Effect of different macrophytes on crop cultivation under floating agriculture system for climate change adaptation in Bangladesh

Abstract

The adverse effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and frequent floods, pose significant challenges to agricultural systems, particularly in low-lying countries like Bangladesh. To address these challenges, floating agriculture systems have emerged as a climate-resilient alternative for crop cultivation. Floating agriculture is a traditional agricultural system where aquatic free-floating macrophytes are used as the medium for the growth of plants. This cultivation system is traditionally used for seedling development in the south and south-western regions (Barishal, Pirojpur, and Gopalganj) of Bangladesh. However, very little scientific attention has been given to using macrophytes in crop production and preparing floating beds. Therefore, the present investigation has been carried out to select suitable macrophytes for preparing a floating bed by assaying the condition of the floating bed and the morphological and yield-related factors of cultivated crops during the Robi season in 2021. Five different macrophytes, namely, Salvinia molesta, Pistia stratiotes, Lemna minor, Salvinia cucullate, and Azolla pinnata, have been used as mulching material, which has been conducted in a Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD). The plant material BARI tomato-14 has been transplanted on the floating beds to assess the effect of macrophytes on crop production. The results of the present investigation reveal that different macrophytes have distinct effects on tomato plants' growth and yield-related parameters in floating agriculture systems. Salvinia cucullata shows a better response in the stability of the floating bed, whereas Salvinia molesta exhibits better responses as mulching material on yield-related parameters of cultivated crops.