title: Comparison of growth, biomass and nutrient distribution in five promising clones of Populus deltoides under an agrisilviculture system.
abstract: Variations in growth, above- and below-ground biomass and nutrient distribution were examined in five clones (G3, G48, 65/27, D121 and S7C1) of Populus deltoides grown under agrisilviculture system in sub-humid tropics of Central India. The monoclonal blocks were planted at 4x5 m in a randomized block design with three replications. Diameter at breast height (dbh) and tree height were consistently higher in clone 65/27 and lowest in clone S7C1. Mean annual increments (MAI) in dbh and height were 1.6 and 1.3 times higher in clone 65/27 compared to clone S7C1. Total biomass varied from 48.5 to 62.2 Mg ha(-1) in six-year-old clones. In rank order, the total biomass of clones was: 65/27>D121>G48>G3>S7C1. Stem wood accounted 60.4-68.9% to total biomass followed by coarse roots (12.2-18.9%), branches (12.3-15%), leaves (3.02-6.9%) and fine roots (1.5-2.7%). Root-shoot ratio ranged from 0.2 to 0.35. It was highest in clone G48 and lowest in clone S7C1. In six-year-old clones, total N ranged from 184.3 to 266.3 kg ha(-1), P from 16.8 to 31.1 kg ha(-1) and K from 81.9 to 128.7 kg ha(-1). Total N and P were highest in clone 65/27, while K in clone G48. Nutrients were lowest in clone S7C1. In general, maximum nutrients (N, P and K) were allocated to above-ground components (leaves>stem>branches) than below-ground components. Available N, P and K in the soil improved significantly after six years of planting. It was higher in 0-20 cm and decreased with soil depth. At 0-20 cm soil depth, N increased from 14.9% to 24.1%, P from 17.2% to 23.3% and K from 3.1% to 5.1% under different clones. The yield of both soybean and wheat reduced under poplar clones. Yield losses in soybean ranged from 10.1% to 33% and wheat from 15% to 30.3% under different clones. The management strategies for reducing tree-crop competition and nutrient export from the site under P. deltoides based agrisilviculture system for achieving sustainable production are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forestry, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur 492 006, India. swamy_101@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puri
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D018533:Biomass; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D018514:Plant Structures; D032107:Populus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012987:Soil; D013025:Glycine max / Q000254:growth & development; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium