Current Science

S. B. Chavan ¹, R. S. Dhillon ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 285 003, IN
2 Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004, IN

Abstract

There is widespread use of poplar in pulp and paper, match splints, pencil and plywood industries, in northern India. The practice of closer spacing geometry with compact block in poplar cultivation does not permit intercropping from the third year onwards, which discourages small landholders. In 2008, poplar was planted at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India in three spacing geometries of 5 × 4 m, 10 × 2 m and 18 × 2 × 2 m (paired row) at a constant density of 500 trees ha^–1. In the present study, two cropping rotations (sorghum– berseem and cowpea–wheat) were intercropped in all three spacing geometries of poplar (up to eight years of rotation), and compared with sole cropping as a control. The results showed that yield of annual crops reduced considerably over the years due to enhancing competition for light, moisture and nutrients. The overall yields of annual crops in various spacing geometries of poplar were reduced by 5.67% in the second year to 45.59% in eight years of plantation. The study resulted in 10 × 2 m spacing of poplar with sorghum– berseem crop rotation exhibiting the highest net returns (Rs 1,191,241 ha^–1), NPV @ 12% discounting (Rs 409,673 ha^–1), B : C ratio (1 : 2.22), IRR (70%), highest land equivalent ratio (2.28) and land expectation value (Rs 2,242,372 ha^–1). In the study, LER and LEV calculated to increase the efficiency and adoptability of agroforestry systems. Therefore, on the basis of economics, the present study concludes that the intercropping of sorghum–berseem and cowpea– wheat in poplar planted at a spacing of 10 × 2 m is more profitable and helpful in doubling farmers’ income over traditional agriculture in northwestern India.

Keywords

Agroforestry, Economics, Intercropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Poplar.

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Chhavi Sirohi ¹, K. S. Bangarwa ¹, R. S. Dhillon ¹, S. B. Chavan ², A. K. Handa ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004, IN
2 ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, IN
3 ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, IN

Abstract

The diverse and multi-component nature of traditional agroforestry systems (AFS) provides them a unique edge over monoculture cropping, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems due to their role in providing several ecosystem services (ES) in addition to their prime role in agricultural production. Appropriate selection of components and their management practices results in reduced competition for resources among the components and maximum capitalization of the interactions. Poplar-based AFS adopted in a big way by farmers in the Indo-Gangetic region of India has improved their economic status due to its high industrial value. The present study discusses the effect Populus deltoides as windbreak on yield of wheat as intercrop and soil nutrient status. We considered winter wheat varieties (WH-1105, WH-542, HD-2967, HD-943 and DPW-621-50) during two consecutive years (2013–15) delimited by a row of poplar trees in the east–west and north–south directions. Whereas effects on crop produce were limited for all wheat varieties with increasing distance from the tree line, considerable yield reductions were found near the tree line (treatments T₁ and T₂) for all the wheat varieties. The highest available soil N (365.2 kg ha^–1), P (19.7 kg ha^–1) and K (357.3 kg ha^–1) were recorded near the tree line at a distance of 2 m. To optimize the provisioning service of poplar windbreak AFS, the cultivation of highly shade-tolerant wheat variety HD-2967 may be advisable over other varieties towards the end of the rotation of mature poplar trees.

Keywords

Agroforestry, crop growth and yield, Populus deltoides, tree-based intercropping, wheat.

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