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Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

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Subject: Silviculture and Agroforestry × Author: Beauty, Kumari × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EVALUATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF CROPS IN SILVI-HORTI-AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM UNDER RAINFED PLATEAU CONDITION OF JHARKHAND
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Beauty, Kumari; Oraon, B.C.
    The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of growth performance of crops in Silvi-Horti-Agricultural system under rainfed plateau condition of Jharkhand” was carried out at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Centre, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India during 2018-2019.The present investigation was undertaken in 4 years old, already established silvi-horticultural system of agro-forestry. The present study was designed considering the following objectives: 1. To evaluate the growth performance of the crops in the silvi-horti-agricultural system. 2. To find out the effect of crop diversification on soil properties in silvi-horti-agricultural system. 3. To evaluate the economics of the silvi-horti-agricultural system. The study was laid out in split plot design with four treatments and four replications under 1.6 hectare of plot size. Results revealed that the growth and development of filler crops showed significant effect on the silvi-horti-agricultural system. The growth performance of the main crop, filler crop and inter crops varied from one system to another under silvi-horti-agricultural system. The growth parameters viz. height, girth at breast height and crown spread of forest trees were significantly higher under agri-silvi-horticuture system than sole forest plantations. The maximum available PAR percentage was observed in fallow/sole crop system in comparison to different silvi-horti-agricultural systems. Among the different silvi-horti-agricultural system the minimum incidental solar radiation was observed under mango + mahogany + peach system. Also there was sufficient availability of light between the main tree crop line and filler crop line for the intercrops to be grown. Height of intercrops was significantly higher in the fallow system whereas the plant density per m2 and number of tillers per m2 after 30, 60 and 90 DAS was observed significantly higher under silvi-horti-agricultural systems. Among the different silvi-horti-agricultural system, mango + mahogany + peach system performed best in terms of the growth performance of intercrops. Biological, biomass and rice equivalent yield of intercrops was significantly higher under silvi-horti-agricultural systems in comparison to the fallow/sole crop system. Among the different silvi-horti-agricultural system, mango + mahogany + peach system exhibited the highest yield. The highest value of Rice equivalent yield was recorded in Ragi (1740.83 Kg/ha).The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carbohydrate content of the leaf of the agricultural crops viz. rice and ragi was observed higher under fallow system. Among the different silvi-horti-agricultural system, mango + mahogany + peach system exhibited the higher carbohydrate and chlorophyll content. The soil moisture retention value was observed significantly higher under silvi-horti-agricultural systems in comparison to the fallow system. Among the different silvi-horti-agricultural system, mango + mahogany + peach system has the highest moisture retention capacity. The maximum number of fungal colonies and bacterial cells were observed under silvihorti- agricultural systems in comparison to the fallow/sole crop system. The maximum value of dehydrogenase activity was observed under silvi-horti-agricultural systems in comparison to the fallow/sole crop system. Among the different silvi-horti-agricultural system, mango + mahogany + peach system has the highest value. The maximum value was recorded in mango + mahogany + peach system (11.25 micro gram TPF 24 hr-1 gm- 1). Electrical conductivity of soil was decreased with increasing soil depth under sole crops as well as silvi-horti-agricultural system. At surface layer, EC of soil under silvihorti- agricultural system was observed significantly less than sole crops. Maximum reduction in EC was recorded in peach based combinations. The soil pH increased with increasing depth in sole crops but in silvi-horti-agricultural system, these values also increased but marginally. Silvi-horti-agricultural system showed significantly higher reduction in pH than sole crops at surface layer (0-30 cm).Organic carbon content in the soil under silvi-horti-agricultural system was significantly higher than sole crops at surface layer. The organic carbon content decreased with increasing soil depth. The available N, P and K and exchangeable Ca and Mg were recorded highest at surface layer of mango + mahogany + peach system in sole crops. The available N, P and K was decreased with the increase in depth. The benefit to cost ratio was higher in agri-silvihorticulture system than sole crops and was found highest in mango + mahogany + peach system combination among rest of combination in agri-silvi-horticulture system. The maximum value of BC Ratio was recorded under mango + mahogany + peach + rice (4.36:1), followed by Mango + Mahogany +Aonla + Peach + Ragi system (4.17:1).