Performance of Different Intercrops in Poplar Based Agroforestry in the Sub-tropics of Jammu and Kashmir
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Date
2021-02
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, J&K
Abstract
The present investigation, “Performance of different intercrops in Poplar based agroforestry in the sub-tropics of Jammu and Kashmir” was conducted at the University Farm of SKUAST Jammu at Chatha, during the years 2017 to 2019. The study was aimed to explore the possibilities of growing different vegetable crops as intercrops namely tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus M.), spinach (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis L.) in kharif and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in rabi under the canopy of Poplar trees planted at a spacing of 5x4 m. The effect of light intensity and integrated nutrient application on growth, physiology and yield of intercrops and soil physico-chemical properties and economics has been studied to work out the optimum tree-crop combination with respect to growth, yield and economics.
The results of the study revealed that the poplar had a very dense canopy due to which about 50 percent light intensity was able to reach on ground. As light is the main requirement for photosynthesis, the growth of all the vegetable crops was significantly lesser as compared to sole cropping. Yield under the intercropping system was also significantly reduced due to the low light interception. The height of the intercrop was significantly affected due to the shade of poplar trees and different treatments. Shade significantly reduced the height of the intercrops in all the treatments. Reduction in number of leaves, number of branches, number of fruits/ head/ tubers, average leaf area was observed in all crops under shade. Average fruit weight, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and fruit yield was also less under shade. Increment in the values of chlorophyll content was recorded in all the crops under shade. Growth parameters under different types of fertilizers showed that plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, average leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, number of fruits/ head/ tubers per plant and the yield was significantly affected by the fertilizers. Highest value in all the parameters was recorded in T1 i.e. RDF followed by T2 (50% N through urea and 50% N through FYM). Integrated nutrient application significantly affected all the parameters. Treatment T1 with recommended dose of fertilizer, performed best among all the treatments in all the crops except potato, in which highest yield was recorded in T3 (100% in through FYM). In kharif season brinjal performed best whereas, in rabi season performance of cabbage was better. Poor performance was shown by okra in kharif and potato in rabi.
Improvement in the physico-chemical properties of soil was recorded, as per the data of soil analysis. Moisture content and pH was more under shade and higher depth. EC showed lower values under shade and at higher depth. Analysis of available NPK showed that N was low under shade and higher depth, in comparison to open field and upper layer of soil. Available P was in higher quantity under shade and at higher depth whereas, available K was higher under shade but low in comparison to open, at lower depth. Soil organic carbon was more under poplar shade due to litter addition from poplar leaves. OC was higher in upper layer in comparison to lower layer of the soil.
Nutrient concentration and uptake study showed that plant N concentration was more in sole crop, in comparison to the crops grown in shade. Similar trend in results were observed in all the crops in both the seasons. Significant difference was observed in NPK concentration when crops were grown in open and shade. Similar results were recorded for nutrient uptake in all the crops in kharif and rabi, both the years.
The economic analysis of the system described that B:C ratio under shade was lower in comparison to sole crop. In open, highest B:C ratio was in brinjal in T1 and the lowest B:C ratio was in okra in T5 in kharif. In rabi, cabbage showed the highest B:C ratio in T1 whereas lowest value of B:C ratio was in T5 treatment in potato due to high cost of cultivation. Under shade due to low yield, the net returns were lower in comparison to open.
Highest B:C ratio was in T1 in brinjal and lowest was in okra in T5. Under shade tomato and brinjal cultivation was beneficial only in RDF of inorganic fertilizer. Due to the higher cost of organic fertilizers, the cultivation of these crops under shade was not beneficial. In rabi season cabbage and spinach showed maximum B:C ratio in T1. Least BC ratio was in potato under shade. Highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) in kharif was recorded in tomato and okra whereas in rabi season highest value was in spinach. LER was more than one in both the seasons and in all the treatments, which showed that the intercropping is profitable. It was due to the tree component which added to the total returns from the system. Thus it can be stated from the results of the study that the cultivation of vegetable crops under poplar can be beneficial in terms increased returns from the system as a whole.
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Preferred for your work: Upadhyay, L. 2021. Performance of different intercrops in poplar based agroforestry in the sub-tropics of Jammu and Kashmir. Ph. D. Thesis (Agroforestry), Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and technology of Jammu.