Incident photosyntehticaly active radiation under and outside the canopy of Acacia nilotica (Linn.) for agroforestry system

Abstract

The important factor to be considered in biomass production is the maximum light use efficiency. The capture of radiation and its use in dry matter production depends on the fraction of the incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). An experiment was conducted in the campus of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Akola, Maharashtra during 2018-2019 with the objective to study microclimatic effect under Babul (Acacia nilotica L.) for checking the suitability of Babul to match the under story agricultural crops and pasture grasses on the basis of microclimatic parameters recorded under and outside the canopy of Babul. Collected data were statistically analyzed with descriptive statistics by calculating mean and standard deviation. Observations on microclimatic parameters Photosynthetically active radiation were recorded from October to December (Rabbi Season). Observations were recorded under and outside the canopy of Babul by selecting ten trees from the 15x15 m plot of Babul plantation site and data were recorded during (9 am, 2pm, and 4pm) in a day by weekly intervals for three months. The results revealed that the microclimatic parameter such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) showed lower values under the canopy and higher value outside the canopy, and from West and South direction highest PAR was recorded. In comparison, average PAR values under the canopy from all the three months were lower for the outside canopy PAR value. On the basis of this farmer can chose the suitable understory agricultural crops and pasture grasses.