Effect of agri-silvi-horticultural system on soil moisture content at different depths

Abstract

The present study was conducted at Research Farm, Department of Forestry CCS HAU, Hisar to analyze the effect of agri-silvi-horticultural system (Kinnow +Eucalyptus+ Wheat, Kinnow+ Wheat and sole crop on soil moisture content at0-15, 15-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm soil depths). Total five irrigations at an interval of one month were applied from sowing to harvesting stage. Soil moisture content was measured gravimetrically before each irrigation. Moisture content was increased significantly with increase in soil depth but it decreased under tree integrated system and maximum decrease was observed under Kinnow + Eucalyptus + wheat system. There was slight difference between first and second irrigation which shows more moisture content relative to succeeding 3 irrigations. During first irrigation, mean soil moisture content was significantly higher under control (12.6%) followed by Kinnow+Wheat (11.7%) and it was lowest under Kinnow+Eucalyptus+Wheat system (10.7%). Similarly at second irrigation, mean soil moisture content was significantly higher under control (11.7%) followed by Kinnow+Wheat (10.7%). Significantly lowest was under Kinnow+Eucalyptus+Wheat system (10.0%) as compared to control. In succeeding three irrigations, mean soil moisture content was statistically at par with each other in all the systems. Based on above study, results showed that there was more uptake of moisture under tree based system which is due to deep and proliferated root system of tree component as compared to sole crop.