Vol. 12, Special Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Makhan Singh Karada, Yashpal Singh, Riya Mishra, Dheer Agnihotri, Kamal Kishor Patel, Niraj Kumar Yadav and Pankaj Kumar

Abstract:
A research study was conducted at the Forestry Research Farm of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya in Jabalpur, India, during the Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The primary focus of this investigation was a 14-year-old agroforestry model centered around Pongamia pinnata. The research site is located in a subtropical climate zone, characterized by black soil and gentle sloping topography within the Kymore Plateau and Satpura hill agro-climatic region. The study employed a rigorous experimental design, featuring a three-factor double split plot layout to assess the effects of various factors on soil properties. These factors included land use systems (open and agroforestry), sowing dates (D1-Nov. 12, D2-Nov. 27, and D3-Dec. 12), and two wheat varieties (V1-MP-3336 and V2-GW-322). The main objective was to evaluate the impact of these factors on critical soil characteristics. Soil samples were meticulously collected at depths of 15 cm and 30 cm and subsequently analyzed for key parameters, namely pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and organic carbon content. The results of this comprehensive analysis revealed several noteworthy findings. First and foremost, the agroforestry systems consistently exhibited a discernible trend towards lower pH values, elevated electrical conductivity, and significantly higher organic carbon content when compared to the open land use systems. These results underscore the considerable advantages of integrating tree-crop systems for carbon sequestration and the enhancement of soil fertility. This finding holds substantial implications for sustainable agricultural practices and improved land management in regions sharing similar agro-climatic characteristics. Furthermore, the impact of sowing dates on the measured soil properties appeared to be rather limited, with no statistically significant differences observed. This suggests that the timing of wheat sowing, within the range considered in the study, does not exert a significant influence on the selected soil properties. Finally, the two wheat varieties under examination, MP-3336 and GW-322, exhibited similar responses in terms of soil properties. This uniform response indicates that both varieties possess comparable adaptability to moderate soil salinity levels.