Abstract
Quantity of litter fall, its chemical composition, nutrient addition and changes in chemical constituents of soil were studied under agroforestry systems involving Populus deltoides and Eucalyptus hybrid tree with intercrops of Cymbopogon martinii Wats and Cymbopogon flexuosus Wats in the tarai tract of Kumaon hills of U.P. India. P. deltoides had significantly more diameter (63%) as compared to E. hybrid. There was decrease in herb (5.4%) and oil yield (15.4%) of grasses due to trees, but both the grasses did not affect the performance of trees.
On an average, dry litter production of P. deltoides was 5.0 kg tree−1 year−1 where as of E. hybrid 1.5 kg tree−1 year−1. The litter of P. deltoides contained 1.3 times more N and 1.5 times P and K of E. hybrid. Addition of N, P and K through P. deltoides litter was 36.6, 91.6, and 69.9 per cent more than E. hybrid litter, respectively. Under these two canopies soil organic carbon was enhanced by 33.3 to 83.3 per cent, available N by 38.1 to 68.9 per cent, available P by 3.4 to 32.8 per cent and available K by 5.8 to 24.3 per cent over control (no tree canopy) in 0—15cm layer. P. deltoides plantation was superior to E. hybrib in enriching the soil.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Egunjobi JK and Fasehun FE (1972) Preliminary observation on the monthly litter fall and nutrient content of Pinus caribea L litter. Niger J Sci 6: 37–45
Egunjobi JK (1974) Litter fall and mineralization in a teak (Tectona grandis L) stands. Okios 25: 222–226
Evans J (1976) Plantation productivity and prospects. Aust For 39: 150–163
Goor CP Van (1985) The Impact of tree species on soil productivity. Neth J Agric Sci 33: 133–140
Hazra CR and Tripathi SB (1986) Influence of nitrogen on some soil properties and forage production of safflower and Chinese cabbage with and without tree association. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 34: 275–80
Jackson ML (1967) Soil chemical analysis. Prentice-Hall of India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
Jacques RJ Wells CG and Metz LL (1975) The nutrient cycle. J For 73: 400–403
Kadeba O and Aduayi EA (1985) Litter production, nutrient recycling and litter accumulation in Pinus caribaea Morelet var hondurensis stands in northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Pl Soil 86: 197–206
Nair PKR (1984) Soil productivity aspect of agroforestry. Science and practice of Agroforestry No 1 ICRAF Nairobi Kenya pp 85
Nwoboshi LC (1981) Nutrient cycling in a managed teak plantation ecosystem II. Litter fall and macronutrient return to the forest floor. Niger J Agric Sci 3: 9–14
Nye PH and Greenland DJ (1964) Changes in the soil after clearing tropical forest. Pl Soil 21: 101–112
Pal DK Nath S Banerjee SK and Sharma SK (1985) Characteristics of some forest soils in Darjeeling Himalayan region under Pinus patula. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 33: 84
Prasad KG Singh SB Gupta GN and George M (1985) Studies on changes in soil properties under different vegetation. Indian For 111: 794–801
Seth SK Kaul ON and Gupta AC (1963) Some observation on nutrition cycle and return of nutrients in plantations at New Forest. Indian For 80(2): 90–98
Subbiah BV and Asija GL (1956) A rapid procedure for the estimation of available nitrogen in soils. Curr Sci 25: 259
Troth JL Deneke FJ Brown LM (1976) Upland Aspen/Birch and Block spruce stands and their litter and soil properties in interior Alaska. Forest Sci 22: 33–44
Venkataramanan C Haldarai B Sanraj P Nalawedmath SK and Honry C (1983) Return of nutrient by the leaf litter of Bulegum (E. globulus) and Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsu) Plantation of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. Indian For 109–370
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, K., Chauhan, H.S., Rajput, D.K. et al. Report of a 60 month study on litter production, changes in soil chemical properties and productivity under Poplar (P. deltoides) and Eucalyptus (E. hybrid) interplanted with aromatic grasses. Agroforest Syst 9, 37–45 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120154
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120154