Growth and Yield Performance of Wheat in Agri-horti-silvicultural System of Agroforestry in the Mid- hills of Himachal Himalayas
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Authors
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K. S. Verma
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Dr Y S Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, P.O. Nauni 173 230, Solan (H.P.)
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M. W. Zegeye
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Dr Y S Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, P.O. Nauni 173 230, Solan (H.P.)
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R. Kaushal
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Dr Y S Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, P.O. Nauni 173 230, Solan (H.P.)
Keywords:
Grewia optiva, Morus alba, Prunus amygdalus, relative illumination, soil moisture, cost, benefit ratioAbstract
The impact of growing Morus, Grewia and almond on wheat growth and yield was studied in the mid hills (1250m above mean sea level) of Himachal Himalayas. Four tree-crop combinations- Morus+wheat (T1), Morus+almond+wheat (T2), Grewia+almond+wheat (T3), Grewia+wheat (T4) alongwith one, no tree 'absolute control' (T5) and two nitrogen levels - N1: recommended level (80 kg ha-1) and N2: 25 per cent more than the recommended (100 kg ha-1) were used. Wheat growth and yield attributes - number of tillers per plant, number of plants m-2, plant height, grain and straw yield, soil moisture and per cent relative illumination at different active growth stages of wheat as well as phenophases of trees were recorded. Combination T3 (Grewia+almond+wheat) at nitrogen level N2 gave the maximum grain and straw yields. Mean grain yield was lower by 28, 21, 18 and 25 per cent over the T5, i.e. no tree 'absolute control' at T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. Crop yield below the tree crown at T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively over outside the crown was however, less by 19, 17, 17 and 18 per cent. Per cent relative illumination and available soil moisture were also higher under T3 especially, during the active growth stages, i.e. panical initiation, milking and harvesting of wheat. The net return was highest at T3N2. Cost: benefit ratio was 2.34 and 1.99 at T3N2 and T5N2, respectively. Studies, hence indicated Grewia plus almond as better component combination with wheat to form an agri-horti-silvicultural system in the mid hills of Himachal Himalayas.
