Studies on the effect of agri-silvihorticultural system on yield and quality parameters of winter crops
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Date
2014
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CCSHAU
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Study on the effect of agri-silvi-horticultural system on yield and
quality parameters of winter crops”, was conducted on already established silvi-horticultural system of
agro-forestry at CCS H.A.U. Regional Research Station, Bawal (Rewari) during the Rabi seasons of
2011-12 and 2012-13, in which, Dalbergia sissoo and Prosopis cineraria were taken as forest tree
species and Psidium guajava and Embilica officinalis as horticulture trees planted at 6×6 m distance.
Winter crops (wheat and barley) were taken in association with perennial woody plants thus forming
agri-silvi-horticultural system of agro-forestry. The seeds of wheat cv. WH-711 and Barley cv. BH-393
were sown in line in interspaces. Under agri-silvi-horticultural system, there was no significant effect
of woody trees on the germination of wheat, barley and oat crops as well as sole crops during both the
seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13. The number of tillers, plant height, dry weight per meter row length,
yield of grains per hectare, green fodder yield and number of green leaves, fresh leaf weight and fresh
stem weight per plant of sole crops were significantly higher than agri-silvi-horticulture systems.
Among the agri-silvi-horticulture system, guava+kehjri exhibited the highest yield. All quality
parameters viz., protein content, sedimentation value and gluten in wheat and protein content in barley,
were significantly lower in crops grown as sole crop than the crops grown as intercrops with woody
trees in different combinations. However, within agri-silvi-horticulture system, the quality parameters
were at par during both the years of observation. The protein content in sole wheat crop was
significantly lower than other treatments. Available N was highest at surface layer of guava+khejri
based combination and minimum in sole wheat, barley and oat. Similar trend was observed in
Available P and K also. The lowest EC in wheat, barley and oat was recorded under guava+Khejri
based combinations. The organic carbon content of soil in wheat, barley and oat under agri-silvihorticulture
system was significantly higher than sole wheat, barley and oat at 0-30 cm depth but it
decreased with increasing soil depth. Based on two years’ average, the maximum net return was
obtained when barley was intercropped with guava+khejri and the benefit: cost ratio was higher in
guava+Shisham combination rather than sole cropping.
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Keywords
crops, costs, wheats, guavas, planting, barley, oats, yields, manpower, irrigation