Effect of Poplar Leaves Incorporation on Growth and Yield of Wheat in Relation to Fertilizer Application

Poplar plantations, grown in association with wheat, are getting popularized with the farmers in India. Poplar is a deciduous tree and its leaf fall occurs before wheat sowing. Its leaves are buried in field during field preparations. Therefore, a pot study was conducted for two years to study the changes in growth parameters and yield of wheat due to presence of Poplar leaf litter (no litter; 10 g pot^-1 and 15 g pot^-1). Further, two levels of fertilizers (M_n , no fertilizer and M₁, application of full recommended dose of fertilizer, @ 120, 60 and 40 kg ha^-1 N,P,K, respectively) were kept to see the influence of mulch on the performance of wheat in combination with nutrients. Leaf litter used as a source of mulch during first and second year were from the 3 and 4 year old plantation, respectively. Growth and yield response of wheat to fertilizer were significantly superior than those of without fertilizer. Grain yield increased significantly when 15 g pot^-l of 3 year old Poplar leaves were incorporated into soil. On the other hand, straw yield increased significantly when low dose (l0g pot^-l) of 3 year old Poplar leaf was used. Better growth and higher grain yield were recorded when leaf litter was incorporated in combination with fertilizer and as well as with the higher doses of leaves. Results of pot experiment revealed that better growth and higher grain yield can be obtained by incorporating the Poplar leaf in combination with chemical fertilizers.