EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SPACINGS ON GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SOME AROMATIC PLANTS UNDER PLUM BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM
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Date
2011
Authors
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Publisher
UHF,NAUNI,SOLAN
Abstract
434
ABSTRACT
The present study, “Effect of different spacings on growth and yield performance of some aromatic plants under
plum based agroforestry system” was carried out at the experimental field of the Department of Soil Science and Water
Management, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2009-10. The study was
undertaken with the tripartite objectives of a) exploring the possibilities of successful cultivation of Matricaria chamomilla
Linn. and Salvia sclarea Linn. as intercrops with plum trees, b) standardizing the best spacing combinations with the
recommended dose of FYM @ 20 t/ha so as to have maximum yield and, c) appraising the system bio-economically to
know as to which of the herbs, namely Matricaria chamomilla Linn. and Salvia sclarea Linn. can be more remunerative. The
experiments comprised of ten treatments for each herb which included five different spacings viz., 20x20 cm, 30x20 cm,
30x30 cm, 30x45 cm and 45x45 cm in case of Matricaria and 30x20 cm, 30x30 cm, 30x45 cm, 30x60 cm and 45x45 cm in
case of Salvia in combination with and without plum trees. The observations were taken at three stages (D1, D2 and D3) of
the economic parts of each herb. The results revealed that both Matricaria and Salvia can be successfully grown under
plum based agroforestry system by maintaining the appropriate distance between the plots of field crops with respect to tree
basins. The plum trees had positive effect on the growth and yield performance of Matricaria and Salvia and were found
healthier and more thriving underneath plum than in open field conditions. Among different spacings maintained, 30x30 cm
in case of Matricaria and 30x45 cm in case of Salvia were adjudged to be the most ideal spacings for the highest oil yield.
The root characteristics of aromatic herbs were also not adversely influenced by the presence of trees. The performance of
both the herbs from oil yield point of view was found best at second stage (D2), as compared to third (D3) and first (D1)
stage. On the basis of information generated through this study, it can be concluded that cultivation of Matricaria and Salvia
with fruit plants like plum is a profitable alternative for traditional cropping systems and could successfully be cultivated as
intercrops. The appropriate space combinations further improve the performance and production ability of intercrops by way
of minimizing competition for critical resources. Both Matricaria and Salvia performed better under plum trees than open
field conditions, however, the former excelled over the latter from the point of view of crop duration. Cultivation of Matricaria
at 30x30 cm and Salvia at 30x45 cm spacings with the standardized dose of FYM @ 20 t/ha in combination with plum trees
may, therefore, be recommended for better economic returns from the agroforestry system under rainfed conditions.
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Keywords
sowing, intercropping, wheats, tillage equipment, seed drilling, crops, mustard, fertilizers, land resources, chickpeas