NUTRIENT OPTIMIZATION FOR GROWTH AND YIELD OF SILYBUM MARIANUM UNDER PEACH BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM
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Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigations entitled “Nutrient optimization for growth and yield of
Silybum marianum under peach based agroforestry system” was carried out at the experimental
field of Department of Silviculture & Agroforestry,Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture
and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H. P.) during 2013-2014. The experiment was laid out in randomized
block design (factorial) comprising of peach var. nectarinaplanted at a distance of 9 m x 4 m and
open field condition, under which milk thistle cropwas grown with five integrated fertilizer doses
viz., T
1
(RDF), T2
(75% RDF + 25% VC), T3
(50% RDF + 50% VC), T4(25% RDF + 75% VC)
and T
5
(100% VC). The plot size was 4 m x 2 m and spacingof 60 cm x 60 cm was maintained
for milk thistle. The findings indicate that the effect of different fertilizer doses on growth and
yield parameters viz., plant height (cm), leaves per plant, branches per plant, thistles per plant,
LAI, root-shoot ratio, total biomass production (q ha
-1
) , yield (q ha
-1
) of milk thistle was
significant. The peach trees had a positive effect on growth and yield performance of Silybum
marianum and were found healthier and more thriving underneath peach than in sole cropping
system. Among the different doses of fertilizers tried, T3 (50% Recommended dose +
50%Vermicompost) was found to be most efficient. The use of chemical fertilizers + organic
manures has been found to be more efficient than inorganic as well as organic fertilizers alone.
Different doses of chemical fertilizers and organicmanures are found to have influence on soil
pH, EC, organic carbon, available N, P and K in thesurface soils. Soil chemical parameters viz.,
OC, available N, available P, available K showed maximum value in treatment T
3 (50% RDF +
50% VC). However, pH and EC was reported maximum intreatments T4(25% RDF + 75% VC)
and T
1(RDF) respectively. Based on the economic returns, it was found that T1(Recommended
doses of fertilizer) gives more profit in terms of monetary value since the inorganic fertilizers are
cheaper as compared to organic fertilizers. But on contrary, the use of organic fertilizers improves
the soil physico-chemical properties. Hence, from the present investigation it can be concluded
that milk thistle can be successfully grown under peach based agroforestry system.
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