Current Science

Abhay Kumar ¹, Virendra Singh ², Swati Shabnam ¹, P. R. Oraon ³, Sunita Kumari ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy, Ranchi Agriculture College, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi 834 006, IN
2 Department of GPB, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, IN
3 Department of SAF, Faculty of Forestry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi 834 006, IN
4 Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi 835 303, IN

Abstract

A field experiment on wheat varieties was carried out at Agroforestry Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The experimental plots were laid out in randomized block design with two associate farming systems, open farming and poplar-based agroforestry system, and four varieties of wheat, viz. PBW-373, PBW-343, UP-262 and VL-907, with three replications. The average tree growth parameters, viz. plant height, diameter and crown width of poplar showed an increase at the rate of 8.43%, 12.36% and 17.91% respectively. Growth and yield attributes of wheat like germination count, leaf area index, plant height, dry matter accumulation, as well as yield of wheat were found higher in open farming compared to poplar-based agroforestry system. The yield characters of wheat, such as biological yield (112.01 q ha^–1), grain yield (42.19 q ha^–1), straw yield (69.93 q ha^–1) and harvest index (39.82) were recorded maximum in VL-907 followed by PBW- 343, except for straw yield. Among soil chemical properties, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and available NPK were higher, whereas pH was lower under poplar-based agroforestry system compared to open farming system. Above-ground, below-ground and total biomass, carbon stock and carbon sequestration were significantly higher in agroforestry system (130.42, 17.75, 148.17, 65.20 and 239.27 q ha^–1 respectively) compared to open farming.

Keywords

Agroforestry, Biomass, Carbon Sequestration, Intercropping, Wheat Varieties.

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Preeti Toppo ¹, P. R. Oraon ¹, Bijay Kumar Singh ², Abhay Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi 834 006, IN
2 Forest Research Center for Eco-Rehabilitation, Prayagraj 211 002, IN

Abstract

This study was conducted in 2009 at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India with Tectona grandis (teak), Gmelina arborea (gamhar) and forage crops such as Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense) and Hybrid Napier grass (Pennisetum glaucum × Pennisetum purpureum) which were grown under silvipastoral system. Total biomass and total productivity potential of silvipastoral system were found highest with the combination of Tectona grandis and Hybrid Napier, i.e. 29.14 tonne ha^–1 and 21.0 tonne ha^–1 year^–1 respectively, while minimum total biomass was found in sole Sudan grass (2.42 tonne ha^–1) and maximum total productivity in T. grandis (2.09 tonne ha^–1 year^–1 ). The total carbon sequestration potential under silvipastoral system was maximum in T1: teak and Hybrid Napier grass (88.64 tonne ha^–1) followed by T₃: gamhar + Hybrid Napier (84.72 tonne ha^–1), T₂: teak + Sudan grass (77.68 tonne ha^–1), and T₄: gamhar + Sudan grass (77.42 tonne ha^–1), while the minimum was found in T₁₂: (33.38 tonne ha^–1). Annual contribution of total litter production was 505.16 g m^-2. Leaf litter in the species accounted for 95.40% and wood (branches and twigs) contributed 4.49% to total litter. The highest litterfall of 156.30 g m^-2 was recorded in February followed by 151.72 g m^-2 in January, while the least litterfall of 4.83 g m^-2 was recorded in August.

Keywords

Biomass, Carbon Sequestration, Forage Crop, Productivity, Silvipastoral System.

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