Soil nutrient status and wheat productivity under poplar (Populus deltoides) boundary plantation in Haryana

Abstract

Fast-growing woody crops like poplar (Populus deltoides) are used in agroforestry systems, which are being incorporated into agricultural land more frequently owing to the benefit of sustainable agricultural practices that provide primary production and other ecosystem services. Using agroforestry land use systems (AFS) can improve an agroecosystem's ability to function as a multifunctional ecosystem and maintain environmental sustainability. To improve AFS efficiency, it is suggested that well-modified tree-crop integration be developed by limiting resource competition and capitalizing on coactions. In the present study, we quantified the soil pH, EC, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) under six-year-old poplar (Populus deltoides) boundary plantation varying distances (0-3 m, 3-6 m, 6-9 m, 9-12 m, 12-15 m, and 15-18 m) from poplar trees planted in East-West and North-South orientations, creating Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern aspects. The soil pH and electrical conductivity showed increasing trends from 0-3 m to 15-18 m in all the aspects of East-West and North-South poplar boundary plantation. Nevertheless, there was a decline in soil organic carbon from the tree line to 15-18 m, with the western and southern aspects recording the highest levels of organic carbon, respectively. Additionally, from the tree line to 15-18 m poplar boundary plantation, the available N, P, and K also showed declining trends. There was a significant reduction in grain yield of wheat as sown in East-West and North-South boundary plantations of poplar at different distances from the tree line. The maximum wheat grain production (3.45 t/ha) was obtained in the North-South row direction of poplar boundary plantation.