Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Bibhuti Bhusan Behera, Suchhanda Mondal and Kumbha Karna Rout

Abstract:
An experiment was carried out using the existing Field of AICRP on Agroforestry Project in Central Research Station of O.U.A.T, Bhubaneswar at a Latitude 20⁰15’ N and longitude of 85⁰ 52’ E in order to study the effect of agroforestry system on K fractions in the surface soil.In the year 2013, the system had two tree species Dalbergia sissoo and Gmelina arborea along with 4 intercrops such as pineapple, mango ginger, turmeric and arrowroot. Soil samples were collected after 13 years of agroforestry system in the post harvest period during 2014-15 for potassium fractionation study. The growth parameters of intercrops and the K uptake by the crops were also studied. The results on changes in total K in the surface soil revealed that open field caused huge loss of K to the tune of 726 kg ha^-1 year^-1 as compared to 436 kg ha^-1 year^-1 with Dalbergia sissoo and 374 kg ha^-1 year^-1 with Gmelina arborea without inter crops and 118-172 kg ha^-1 year^-1 with the intercropped system. Among the intercrops highest K content of all fractions was maintained in pineapple followed by mango ginger, turmeric and least with arrowroot. The three root spices, mango ginger, turmeric and arrow root accumulated more K (40-60%) in their economic part rhizome as compared to only 2% in the fruit of pine apple. Thus more site displacement of K from soil was made through the root crops. Pine apple crop recycled a major part of the absorbed K causing more accumulation of K in all the fractions. Among all forms of agroforestry systems evaluated, Gmelina arborea + pineapple system was the most effective system for recycling and conserving more potassium in surface soil.