Effect of Canopy Management on Vigour and Biomass Production Potential in Four Agroforestry Tree Species from Temperate Region

Abstract

Out of the four agroforestry tree species , namely Grewia optiva , Celtis australis , Bauhinia variegata Morus alba , and two tree speCies (i.e. G. optiva and M. alba) maintained higher growth , vigour and foliage and branch wood biomass production potential for longer period when pollarded at 1.5 or 2.0 m. G. optiva and M. alba , responded better to canopy management practices like coppicing and pollarding as compared to C. australis and B. variegata. Collar diameter increased with increase in cutting heights in G. opttva and M. alba , but remained unchanged in C. australis and B. variegata up to fourth year of canopy management treatments. Significant decrease in shoot number , Leaf Area , Leaf Area Index (LAI) and foliage and branchwood biomass production occurred by fourth year of treatments although decrease was of higher magnitude at lower cutting heights in all the four tree species. M. alba followed by G. optiva produced maximum foliage and branch wood biomass at 2.0 m cutting height during the entire experimentation period.