SUSHIL KUMARI*, K. S. AHLAWAT, K. K. BHARDWAJ, PAWAN KUMAR POONIA, MINAKSHI JATTAN, SATPAL, BABITA RANI AND PUMMY KUMARI
Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar -125004 (Haryana), India
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
Department of G&PB, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: Sushil.Punia100@gmail.com)
(Received : 8 March 2024; Accepted : 30 March 2024)
SUMMARY
Eucalyptus, a member of family Myrtaceae and it is one of the most prime species in agroforestry and clonal planting material for more returns in short rotation most popular in farmers due to its fast growth. It can adapt a varied range of edaphic and climatic and its cultivation is considered an eco-friendly approach to cope up with the salinization. In Haryana, agroforestry practices vary according to the agro-climatic zones and socio-economic status of the farmers, tree diversity, existing cropping pattern and availability of irrigation water. The present investigation was carried out at the Forestry Research Farm during the rabi season of 2019-20 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to found effect of different spacing of clonal Eucalyptus plantation on the performance of wheat and barley crops in saline condition in Semi-arid environment. Therefore, field crops namely wheat (Triticum aestivum) HD- 2967and Barley (Hordeum vulgare) BH-393 were sown under clonal eucalyptus 4m x 2m and 5m x 2m spacing and in open (devoid of trees) following randomized block design with seven replication during rabi season. Growth, yield attributes and yield were recorded at harvest. The maximum plant height (71.58 cm) of wheat was recorded under 5m x 2m spacing as compared to in 4m x 2m spacing. The other parameters viz, no. of effective tillers /m2, days taken to maturity (no.), number of grains/spike, test weight (g) showed similar pattern under 5m x 2m spacing in the study. Among different spacing , the maximum grain yield (3.01 t/ha) and straw yield (3.94 t/ha) was recorded in spacing 5m x 2m .The plant height (84.59cm ) of barley was found higher under 5m x 2m spacing. Similarly, other parameters viz, no. of effective tillers / m2, days taken to maturity (no.), test weight (g), and grain yield in barley were found higher under 5m x 2m spacing as compared to 4x2m spacing. The crop indicates that 5m x 2m spacing is more appropriate spacing of clonal Eucalyptus plantation from productivity and practically fruitful aspect.
Key words: Growth,intercropping, rabi season, spacing, cereals crops and yield