Growth and Productivity of Melia azedarach Plantation under Different levels of Nutrients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i11/170825Keywords:
Dek, Growth parameters, Intercrops, Nutrient requirement, Productivity.Abstract
Dek (Melia azedarach Linn.) is one of the fast growing tree species adopted by Punjab farmers in agroforestry systems. It is grown by farmers mainly on farm boundaries, but due to deciduous nature of plants, some farmers are also adopting block plantations of dek at a spacing of 5 x 4 m or 7 x 3 m along with agricultural crops. An experiment was conducted to standardize the nutrient requirement of dek plantation during 6 years of growth for getting its better productivity. The treatments consisted of nine combinations (T2 to T10) of N and P (as P2 O5 ) with intercrops in addition to control (T1) of dek plants. The diameter at breast height (DBH), plant height and timber volume of dek plantation were lowest in control (T1) (16.98 cm, 14.12 m and 89.1 m3/ha respectively) and the highest (19.78 cm, 15.78 m and 136.4 m3/ha, respectively) in T7 after 6 years of growth. The fodder yield of pearl millet and grain yield of wheat decreased with increase in age of plantation. The average yield of pearl millet fodder was 362 q/ha during 1st year which decreased to 268 q/ha in 3rd year. Wheat yield was 46.2 q/ha during 1st year which decreased to 20.6 q/ha during 6th year. It is concluded that treatment T7 was better than other treatments for getting higher productivity from dek plantation.
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