TREE-CROP INTERACTION STUDIES IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM-PRODUCTIVITY, MOISTURE AND NUTRIENT DYNAMICS THESIS by MANOJ KUMAR Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in AGROFORESTRY College of Forestry Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) 173 230 INDIA 1999 A, M3oT H * KRUv'- / • .'I^YALAYA L,-'":' _ _-^,LJ p ) B>" No .. _„ .. Date _ ^ „, t AccessWd by Cnecke* *y TO MY" PARENTS Dr. K.S. Verma Department of Silviculture and Associate Profesor Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni (Solan), 173 230 H.P.India! C E R T I F I C A T E -I This is to certify that the Thesis entitled "Tree-crop interaction studies in agroforestry system - productivity, moisture and nutrient dynamics", submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in AGROFORESTRY to Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan is a faithful record of bonafide research work carried out by Mr. Manoj Kumar (F-95-3-D) under my supervision and that no part of this Thesis has been submitted for any other degree or diploma. The assistance and help received during the course of the investigation has been fully acknowledged. PLACE : Nauni-Solan. (K. S. Verma) DATED: &-(^'f)ty) Major Advisor CERTIFICATE-II This is to certify that the Thesis entitled "Tree-crop interaction studies in agroforestry system - productivity, moisture and nutrient dynamics", submitted by Mr. Manoj Kumar to Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in AGROFORESTRY has been approved by the Student's Advisory Committee after an oral examination of the same in collaboration with the External Examiner. (Major Advisor) (External Examiner) Head of the Department : Dean6f the* College •"rsUy of rnii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With limitless humility, I thank the "Lord Shiva", who bestowed me with patience, preservence, health and courage to meet various challenges and enabling me to cross important milestone of academic career. No doubt that these blessings were manifested in the form of love, affection and inspiration provided to me by my parents, who made endless sacrifices to see this dream turn into reality. With illimitable affability, I reiterate my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. K.S. Verma, Chairman of my Advisory Committee, to steer clear the undertaken project through critical constructive approach and coherent guidance, adept dexterity in conferring immaculate suggestions and constant encouragement during the course of investigations. I emphatically owe my sincere thanks to Dr. V.K. Mishra, Dr. P.S. Thakur and Dr. D. Tripathi, the esteemed members of my Advisory Committee for their inspiring guidance and critically going through the manuscript. I am also thankful to all my teachers particularly Dr. S.P. Dhall, Dr. S.F. Arya and Dr. K. Prashar for their constant encouragement, help and offering valuable suggestions. I am grateful to the University Authorities, Dr. Y.S. Parmar UHF, Solan for extending all the facilities in carrying out the research project. Thanks are also due to the laboratory, field and ministerial staff of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry and College of Forestry for their cordial cooperation and help rendered during the study period. The financial assistance provided by UNDP in the form of Senior Fellowship is duly acknowledged. The lively and jovial company provided by the galaxy of friends kept me in an exulted state even during the moments of despondency needs due thanks. Their affable demeanor will ever remain sketched on the canvas of my memory. I do recognize with gratitude the eternal blessings and moral boon of my respected Dadiji. I am very grateful to my brother Krishan and EJhabhiji Anju who strengthened my will to work through their benevolence and good will. I owe a lot to my niece Shibu and nephew Shabu for their love and affection. The source of inspiration, my wife Dr. (Mrs.) Seema Thakur deserves a special mention who despite of silent sufferings demanded least of my attention, and rendered every possible help and consistent moral support for completion of this project at the cost of her personal convince. My sincerest and heartfelt gratitude goes to my In - laws for their infinite love, affection and blessings. It gives me immense pleasure in acknowledging my appreciation to my uncles especially Shri R.M. Mandhotra and Dr. S.D. Kashyap, and aunts Mrs. Champa Mandhotra and Dr. (Mrs.) Lata Kashyap for providing homely comforts and unwavering help at every occasion. Thanks are also due to Shri Mohan Lai Sharma and Shri G. Aasi whose tireless efforts and intense finger touches made my efforts live by setting this manuscript well in time. Finally, 1 am grateful to all those who were associated one or the other way with the successful completion of this project. Needless to mention, errors and omissions are mine. Place :Nauni, Solan JUk^^^ Dated •. 3d*juiy, 1999. (Manoj Kumar) CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE(s) 1. INTRODUCTION 1-3 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 4-21 3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 22-38 4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 39-68 5. DISCUSSION 69-82 6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 83-89 REFERENCES i-xii APPENDICES 1-33 LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE TITLE No. NO. 1. Experimental details indicating specific tree-crop 23a combinations and their distribution 2. Growth and Yield attributes of soybean as influenced by 41 tree-crop combinations 3. Height, diameter and crown spread of mulberry, plum and 44 pomegranate during the soybean crop season 4. Leaf and branch biomass yield of mulberry during the 46 soybean crop season 5. Pruned wood and fruit yield of plum during the soybean 46 crop season 6. Litter production (kg ha"1) under different tree-crop 50 combinations 7. Amount of nutrients added (kg ha"1) to the soil under 57 different tree-crop combinations 8. Nutrient removal (kg ha'1) through harvestable biomass of 58 different components 9. NPK balance in soil due to different tree-crop combinations 60 10. Ca Mg S balance in soil due to different tree-crop 62 combinations 11. Allelopathic effect of mulberry, plum and pomegranate on 65 germination, growth and dry matter yield of soybean LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Between TITLE No. pages 1. Effect of tree-crop combinations on nutrient concentration in 47-48 soybean grain and straw 2. Nutrient concentration in mulberry branch wood and leaf at 48-49 their harvestable period 3. Nutrient concentration in plum pruned wood and fruit at 48-49 their respective harvestable period 4. Monthly variation in nutrient concentration of mulberry, 49-50 plum and pomegranate leaves during the soybean crop season. 5. Nutrient concentration in mulberry, plum and pomegranate 51-52 litter under different tree-crop combinations. 6. Litter decomposition rate of mulberry, plum and 52-53 pomegranate during soybean crop season 7. Effect of tree-crop combinations on pH in 0-15 and 15-30 53-54 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 8. Monthly variation in pH in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth 53-54 under different tree-crop combinations 9. Effect of tree-crop combinations on organic carbon in 0-15 53-54 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 10. Monthly variation in organic carbon in 0-15 and 15-30 cm 53-54 soil depth under different tree-crop combinations 11. Effect of tree-crop combinations on available N in 0-15 and 53-54 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 12. Monthly variation in available N in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 53-54 depth under different tree-crop combinations 13. Effect of tree-crop combinations on available P in 0-15 and 54-55 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 14. Monthly variation in available P in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 54-55 depth under different tree crop combinations. 15. Effect of Tree-crop combinations on available K in 0-15 and 54-55 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 16. Monthly variation in available K in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 54-55 depth under different tree-crop combinations 17. Effect of tree-crop combinations on exchangeable Ca in 0- 55-56 15 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 18. Monthly variation in exchangeable Ca in 0-15 and 15-30 cm 55-56 soil depth under different tree-crop combinations 19. Effect of tree-crop combinations on exchangeable Mg in 0- 55-56 15 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 20. Monthly variation in exchangeable Mg in 0-15 and 15-30 55-56 cm soil depth under different tree-crop combinations 21. Effect of tree-crop combinations on available S in 0-15 and 56-57 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 22. Monthly variation in available S in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil 56-57 depth under different tree-crop combinations 23. Soil moisture characteristic curve of the study site 62-63 24. Effect of tree-crop combinations on soil moisture content in 62-63 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth during soybean crop season 25. Monthly variation in soil moisture content in 0-15 and 15-30 62-63 cm soil depth under different tree-crop combinations 26. Monthly variation in pre-dawn xylem water potential of 63-64 soybean, mulberry, plum and pomegranate in agrihortisilviculture system 27. Monthly variation in relative light intensity under mulberry, 64-65 plum and pomegranate in agrihortisilviculture system 28. Total biomass and total costs due to different tree-crop 67-68 combinations 29. Gross and net returns due to different tree-crop 67-68 combinations