TREE-CROP INTERACTION STUDIES IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM-PRODUCTIVITY ...

182 Pages·2015·8.64 MB·English

TREE-CROP INTERACTION STUDIES IN AGROFORESTRY
SYSTEM-PRODUCTIVITY, MOISTURE AND
NUTRIENT DYNAMICS
THESIS
by
MANOJ KUMAR
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
in
AGROFORESTRY
College of Forestry
Dr. Y.S. Parmar
University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Nauni, Solan (HP) 173 230 INDIA
1999
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Dr. K.S. Verma Department of Silviculture and
Associate Profesor Agroforestry,
College of Forestry,
Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni
(Solan), 173 230 H.P.India!
C E R T I F I C A T E -I
This is to certify that the Thesis entitled "Tree-crop interaction
studies in agroforestry system - productivity, moisture and nutrient
dynamics", submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in AGROFORESTRY to Dr. Yashwant Singh
Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan is a faithful record
of bonafide research work carried out by Mr. Manoj Kumar (F-95-3-D) under
my supervision and that no part of this Thesis has been submitted for any other
degree or diploma.
The assistance and help received during the course of the investigation
has been fully acknowledged.
PLACE : Nauni-Solan. (K. S. Verma)
DATED: &-(^'f)ty) Major Advisor
CERTIFICATE-II
This is to certify that the Thesis entitled "Tree-crop interaction studies
in agroforestry system - productivity, moisture and nutrient dynamics",
submitted by Mr. Manoj Kumar to Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan, in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in AGROFORESTRY has been
approved by the Student's Advisory Committee after an oral examination of the
same in collaboration with the External Examiner.
(Major Advisor) (External Examiner)
Head of the Department
: Dean6f the* College
•"rsUy of
rnii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With limitless humility, I thank the "Lord Shiva", who bestowed me with patience, preservence,
health and courage to meet various challenges and enabling me to cross important milestone of
academic career. No doubt that these blessings were manifested in the form of love, affection and
inspiration provided to me by my parents, who made endless sacrifices to see this dream turn into
reality.
With illimitable affability, I reiterate my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. K.S. Verma, Chairman of my
Advisory Committee, to steer clear the undertaken project through critical constructive approach and
coherent guidance, adept dexterity in conferring immaculate suggestions and constant
encouragement during the course of investigations.
I emphatically owe my sincere thanks to Dr. V.K. Mishra, Dr. P.S. Thakur and Dr. D. Tripathi, the
esteemed members of my Advisory Committee for their inspiring guidance and critically going through
the manuscript. I am also thankful to all my teachers particularly Dr. S.P. Dhall, Dr. S.F. Arya and Dr. K.
Prashar for their constant encouragement, help and offering valuable suggestions.
I am grateful to the University Authorities, Dr. Y.S. Parmar UHF, Solan for extending all the
facilities in carrying out the research project. Thanks are also due to the laboratory, field and
ministerial staff of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry and College of Forestry for their
cordial cooperation and help rendered during the study period. The financial assistance provided by
UNDP in the form of Senior Fellowship is duly acknowledged.
The lively and jovial company provided by the galaxy of friends kept me in an exulted state even
during the moments of despondency needs due thanks. Their affable demeanor will ever remain
sketched on the canvas of my memory.
I do recognize with gratitude the eternal blessings and moral boon of my respected Dadiji. I
am very grateful to my brother Krishan and EJhabhiji Anju who strengthened my will to work through
their benevolence and good will. I owe a lot to my niece Shibu and nephew Shabu for their love and
affection.
The source of inspiration, my wife Dr. (Mrs.) Seema Thakur deserves a special mention who
despite of silent sufferings demanded least of my attention, and rendered every possible help and
consistent moral support for completion of this project at the cost of her personal convince. My
sincerest and heartfelt gratitude goes to my In - laws for their infinite love, affection and blessings.
It gives me immense pleasure in acknowledging my appreciation to my uncles especially Shri
R.M. Mandhotra and Dr. S.D. Kashyap, and aunts Mrs. Champa Mandhotra and Dr. (Mrs.) Lata Kashyap
for providing homely comforts and unwavering help at every occasion.
Thanks are also due to Shri Mohan Lai Sharma and Shri G. Aasi whose tireless efforts and
intense finger touches made my efforts live by setting this manuscript well in time. Finally, 1 am
grateful to all those who were associated one or the other way with the successful completion of this
project.
Needless to mention, errors and omissions are mine.
Place :Nauni, Solan JUk^^^
Dated •. 3d*juiy, 1999. (Manoj Kumar)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE(s)
1. INTRODUCTION 1-3
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 4-21
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 22-38
4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 39-68
5. DISCUSSION 69-82
6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 83-89
REFERENCES i-xii
APPENDICES 1-33
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
TITLE
No. NO.
1. Experimental details indicating specific tree-crop 23a
combinations and their distribution
2. Growth and Yield attributes of soybean as influenced by 41
tree-crop combinations
3. Height, diameter and crown spread of mulberry, plum and 44
pomegranate during the soybean crop season
4. Leaf and branch biomass yield of mulberry during the 46
soybean crop season
5. Pruned wood and fruit yield of plum during the soybean 46
crop season
6. Litter production (kg ha"1) under different tree-crop 50
combinations
7. Amount of nutrients added (kg ha"1) to the soil under 57
different tree-crop combinations
8. Nutrient removal (kg ha'1) through harvestable biomass of 58
different components
9. NPK balance in soil due to different tree-crop combinations 60
10. Ca Mg S balance in soil due to different tree-crop 62
combinations
11. Allelopathic effect of mulberry, plum and pomegranate on 65
germination, growth and dry matter yield of soybean
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE Between
TITLE
No. pages
1. Effect of tree-crop combinations on nutrient concentration in 47-48
soybean grain and straw
2. Nutrient concentration in mulberry branch wood and leaf at 48-49
their harvestable period
3. Nutrient concentration in plum pruned wood and fruit at 48-49
their respective harvestable period
4. Monthly variation in nutrient concentration of mulberry, 49-50
plum and pomegranate leaves during the soybean crop
season.
5. Nutrient concentration in mulberry, plum and pomegranate 51-52
litter under different tree-crop combinations.
6. Litter decomposition rate of mulberry, plum and 52-53
pomegranate during soybean crop season
7. Effect of tree-crop combinations on pH in 0-15 and 15-30 53-54
cm soil depth during soybean crop season
8. Monthly variation in pH in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth 53-54
under different tree-crop combinations
9. Effect of tree-crop combinations on organic carbon in 0-15 53-54
and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
10. Monthly variation in organic carbon in 0-15 and 15-30 cm 53-54
soil depth under different tree-crop combinations
11. Effect of tree-crop combinations on available N in 0-15 and 53-54
15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
12. Monthly variation in available N in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 53-54
depth under different tree-crop combinations
13. Effect of tree-crop combinations on available P in 0-15 and 54-55
15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
14. Monthly variation in available P in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 54-55
depth under different tree crop combinations.
15. Effect of Tree-crop combinations on available K in 0-15 and 54-55
15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
16. Monthly variation in available K in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 54-55
depth under different tree-crop combinations
17. Effect of tree-crop combinations on exchangeable Ca in 0- 55-56
15 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
18. Monthly variation in exchangeable Ca in 0-15 and 15-30 cm 55-56
soil depth under different tree-crop combinations
19. Effect of tree-crop combinations on exchangeable Mg in 0- 55-56
15 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
20. Monthly variation in exchangeable Mg in 0-15 and 15-30 55-56
cm soil depth under different tree-crop combinations
21. Effect of tree-crop combinations on available S in 0-15 and 56-57
15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
22. Monthly variation in available S in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 56-57
depth under different tree-crop combinations
23. Soil moisture characteristic curve of the study site 62-63
24. Effect of tree-crop combinations on soil moisture content in 62-63
0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season
25. Monthly variation in soil moisture content in 0-15 and 15-30 62-63
cm soil depth under different tree-crop combinations
26. Monthly variation in pre-dawn xylem water potential of 63-64
soybean, mulberry, plum and pomegranate in
agrihortisilviculture system
27. Monthly variation in relative light intensity under mulberry, 64-65
plum and pomegranate in agrihortisilviculture system
28. Total biomass and total costs due to different tree-crop 67-68
combinations
29. Gross and net returns due to different tree-crop 67-68
combinations