2.1. Features of the study area
Barisal region occupies an extensive area of tidal floodplain lowland
where the soil is generally sandy loam to loam in nature,
but the percentage of clay in soil is much higher than in other
parts of Bangladesh. The low-lying nature of land in the region has
compelled people to raise the level of their homesteads to higher elevations in order to avoid flooding. The excavation of soil for thispurpose has resulted in the construction of ponds which are irreg-ular in shape and depth and surrounded by variety of trees (Fig. 2).Clay soil becomes hard during dry season, making it difficult to growvegetables. Prolonged drizzling during monsoon makes homesteadsoil muddy and sometimes inundated, and also causes difficultiesfor growing vegetables (iDE, 2009).