Appraisal of Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) - Soyabean (Glycine max L.) based agroforestry system in low hills of Himachal Pradesh
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Date
2021-11-17
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College of Horticulture and Forestry Neri, Hamirpur (H.P.)
Abstract
The current research on “Appraisal of Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) - Soyabean (Glycine max L.) based
agroforestry system in low hills of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in aonla orchard at Khaggal (Neri-II)
Experimental Farm of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri -
Hamirpur during the year 2020-21 under subtropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in
Randomized block design (02 Factorial) to determine the effect of aonla trees on growth and yield parameters of
soyabean crop along with the soil properties in four directions (East, West, North and South) at three distances (1, 2 and
3 m) from trees. The quality parameters of soyabean were estimated at three distances (D1, D2 & D3) from the harar
trees and in open grown crop (04 treatments). The treatments were replicated five times and data were analysed using
Randomised Block Design. The agroforestry system was compared with the sole soyabean cropping system employing
student’s t-test. The soil was also analyzed for the presence of allelochemicals before sowing and after harvesting
soyabean under the agroforestry system and in open system. The results showed that the growth, yield and soil
properties of intercropped soyabean increased with an increase in the distance of crop from aonla trees and showed
significantly higher results at 3 m distance from trees as compared to the sole crop. Among directions, the best results
were recorded in the east direction. The biochemical analysis revealed that the photosynthetic pigments (Total
chlorophyll and carotenoids) of soyabean leaves were lower under harar as compare to sole cropping. The contents of
total soluble protein and total carbohydrates were significantly higher in the seeds of soyabean crop raised underneath
aonla over the sole crop. The improvement noticed in the soil properties under the agroforestry system after harvesting
soyabean crop suggested sustainability of the system over time. Though different allelochemicals were detected in the
soil under the agroforestry system yet it is unclear whether these have been released by aonla or some other plants as
the literature survey revealed no association of these allelochemicals with aonla. Higher growth and yield of soyabean
recorded under aonla may be due to other environmental factors like moisture, nutrients, microclimate etc. From
economic perspective, higher gross returns (99941.67 Rs. ha-1) and benefit:cost ratio (2.24) were obtained for soyabean
+ aonla agroforestry system as compared to sole soyabean cropping. Overall, aonla + soyabean system revealed positive
interactions between the components and higher profit hence, recommended for the farmers from ecological and
economical perspective.