Comparative study of wheat varieties under open farming and poplar-based agroforestry system in Uttarakhand, India

A field experiment on wheat varieties was carried out at Agroforestry Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The experimental plots were laid out in randomized block design with two associate farming systems, open farming and poplar-based agroforestry system, and four varieties of wheat, viz. PBW-373, PBW-343, UP-262 and VL-907, with three replications. The average tree growth parameters, viz. plant height, diameter and crown width of poplar showed an increase at the rate of 8.43%, 12.36% and 17.91% respectively. Growth and yield attributes of wheat like germination count, leaf area index, plant height, dry matter accumulation, as well as yield of wheat were found higher in open farming compared to poplar-based agroforestry system. The yield characters of wheat, such as biological yield (112.01 q ha(-1)), grain yield (42.19 q ha(-1)), straw yield (69.93 q ha(-1)) and harvest index (39.82) were recorded maximum in VL-907 followed by PBW-343, except for straw yield. Among soil chemical properties, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and available NPK were higher, whereas pH was lower under poplar-based agroforestry system compared to open farming system. Above-ground, below-ground and total biomass, carbon stock and carbon sequestration were significantly higher in agroforestry system (130.42, 17.75, 148.17, 65.20 and 239.27 q ha(-1) respectively) compared to open farming.