Effect of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. block plantation on wheat crop productivity in Central India
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Authors
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V.D. Tripathi
College of Forestry, Dr. B.S.K.K.V., Dapoli - 415 712, Maharashtra
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Mukesh Jhille
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi – 284 001, Uttar Pradesh
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Rajendra Prasad
ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh
Keywords:
Block plantation, crop performance, grain yield, neighbouring crops, Triticum aestivumAbstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of block plantation of Eucalyptus tereticornis on productivity of neighbouring wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop. In the study, effect of E. tereticornis on growth performance
(plant population, height, number of tillers, total biomass and grain yield) of wheat which was sown in nearby field having block plantation of E. tereticornis, was assessed at different distances viz., 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 22 m from block plantation. All the studied parameters reflected lesser values near the tree stand which found to be increasing with the increase in distance from the tree stand. The reduction in wheat yield was observed up to 6 m, thereafter stable yield was recorded. The mean annual increment (MAI) in shoot coppice of E. tereticornis was 3.42 m (height), 3.33 cm (dbh), 28.77 kg tree-1 (biomass) and 0.0215 m3 tree-1 (volume) after four years. Most of the fine roots of the eucalyptus were confined up to 2 m distance. Therefore, it can be concluded that impact of E. tereticornis on wheat yield is experienced up to 2 m distance; there is little, if any, impact up to 6 m distance thereafter impact is nullified.
