Effect of Terminalia arjuna trees on the performance of paddy crop under bund-based agroforestry system

Abstract

The study was carried out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with one control. The tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and crown width ranges from 16.55 - 27.69 cm and 5.28 - 8.65 m, respectively. Data on the growth and yield of paddy were recorded at 1 m, 3 m, 5 m, 7 m, and 9 m and control >9 m from tree trunk. The results showed that the bund agroforestry of Terminalia arjuna has adverse effect on the growth and yield of paddy, which differed from the different DBH and crown width of the tree row and distance from the tree bund. Due to higher crown width and closeness to the tree, the growth of paddy, i.e. the number of hills/m2 and the shoot length (cm) of paddy, were drastically reduced. The highest average number of hills/m2(30.00±0.58) and mean shoot length (100.10±1.48 cm) were recorded at a distance of 9 mfrom tree line and the minimum average number of hills/m2 (20.67±0.33) and mean shoot length (92.65±0.53 cm) were at the distance of 1 m from tree line. However, the mean grain yield of paddy recorded maximum (45.65±5.16 q/ha) at a distance of 9 m from tree line, and minimum (11.35±0.53 q/ha) mean grain yield of paddy recorded at 1 m distance from tree. Mean straw yield of paddy maximum (42.82±1.58 q/ha), at a distance of 9 m from tree, and minimum (22.05±0.78 q/ha) at a distance of 1 m from tree line was recorded. Paddy yield reduction was measured highest (83.58±0.53%) at 1 m distance from the tree line and lowest (33.93±5.27%) at 9 m distance from the tree line, similarly straw yield reduction highest (57.52±1.05%) at 1m distance from the tree line and lowest (17.51±2.15%) at 9 m distance from the tree line.