PERFORMANCE OF Pongamia pinnata – Costus igneus SILVI-MEDICINALAGROFORESTRY SYSTEM UNDER SEMI-ARID ALFISOLS

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Integrated nutrient management studies in Pongamia + Insulin (Costus igneus)
silvi-medicinal system” was conducted during kharif, 2018 at Students Farm, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State
Agricultural University campus, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam with a
pH (7.34), EC (0.48 dS m-1) and organic carbon (0.29%). Soil was low in available nitrogen (148.98 kg ha-1) and medium in
available phosphorus (59.14 kg ha-1) and potassium (286.68 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design
with three replications and nine treatments viz.,T1 Control (no fertilizer and manure), T2 100% RDF (75:50:50 NPK), T3 75% RD
N + 25% N through neem cake, T4 75% RD N + 25% N through Biochar, T5 75% RD N + Pongamia green leaf manure @10 t ha-
1, T6 50% RD N + 50% N through neem cake, T7 50% RD N + 50% N through Biochar, T8 50% RD N + Pongamia green leaf manure
@10 t ha-1 and T9 Sole insulin crop without trees. Results showed that Gross monetary returns (¹ 78024 ha-1) and net monetary
returns (¹ 47575 ha-1) were higher with 50% RD N + 50% N through neem cake followed by 50% RD N + PGLM @10 t ha-1.
However, B:C ratio was highest in 50% RD N + PGLM @10 t ha-1 due to the low cost of cultivation incurred. From the present
investigation, it can be concluded that, among nutrient management practices tested, 50% RD N + 50% N through neem cake (T6)
and 50% RD N + PGLM @10 t ha-1 (T8) in silvi-medicinal system was better for realizing higher yields and economic returns apart
from sustaining better available nutrient status in soil.