The Growth of <I>Eucalyptus hybrid</I> (syn. <I>E. Tereticorni</I>s) on Eroded Alluvial Soils of Uttar Pradesh in Relation to Spacing, Irrigation and Manuring

Abstract

Eighteen treatments comprising of three spacings-1.5 m × 1.5 m (S₁), 2.5 m × 2.5 m (S₂) 3 m × 3 m (S₃); three irrigations-no watering (I₁), 4 waterings (I₂), 8 waterings (I³), and two levels of manuring-control i.e. no manuring (M₁); Manuring @ 2 baskets of F.Y.M. per pit (M₂), were tried in planting of Eucalyptus hybrid on the eroded alluvial soils at the Soil Conservation Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh State. The experiment was laid out in 'Single split plot (3² × 2) design. The results of the study indicate that wider spacing 3 m × 3 m (S₃ and 8 waterings (I₂) gave significantly better height and diameter growth and number of branches over closer spacing and no watering or less waterings. Application of F.Y.M. @ 2 baskets per pit has significant effect in improving plant growth in such poor soils. It is, therefore, necessary for successful afforestation of Eucalyptus hybrid on eroded and poor sites to adopt wider spacings to avoid competition, irrigation in the early stages and manuring to satisfy the demands of the nutrients from such lands.