Sirohi, ChhaviRawale Gauri Bhalchandra2024-02-292024-02-292023-08https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810207217The present investigation entitled “Morpho-physiological and biochemical characterization of wheat varieties under different planting geometries of poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh)” was carried out at an experimental field of Forestry Department, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar in an already established poplar plantation (Feb., 2017) at six different spacing viz., 3×3 m,4×3 m,5×3 m,6×3 m,7×3 m and 8×3 m. In the interspaces of different spacings and control (devoid of tree), four wheat varieties viz. DBW 221, DBW 222, DBW 187 and WH 1184 were grown in three replications during Rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The effect of different spacings of poplar on growth, physiological and biochemical aspect, yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake of various wheat varieties were studied. The maximum DBH (26.94 cm), crown spread (8.16 m) in poplar was recorded in 8×3 m but maximum plant height (20.52 m) was observed in 3×3 m spacing. The various growth, physiological and yield attributing parameters of different wheat varieties were observed significantly higher in sole wheat varieties than under different spacings of poplar except chlorophyll content, relative water content, relative stress injury, canopy temperature depression which were observed maximum under 3×3 m spacing of poplar. Under different spacings of poplar based AFS, antioxidant enzyme activities were induced more in closer spacings than wider spacing i.e., glutathione reductase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase except glutathione peroxidase and total soluble sugar activities at both the stages of observation. Maximum average reduction in grain yield (44.8 and 50.1 %) was recorded under 3×3 m spacing of poplar followed by 4×3 m (36.1 and 40.4 %), 5×3 m (31.4 and 35.3 %), 6×3 m (26.9 and 30.8 %), 7×3 m (21.7 and 24.5 %) and minimum in 8×3 m (17.9 and 18.8 %) over control during 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. However, among different wheat varieties, maximum reduction of 47.55 and 52.14 % in grain yield was recorded in wheat variety DBW 221 under 3×3 m spacing of poplar and minimum 15.56 and 17.80 % in DBW 187 under 8×3 m spacing over control during 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Soil pH and EC decreased significantly higher under poplar plantation than in sole wheat crop. A significant increase in soil organic carbon, available N, P, K and DTPA extractable micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) was observed in different soil profile (0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm) under poplar plantation than sole crop. The total N, P K and micronutrients uptake by grain and straw was observed maximum in variety DBW 187 and minimum in DBW 221. The moisture content was observed higher under poplar plantation than sole crop in different soil depths under study. Further, the soil moisture content increased with the increase in distance from the tree line. The average per cent light available to understory crops was maximum at 01:00 p.m. in the month of January, 2022 (98.64 %) under 8×3 m and minimum at 07:00 a.m. in the month of November, 2021 (17.07 %) under 3×3 m spacing. The air temperature was observed slightly lesser under poplar plantation than open environment (devoid of trees), however a reverse pattern was observed in relative humidity. Therefore, on the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical study concluded that the intercropping in wider spacing is more suitable for yield attributing traits and variety DBW 187 was found more tolerant to different abiotic stress.EnglishThesis