Evaluation of prevalent and new wheat varieties for their compatibility under poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) plantation
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Date
2016
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Agroforestry is known to have the potential to mitigate the climate change through
microclimate moderation and natural resources conservation in short run and through carbon
sequestration in long run. In agroforestry, there is a need to develop economically viable treebased
cropping system to improve the productivity, to restore the ecological balance and to
enhance the socio-economic status of farmers. In this direction, a study to evaluate prevalent
and new wheat varieties under block plantation of poplar was carried out during Oct 2015 to
April 2016 at the Research area, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab
Agricultural University, Ludhiana. An experiment was laid out during first fortnight of
November, 2015 with sowing of six wheat varieties viz. PBW 677, PBW 725, HD 3086 as
new and PBW 658, HD 2967, WH 1105 as prevalent under three spacing of 4-year-old
poplars. The spacing viz. 8 × 2.5 m (S1), 7 × 3 m (paired at 2.5 m; S2) and 5 × 3 m (S3)
accommodated 500, 726 and 666 tree per hectare, respectively. All the wheat varieties were
also sown in open for comparison of growth and yield parameters. Tree growth was
significantly better in S1 spacing with DBH and height of 17.57 cm and 17.73 m, respectively.
Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and wheat growth parameters viz. tillers, dry matter
accumulation and leaf area index were maximum in S1 spacing and minimum in S2. However,
no significant difference in plant height was observed among spacing. Phenologically, HD
3086 was early to attain maturity under poplar while WH 1105 in open. On an average there
was 28 per cent reduction in wheat grain yield under poplar plantation as compared to that in
open. Major limiting factor affecting the grain yield is lower PAR under poplar. Grain yield
was significantly higher in S1 (39.5 q/ha) followed by S3 and significantly lower in S2.
Maximum grain yield was recorded in wheat variety PBW 725 (39.3 q/ha) followed by HD
3086 (37.4 q/ha) which was statistically at par with PBW 677 (36.4 q/ha). Harvesting index
was maximum of variety HD 3086 (34.5%) under poplar where as in open it was maximum in
wheat variety WH 1105. The uptake of N, P and K by wheat grain and straw was higher in
open conditions than under the trees. N uptake was higher in grain while P and K uptake were
higher in straw. In grain, N uptake was maximum in PBW 725 while that of P and K uptake
was maximum in HD 3086. While in straw, maximum uptake of N and K was recorded in
PBW 677 and P by WH 1105. However, the total uptake of N, P and K was maximum in
wheat variety PBW 725, WH 1105 and PBW 677, respectively.
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Keywords
sowing, intercropping, wheats, tillage equipment, seed drilling, crops, mustard, fertilizers, land resources, chickpeas