plantation:

The planting distance between trees is of prime consideration. This varies with the end- use product desired, the natural crown development, site quality and the cost of planting. In the study area it was found that spacing varies within a short range, i.e 3-5m between trees to tree.

Table 18. Spacing of orange in the different site conditions:

Site of planting Jackfruit	Spacing		No. of trees per hectors	Average
	South eastern site of hill.	North western site of hill
Lower portion of the hill.	2.75m×2.75m	3.25m×3.25m	450-500	475
Middle of the hill	3.75m×3.75m	4.25m×4.25m	500-550	525
Top of the hill	4.75m×4.75m	5.25m×5.25m	650-700	675

In the lower portion of the hill soil fertility is better than middle of the hill and middle of the hill better than top of the hill. For this reason spacing in the lower portion of the hill is less than upper portion of the hill. In another case south eastern of the hill trees get more sunlight than north western site of the hill and thus spacing is high in the north western site of the to reduce competition for sunlight.

For economic unfeasibility tea estate authority did not give attention for this garden. But it is a great opportunity for the tea estate to increase their revenue by taking proper steps and increase the orange cultivation area.

4.16. MEDICINAL PLANTS

In the tea estate tea laborers are planted different medicinal plants around the dwelling house for the indigenous treatment of diseases.

Table 19. Medicinal plants and their using pattern by the villagers:

Local name	Parts used	Diseases	Using pattern	Sources
Neem	Barks leaves and seed	Fever,stomach trouble,malaria ,diarrhea	Pills are made from grinded barkand leaves to make pill then dried pill are eaten	Around the house
Ulot kombol	Leaf	White discharge,jaundice	Juice is with sugar and salt
Tulshi	Leaves,roots	Malaria ,cough ,spasm	Juice is made from leave and bark then juice is drunk with 1-2drop of honey
Kalomag	Whole plant	Fever,worm,dysentery	Its juice is used with honey
Nagdana	Leaves and bark	Weakness,women diseases	A paste is made from bark and leaves to make pill .then the pill are eaten
Shatomoli	Roots and leaves	Sexual weakness ,fever,dysentery	The juice from roots and leave is drunk regularly
Datura	Whole plants	Diarrhea dysentery	Grinding to make juice then drunk the juice
Basak	Leaves roots flowers	Cough,astma cardiac diseases	Its juice is used with marich pipul

People living inside the tea estate still the use of medicinal plants as a primary treatment. Most of the species were found to use curing more than one disease. Some times for a particular diseases a single species were used while in many cases a maximum of the species with different proportion also used.

Figure-16:Income per year from different sources of the tea ganden