Effect of different grass species on growth parameters of Terminalia chebula Retz. tree in sub-tropical region of Jammu

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the years 2021 to 2023 at the Experimental Farm, Division of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Chatha, SKUAST-Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. Seven types of grasses namely: Pennisetum purpureum, Bracharia decumbens, Setaria anceps var. PSS-1, Setaria anceps var. S-25, Sorghum bicolor, Paspalum notatum and Natural grass were maintained as intercrop under 11 year old Harad (Terminalia chebula) trees. Data was recorded after one year of experiment in 2022 on plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and crown width of harad trees. There was no significant effect of grass species on growth parameters of Terminalia chebula trees. The height, diameter at breast height (dbh) and crown width of harad trees ranged from 6.30 to 7.81 m, 11.44 to 12.92 cm and 5.19 to 7.58 m respectively. Data on forage yield was also recorded and found that T3 (Harad + Setaria anceps var. PSS-1) recorded highest total fresh yield (75.70 t/ha) as well as total dry yield (16.67 t/ha).