Assessment of soil quality and wheat yield under open and poplar based farming system in Tarai region of Uttarakhand

Abstract

The present investigation was organized during the rabi season of 2013-14 at GBPUAandT, Pantnagar to evaluate the effect of poplar based agroforestry system and open system (without poplar) on yield and yield attributing characters of different wheat varieties and soil properties. The experiment was laid out in RBD having three replications with 4 treatments under both the growing conditions. Wheat varieties viz UP-2572, PBW-550, DBW-711 and PBW-373 were taken as four different treatments. Open farming system achieved highest grain yield of all the wheat varieties. Highest grain yield of wheat was attained with UP-2572 under open farming system. The maximum per cent reduction in grain yield of wheat under one year poplar plantation was observed with PBW 373 and minimum with PBW 550. Agroforestry is proven land use system for vertically enhancing soil health against unsuitable weather condition. The distribution of soil properties was detected from the depth 0-15 cm in poplar based agroforestry system and as well as in open system. During the experiment it was found that agroforestry added more nutrients to the soil compared to open system.