Role of poplar (Populus deltoides) based agroforestry system for soil moisture conservation in semi-arid region of Haryana

Abstract

The study was undertaken to assess the soil moisture content, when wheat crop was grown in association with different spacings of poplar (5 × 4 m, 10 × 2 m and 18 × 2 × 2 m) during 2013-14 and 2014-15 Among all the spacings of poplar based agroforestry system, the maximum moisture content (13.3%) was found in 5 × 4 m spacing at a soil depth of 15-30 cm which was closely followed by 10 × 2 m (12.4%) before 1st irrigation (pooled data). The moisture content was higher under different spacings of poplar as compared to control during both the year of study. However, in all the spacings of poplar, the moisture content was found to be significantly lesser from 1st irrigation to 5th irrigation during both the years of observations. The control plot resulted in less moisture content (8.1%) than planting of poplar at 18 × 2 × 2 m (8.9%), 10 × 2 m (9.7%) and 5 × 4 m (10.4%) spacing at a soil depth of 0-15 cm before 5th irrigation.