Vol. 6, Issue 1 (2018)
Forage production and orchard floor management through grass/legume intercropping in apple based agroforestry systems
Author(s): Suheel Ahmad, PA Khan, DK Verma, Nazim Hamid Mir, Anil Sharma and Sartaj A Wani
Abstract: The present investigation was initiated at the experimental farm of ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir, India in 2016 and 2017 for evaluation of forage grass/legume mixtures as a means of orchard floor management and for augmenting forage resource availability in apple based agroforestry systems. The treatments consisted of perennial temperate grasses (tall fescue and orchard grass) and legumes (white and red clover) both under sole as well as in combination. The experiment consisted of nine treatments replicated thrice in a randomised block design. The results revealed that growth parameters in terms of trunk girth, trunk cross-sectional area, fruit yield and yield efficiency were found to be higher in legume as sole and grass/legume combination treatments than control (clean cultivation) and grasses as sole. Tall fescue + red clover (T5) recorded maximum green as well as dry fodder yield followed by orchard grass + red clover. Whereas, lowest green fodder and dry fodder yield was recorded in Apple + white clover. Results under present investigation also revealed that various soil physico-chemical properties were significantly higher under red clover treatment followed by white clover and grass/legume combinations, while lowest values were recorded under grasses under sole and clean cultivation. It may be concluded that grass/legume intercropping not only augments forage availability but also is an effective strategy for proper orchard floor management, thus enhancing system productivity as a whole.
Pages: 953-958 | 843 Views 48 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
Suheel Ahmad, PA Khan, DK Verma, Nazim Hamid Mir, Anil Sharma, Sartaj A Wani. Forage production and orchard floor management through grass/legume intercropping in apple based agroforestry systems. Int J Chem Stud 2018;6(1):953-958.
