Sharm, KamalDevansh2024-01-312024-01-312024-01-24https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810206614The present investigations entitled “Performance of Different Black Gram Varieties under Harar and Aonla Based Agroforestry Systems” were carried out during the the year(s) 2022-23 at Khaggal (Neri-II) Experimental Farm of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri-Hamirpur under sub-tropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh. The trial was laid out in Randomized Block Design to determine the effects of different tree species viz., Harar and Aonla on growth and yield of three different varieties of Black gram var. Himmash-1, UG-218 and Palampur-93. Besides growth parameters, quality analysis of Black gram seeds, carbon sequestration potential, economic feasibility and soil analysis at different depths i.e. 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm for physico-bio chemical properties was also done. To ascertain the sustainability of the Harar and Aonla based agroforestry systems, soil properties before and after the cultivation of crop was compared using student’s t-test. Further, the performance of black gram variety under economically best agroforestry system was compared on three distances viz., 1m, 2m and 3m from the tree base Results revealed that tree components had detrimental impact on growth and yield of agricultural crop. The contents of total carbohydrates and total soluble protein were significantly higher in the seeds of Black Gram crop grown under the agroforestry system over the sole cropping system. Whereas, the content of total sugars was significantly higher in the sole Black Gram crop as compared to the crop raised under the agroforestry system. Out of all physico-chemical properties; Bulk Density, Particle Density and Porosity remained unaffected under different land use systems however, Soil Moisture Content, Electrical Conductivity, pH and Organic Carbon were found affected significantly. It was observed that nutrient N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S contents of the soil were generally higher under agroforestry systems over sole cropping. Biological properties viz., microbial biomass and enzymatic activities (phosphatase and dehydrogenase) were also higher under tree-crop combinations indicating the sustainability of the agroforestry systems. However, it was observed that with the increasing soil depth from 0-15 cm to 15-30 cm soil Bulk Density, Particle Density and Moisture Content increased whereas other soil parameters decreased. Among all tree-crop combinations, the highest total biomass (64.05 t ha-1) and carbon stock (31.45 t ha-1) was recorded for Aonla + Himmas-1 and the lowest for Sole UG 218. From economic perspective, higher (Rs. 2,08,752.80 ha-1) gross returns and B:C (2.87) were obtained for Aonla + Himmash-1 agroforestry system as compared to sole Black Gram cropping. Overall, it was concluded that tree-crop combinations are sustainable as compare to monocropping. Among different land uses, Aonla + Himmash-1 proved to be the superior combination. Farmers should adopt this combination (Aonla + Himmash-1) and are advised to cultivate this crop under similar agro-ecological conditions for higher economic returns.EnglishThesis