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Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

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20232
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Subject: Silviculture and Agroforestry × Start date: 2023 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Cycling in Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Gamhar) based Agroforestry System in Ranchi District of Jharkhand, India
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2023) ABHISHEK KUMAR; M. S. Malik
    The present investigation entitled “Studies on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Cycling in Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Gamhar) based Agroforestry System in Ranchi District of Jharkhand, India” was conducted at Faculty of Forestry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi in order to evaluate the performances of two years aged Gamhar (Gmelina arborea) trees intercropped with leguminous crops viz. Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan var. UPAS-120), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata var. Swarn mukut) and Urad (Vigna mungo var. Birsa Urd-1) in agroforestry system as well as sole cropping during 2020-21 and 2021-22. The experiment was laid out in RBD with seven treatments viz. T1 (G. arborea + C. cajan), T2 (G. arborea + V. unguiculata), T3 (G. arborea + V. mungo), T4 (Sole G. arborea), T5 (Sole C. cajan), T6 (Sole V. unguiculata) and T7 (Sole V. mungo) replicated thrice. Growth parameters of trees and intercrops, yield attributes of intercrops, litterfall by Gamhar tree with leaf-litter decomposition pattern, changes in soil properties and carbon sequestration were assessed along with the economic analysis. Gamhar showed better incremental growth in terms of tree height (1.08 m), DBH (2.68 cm), collar diameter (2.87 cm), number of branches per tree (7.11), crown width (1.16 cm), crown length (0.81cm), leaf area index (0.40), stem volume (3.89 m3 ha-1) and tree biomass (5.57 t ha-1) when intercropped with pigeon pea (T1), which were respectively15.86, 15.02, 17.14, 21.54, 26.09, 20.15, 37.93, 39.25 and 26.98 percent higher than sole Gamhar (T4) in two years pooled data. The variation in growth and yield of intercrops between sole cropping and intercropping did not reveal any significant difference, however the values were on a higher side under sole cropping. At 90 DAS, the average maximum plant height (89.86 cm), no. of leaves plant-1 (117.62), no. of primary branches plant-1 (9.15), root length (49.58 cm), number of root nodules plant-1 (24.21), dry shoot biomass (44.12 g plant-1), dry root biomass (9.48 g plant-1), crop biomass at harvest (2.76 t ha-1), no. of pods plant-1 (59.37); and yield in terms of grain yield (5.37 q ha-1), stover yield (17.71 q ha-1), biological yield (23.08 q ha-1) were recorded in sole pigeon pea (T5) in two years pooled data. However, maximum average pod length (21.57 cm), pod diameter (6.40 mm), no. of seeds pod-1 (7.41) weight of seeds pod-1 (0.63 g) and 1000 seeds weight (85.02g) at 90 DAS were observed in sole cowpea (T6) in the pooled data. Total average annual litterfall by Gamhar tree was 1326 kg ha-1yr-1, of which maximum observed in February (480 kg ha-1yr-1) in pooled data. The average annual nutrient return through litterfall was maximum under Gamhar + pigeon pea (T1) wrt. total nitrogen (20.31 kg ha-1yr-1), total potassium (15.17 kg ha-1yr-1) and total phosphorus (1.96 kg ha-1yr-1). The faster rate of leaf litter decomposition was observed in sole Gamhar (T4), with highest average value of annual decay constant, k (3.62) and lowest value of half-life period, t0.5 (3.30 months) in two years pooled data. Soil chemical parameters viz. pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available N, P and K and soluble Ca and Mg were shown better improvement under agroforestry. The values of all other parameters, except soil pH, had shown a decreasing trend with increase in soil depth. After second year of crop harvest, maximum soil EC (0.24 dSm-1), organic carbon (0.53%), available N (263.33 kg ha- 1), available P (26.51 kg ha-1), available K (285.67 kg ha-1), soluble Ca (379.28 kg ha- 1) and soluble Mg (130.28 kg ha-1) in 0-15 cm soil depth and maximum soil pH (6.43) in 30-45 cm soil depth were recorded in Gamhar + pigeon pea (T1), as compared to their initial values of 0.18 dS m-1, 0.45%, 222.17 kg ha-1, 20.57 kg ha-1, 256.18 kg ha-1, 341.29 kg ha-1, 116.36 kg ha-1 and 6.25 respectively, during 2021-22. Gamhar trees showed maximum average annual carbon sequestration (2.62 t ha-1yr-1), CO2 sequestration (9.60 t ha-1 yr-1), carbon credit (9.60) and carbon offset price (Rs. 2975 ha-1yr-1) under intercropping with pigeon pea (T1) in pooled data, and the percent gain over sole Gamhar (T4) was 26.98%. The total average annual carbon sequestration (3.82 t ha-1yr-1), CO2 sequestration (14.01 t ha-1yr-1), carbon credit (14.04) and carbon offset price (Rs. 4,344 ha-1yr-1) of the system (trees + intercrops) were also found maximum for Gamhar + pigeon pea (T1) system in pooled data. Economic analysis revealed that the system fetches higher economic worth in second year due to better tree growth and intercrop yield. The highest average annual gross return (Rs. 74,846 ha-1yr-1), net return (Rs. 48,029 ha-1yr-1), land equivalent ratio (2.35) and combined net present value (Rs. 82,912 ha-1) of the system were estimated for Gamhar + pigeon pea (T1) in the two years pooled data. However, maximum average benefit cost ratio (3.32) and hence, maximum internal rate of return (104.07%) was obtained in sole Gamhar (T4) due to low cost of only tree cultivation. Thus, the study indicated that Gamhar based agroforestry system with leguminous intercrops mainly pigeon pea not only enhance the growth rate of Gamhar, but also maximize crop yield, nutritional status of the soil and carbon sequestration potential, besides augmenting net income. Hence, it can be a suitable and economically viable option for uplifting the livelihood status of farmers in the degraded and marginal lands of plateau region of Jharkhand, India.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth, Yield and Quality Assessment of Trees and Fodder Crops under Agroforestry System in Ranchi District of Jharkhand
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2023) Firoz Ahmad; M.S. Malik
    Integration of trees with fodder crops under agroforestry systems in the humid and sub humid region is a strategy for year-round fodder production and insurance against fodder scarcity. During 2019-2021, a field trial entitled “Growth, Yield and Quality Assessment of Trees and Fodder Crops under Agroforestry System in Ranchi District of Jharkhand” was conducted using the fodder tree Melia azedarach (Bakain) along with the four fodder crops viz., Para grass, Hybrid Napier, Stylo and Charabadam at the research field of Agroforestry situated at the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry campus, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) involving nine treatment combinations replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of Bakain + Stylo, Bakain + Charabadam, Bakain + Para grass, Bakain + Hybrid Napier, sole Bakain, sole Stylo, sole Charabadam, sole Para grass and sole Hybrid Napier. Growth parameters of tree species (Bakain) i.e., diameter at breast height (cm), tree height (m), tree volume (m3/tree), crown diameter (m), number of branches (per tree), number of leaves (per branch), leaf area index; yield attributes of the tree species (Bakain) i.e., green leaf biomass (t/ha), dry leaf biomass (t/ha), fresh weight of the standing trees, dry weight of the standing trees as well as quality attributes of the tree (Bakain) and fodder crops i.e., crude protein content (CP%), crude fibre content (CF%), neutral detergent fibre (NDF%), acid detergent fibre (ADF%), ash content (AC%), ether extract (EE%) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE%), were recorded during both years of experimentation. The growth attributes of fodder crops i.e., plant population, number of branches, number of leaves per tillers and leaf area index; yield attributes of fodder crops i.e., green fodder yield (t/ha), dry fodder yield (t/ha), leaf weight (t/ha), stem weight (t/ha), leaf: stem ratio were observed. Rainfall use efficiency, palatability trial, carbon sequestration potential and economic analysis of the system were also taken into consideration. Results reflect that Bakain intercropped with Stylo recorded better growth with regard to tree height (10.46 m), DBH (17.59 cm), crown diameter (6.28 m), LAI (3.07), number of branches (571.33), fresh biomass (111.69 t/ha) and dry biomass (80.98 t/ha) produced, tree volume (0.253 m3), as well as leaf fodder quality in terms of CP content (12.89%), ADF (37.37%), AC (3.04%) and EE (4.80%), however, sole Bakain contains more CF (53.96%) and NDF (35.21%). Among different intercrops, Stylo recorded more tillers (295.83), crude protein content (15.74%), yield of crude protein (12.16 q/ha), rainwater productivity (0.28 q/ha/mm), carbon sequestration (140.31 t/ha), carbon credit (514.96), gross return (₹.1,86,705 /ha), net return (Rs.1,34,632 /ha) and LER (2.56). However, Hybrid Napier as sole or intercropped recorded highest LAI (4.08), GFY (869.23 q/ha), DFY (149.55 q/ha), NDF (60.62%), ADF (48.24%), CF (62.38%) and EE (5.69%) along with the highest Benefit: Cost Ratio (4.67). Improvement in soil chemical properties was better under intercrops than sole tree or grasses. Among the intercrops, Charabadam intercropped with Bakain has been found to put forth a better impact on soil improvement. The study concludes that the Bakain + Stylo based agroforestry system is viable in degraded or waste land with medium to low fertility for round-the-year production of quality fodder as well as climatic amelioration. This will certainly help improve fodder scarcity for the livestock and uplift the livelihood conditions of farmers in the plateau region of Jharkhand.