Effect of organic manures on growth and yield of Raphanus sativus L. under Melia based agroforestry system: A case study from North Western Himalaya

Author: Ghazanfer Abbas, Vimal Chauhan, Umakanta Dash, Alisha Keprate, Akshay F Madiwalar, Rajput Nikhil Balu and Raziya Banoo

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Abstract

An agroforestry experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of planting conditions and various combinations of organic manures on the performance of radish under a 14-year-old Melia composita plantation, namely, A1 (8m × 4m) and A2 (sole crop). The experiment took place at the experimental farm of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India, during the months of September to November, 2020. The treatment combinations of organic inputs were as follows: T1: Control, T2: Recommended Dose of FYM (100%), T3: 100% FYM + Jeevamrut (20 litres/bigha), T4: 100% FYM + Jeevamrut (30 litres/bigha), T5: 100% FYM + Jeevamrut (40 litres/bigha), T6: 100% FYM + Jeevamrut (50 litres/bigha), and T7: 100% FYM + Jeevamrut (60 litres/bigha). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with three replications. The study aimed to explore the possibilities of successfully cultivating Raphanus sativus as an intercrop under the Melia composita based agroforestry system and in open field conditions. The results of the present study revealed that the Raphanus sativus crop grown under the Melia composita based agroforestry system exhibited lower growth and yield compared to the open field condition. On the other hand, among different combinations of organic manures, the application of 100% FYM + Jeevamrut at the rate of 60 litres/bigha was found to be the best treatment combination for the growth and yield of the radish crop.

Keywords

Agroforestry, Melia composita, Radish, FYM, Jeevamrut

Conclusion

Based on the outcomes of the present investigation, it can be inferred that the growth performance of radish was better under open conditions as compared to the agroforestry system. Reductions in growth and yield parameters of radish were observed in the presence of the tree (Melia composita). Tree proximity had a negative impact on crop performance, but the minimal losses in productivity due to the integration of the crop with tree components may be compensated by multiple tree products. Different organic manures influenced the growth and yield of radish in terms of leaf length, leaf width, root length, root diameter, and root yield. Among the different doses of organic manures, the application of 100 percent FYM + Jeevamrut at the rate of 60 litres/bigha (T7), followed by 100 percent FYM + Jeevamrut at the rate of 50 litres/bigha (T6), proved to be the best treatment combination for the growth and yield parameters of Raphanus sativus L.

References

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How to cite this article

Ghazanfer Abbas, Vimal Chauhan, Umakanta Dash, Alisha Keprate, Akshay F Madiwalar, Rajput Nikhil Balu and Raziya Banoo (2024). Effect of organic manures on growth and yield of Raphanus sativus L. under Melia based agroforestry system: A case study from North Western Himalaya. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(1): 01-06.